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A guide to Marshalltown’s FY27 school tax rate adjustments

As the Marshalltown Cmmunity School District (MCSD) finalizes its budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year (FY27), it is important to provide clear context on how school funding works in Iowa and why adjustments to the local tax rate are sometimes necessary. School finance is driven by a combination of state formulas, enrollment trends, and mandated programs, all of which play a role in shaping the final tax rate. First, it’s important to understand that local school tax rates are largely driven by the state funding formula, not local discretion.The majority of a district’s tax rate is ...

This is what a World Superpower looks like

America is living through a moment difficult to describe without sounding a little unhinged. But here goes: We are watching the United States do things that only the United States can do. In the span of a few days, Americans have watched astronauts push farther into space than any human beings in history, while U.S. forces execute military operations so precise and technologically overwhelming that they look like something written for a Hollywood script. Pilots are being rescued in missions that resemble “Mission: Impossible.” Terrorists are being eliminated with the kind of ...

Bible truth or tradition: According to the Bible, do we have an eternal soul, or are we living souls?

About me: I am a truth seeker. How about you? I believe the Bible, in its original form, is the revealed Word and will of God. Somewhere I heard that the Bible was written so that a child could understand it. I wish I had read it more as a child—but it is never too late. AI is a wonderful tool if used properly, with quick access to a lot of research material. But we know AI can make mistakes. So can people. Sometimes, I question what I hear being taught in “church.” So don’t take my word for it (or anyone else’s, for that matter). Please check it out for yourself. People can ...

The Government may be spying on your phone — Congress must act

Our smart phones reveal a lot about us. In order to function, they connect with communications networks and geolocation services, creating detailed maps of our daily lives. If you knew how to read them, you’d know someone’s favorite coffee shop, the person they’re dating, where they go to school or church, and more. Would you want the government to have this information at its fingertips? Most of us wouldn’t — but that’s what’s happening. FBI Director Kash Patel recently admitted that the agency is buying up our personal information — including movement and location ...

Big Tech’s ugly Data Centers finally meet the opposition

It appears that folks living in the gently rolling farmland of southwestern Ohio don’t want a 2-million-square-foot data center plopped down the road from their front porches. What’s wrong with them? Are they snotty not-in-my-backyard liberals? Not quite. Wilmington, Ohio, is a very Republican region marked by modest incomes. Such demographics may have made the locals, and other rural Americans, look like an easy sale to the tech companies hunting for places to plop their massive data centers. Amazon Web Services, which is proposing this nine-building data center on about 500 ...

A lifeline for Main Street: How new federal guarantees can save American manufacturing jobs

Walk through any industrial park in our region today, and you are struck by dedication. These local manufacturers — the bedrock of our economies — are more than just businesses; they support our communities. They represent nearly 98% of American manufacturing operations, providing jobs and stability right here at home. However, even the most dedicated local producers face a persistent hurdle: securing the right capital to navigate today’s economic landscape and achieve their next stage of growth. The proof is in the numbers: as wages have jumped by over 5%, our operating ...