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Healthcare careers in months, not years

Looking to start a rewarding career in healthcare or build on your current experience? Iowa Valley’s short-term health training programs make it possible to gain hands-on skills and job-ready experience in just weeks or months — not years. With a high demand for healthcare workers, increased wages, and sign-on bonuses offered across Iowa, there’s never been a better time to start a healthcare career. Hospitals, long-term care facilities, and emergency services are all seeking skilled professionals — from CNAs and Medication Aides to EMTs, Phlebotomists, and Pharmacy ...

Ambassador Terry Branstad: I’m endorsing Randy Feenstra for Governor

I still remember the town hall meeting. During one of my annual 99-county tours, in which I was mostly asked questions, I decided to close the meeting by asking the Iowans in the room what their hopes were for Iowa. Several people spoke up, offering sound policy ideas. But a man who remained quiet most of the morning, steadily sipping his coffee and holding it in his hands, perhaps to fend off the chill in the air that winter morning, finally spoke up. His answer was simple, yet profound: “I want to leave my farm better than I found it.” This simple, noble goal perfectly ...

Des Moines’ costly badge of secrecy

City leaders in Des Moines are making it difficult to understand why they selected the new police chief, considering how they have imposed a code of silence about their recent $975,000 payout to one of the candidates who did not get the job. The payout and, even worse, the sealed lips are just another example of how common sense and good government suffer whenever public officials refuse to detail how and why they spend taxpayer money. This textbook example of misplaced priorities began in 2024 when Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert announced his retirement after nearly a decade ...

The ‘easy way out’ may not be so easy after all

I’ve been hearing a lot lately about how it’s “taking the easy way out” to use GLP-1s to lose weight. That may be true. But then again, you might be able to say the same thing about virtually every medical advancement. When you boil it down, chemotherapy is “taking the easy way out” of testicular cancer. Penicillin is “taking the easy way out” of a bacterial infection. The MMR shot is “taking the easy way out” of getting the measles. You could be suffering and dying along with everyone else who’s had the problem since the beginning of time but, instead, you’re ...

The Blom Bulletin: Further debate in Week 9

House passes legislation to protect teachers and students On Tuesday, March 9th, the House passed a bipartisan bill that addresses classroom behavior, protects teachers, and supports students with special needs. This bill started it’s journey in the legislature years ago. In 2020, the ...

Ending the harmful Prop 12 mandate

For too long, Iowa’s hog farmers have faced growing uncertainty because of California’s egregious Proposition 12. This unfair mandate has imposed costly, unscientific regulations on pork producers across the country – even though California produces less than one-tenth of one percent of ...