Last week was our first legislative funnel deadline. This week, we transitioned to the first full week of floor debate so that we could send House bills over to the Senate to prepare for the second legislative funnel deadline in a few weeks. I’m excited to report that 3 bills that I filed ...
As Chief of Police, our agency remains vigilant in providing information to our community members when we observe increasing crime trends. We look to track these occurrences not only to ensure we have the right resources in place to thoroughly investigate the crimes committed, but also to ...
The skilled trades have become hot of late. That has many young people dropping plans to attend college. Meanwhile, some desk-bound professionals are said to gaze longingly at nearby construction sites. They daydream about trading spreadsheets for tool belts. They imagine becoming plumbers, electricians or carpenters — welders, riggers or crane operators. The list of hands-on jobs that require real training is long. Why the change of hearts? Three reasons: 1. Artificial intelligence will soon do the thinking required for many of these office occupations. 2. The realization that ...
We all need reminders now and then. Some of us believe there is only one correct way to think and speak and act in these United States of America. But that is not true. Americans are not who we are because we are the same. Americans are who we are, and our nation has long been a shining beacon, because we are all different and were brought together by that freedom to be different. One occasional reader of my stray thoughts suggested I reshare the following column from 2017, which remains relevant today. Details are tucked away in the distant crevasses of my memory about one of ...
The usual saying is that it comes in threes. Whatever is going on in your life, be it bad or good, comes in threes. So, when the third one arrives, you can expect the tide to turn. But I’m a Four Horsemen kind of guy. Number one was Buddy dying. He made it 15 years. I miss his sweet, sad eyes and Scottie Dog face, even though he was a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen. Sometimes I think I still hear him shake his collar. Stormy, our comfort cat, is okay as far as lap-cats go, but he doesn’t have the feel of our Buddy Boy, not even close. Stormy is way too independent, and can draw blood ...
Ten years ago, I was the lead sponsor on legislation that created an “Address Confidentiality Program” here in Iowa. The Iowa Legislature unanimously passed this law, creating Iowa’s Safe at Home program – a bipartisan effort to protect survivors of violent crimes. Administered by the Iowa Secretary of State, Safe at Home is an address confidentiality program designed to help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking and stalking stay safe and rebuild their lives. Since its launch, 3,098 Iowans have participated in the program, most of them survivors of these ...
