Breaking News

Columnists

All means all: Supporting students with disabilities at MCSD

If you visit one of our schools in Marshalltown, you will likely see students participating in unique learning activities. This may include baking for the Bobcat Cafe, learning phonics at one of our elementaries, or tackling complex problems for a business partner through our 3DE program. You’ll also see that the Marshalltown Community School District (MCSD) is at the cutting edge of exciting changes in special education that challenge the view that students with disabilities are less capable than their peers. This view dominated special education for many decades, but current ...

District 53 Newsletter from Rep. Dean Fisher

This week, Iowa House Republicans released House Study Bill 596, our property tax proposal to put the taxpayers first. This plan is not about protecting the status quo for taxing entities; it is about creating predictability and protecting the bank accounts of hardworking Iowans. For too long the property tax system has put certainty for government budgets over the certainty of family budgets, and with this proposal, Republicans are flipping that script. The primary component of the bill is a capping of revenue growth at 2% plus new construction, ensuring that cities and counties are ...

Iowa State fumbles with public records

The 2025 college football season is in the history books. The season ended with last week’s national championship victory by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and his Indiana University Hoosiers over the University of Miami. The season began back on August 23 in Dublin, Ireland, matching Iowa State University against Kansas State University in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. A lot has happened since the Cyclones’ 24-21 victory. Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen retired. The Iowa Board of Regents screened a bunch of candidates and hired David Cook, the North ...

It’s ‘Common Sense’ — An informed citizenry guides my work

Many historical milestones will dot the calendar this year as Americans look to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence on July the Fourth. Just after the turn of the new year in 1776, a 47-page pamphlet titled “Common Sense” helped change the course of human history. The author, Thomas Paine, set foot in America just over a year before its publication. His straight talk hit the nail on the head, describing the kings of England as “plunderers” of individual freedom, imploring his fellow colonists to stop dilly-dallying around and revolt against the ...

Life is a gift worth protecting

This week, thousands of folks are weathering the cold to gather in our nation’s capital to march for life. Like them, I stand united in the truth: life is a gift worth protecting. This isn’t just a political belief for me. It’s deeply personal. When I first became a mother and more ...

Protecting Iowa taxpayers and stopping welfare fraud

Since being elected to Congress, I have been committed to ensuring Iowa taxpayer dollars are used correctly and safeguarded from fraud. Families who work hard for their money do not deserve to have their taxpayer dollars wasted by their government. That’s why I am working with President ...