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Dirty cars and dirty politics

When there’s crime, I blame the criminal. But Dallas politicians blamed a business. Dale Davenport owned Jim’s Car Wash. But five years ago, after a shooting at the property, the city ordered him to shut it down. Why did they target his car wash? When I first investigated this story, Davenport told me he was a “model citizen,” doing everything local politicians asked of him: “They said build a 6-foot fence. I built an 8-foot fence. Then they said, put up signs. I already had signs up, so I put up more signs. Then they told me to put up lights. I already had lights ...

Absent facts and explanations, the rumor mills grind on

As Iowans headed to the polls this week to elect local school board members, they faced an issue beyond the usual ones of taxes, student achievement, teacher pay, curriculum and enrollment. This year, school board and administrators’ performance and trustworthiness were front and center in some school districts. And on that, for voters, it is what they do not know that might hurt them. Case in point: The state’s largest district, the Des Moines Public Schools, was thrust into the national spotlight two months ago when federal agents arrested Superintendent Ian Roberts for being ...

Turning challenges into growth: Hope for parents, teachers and students

Challenging behaviors can be frustrating and exhausting, often leaving adults doubting their ability to manage the moment. Yet behind every power struggle, outburst, or meltdown lies a story — a skill not yet developed, a need unmet, or a stressor unrecognized. With the right mindset, tools, and awareness of our own nervous system responses, challenging moments can become opportunities for learning, growth, and connection for both children and adults. Before adults can effectively support a child through difficult moments, it’s important to reflect on how we interpret the behaviors ...

Washington could learn from us

It was maybe a happy coincidence last week that while I was following the news about Trump’s soybean deal with China that I also happened to tune into the Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) weekly “lunch and learn” on Facebook. Amid so much uncertainty, not just for farmers but all of us in rural America, it came as a breath of fresh air and call to action. IFU’s topic that day was the 2025 Rural Policy Action Report, billed as a “roadmap for rural progress.” Speakers from IFU, Iowa CCI, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, and Progress Iowa highlighted aspects of the report that kept ...

From service to civic engagement: Honoring Iowa veterans today and every day

This November, we proudly observe Military Family Appreciation Month and Veterans Day, two opportunities to honor the courage and sacrifice of Iowa’s brave military members and their families. Veterans Day recognizes the dedication and sacrifice of our nation’s brave men and women who ...

An immigration success story in the heartland

In Marshalltown, Iowa, the spirit of American entrepreneurship is alive and well. Residents have opened businesses, among them a grocery store offering fresh food that’s created dozens of jobs. Many of these small businesses are owned, managed, and staffed by immigrants. They’re boosting ...