Breaking News

Our View

Community, UnityPoint must find common ground

News that UnityPoint Health - Marshalltown would be eliminating its intensive care unit was another indicator of the cyclical issues the local hospital has faced. Simplistically, when businesses don’t make money, they can’t sustain all of their resources and when consumers believe an organization doesn’t have adequate resources, they do business elsewhere. The health care issues in Marshalltown meet that mold, but are also much more complex. In order to overcome the complex mutual challenges, community members and UnityPoint must find common ground. Whose to blame for ...

An open letter to our newly elected officials

Political ads, campaign stunts and election surveys are finished for the time being. Now, it’s time for action. The residents of Marshall County expect our elected officials at the local, state and national level to work tirelessly on our behalf for the issues that matter most to us. We not only expect our officials to work toward policy on our behalf, but also lead the charge in addressing the social and cultural issues our community faces. Marshall County is as diverse as could be. Our population is diverse in race, ethnicity, gender and economic status. We have both urban and ...

Why you should vote in the mid-term election

Historically, voter turnout is always higher during presidential elections. From a magnitude perspective, it makes sense — it’s the highest office in the United States and the president is a leader who represents us all around the world. But from a more prudent perspective, turnout should be higher or just as high for local races. This election cycle, Marshall County voters get to vote for county, state and U.S. House representatives. One could argue these representatives make a larger impact on our daily lives. At the county level, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors ...

Pork industry makes huge contribution to Iowa economy

October has been designated National Pork Month. That makes it an especially good time to reflect on the importance of the pork industry to this state. It’s unlikely that anyone who lives in Iowa does not already know that pork production contributes mightily to the economic vitality of the ...

Domestic violence has a serious impact on Marshalltown families

Domestic violence is complex. It often goes unreported. It is often is repetitive. And it often is an unhealthy solution to relationship challenges. Domestic violence is also complex in who it impacts. Not only are survivors forever changed by the abuse they endure, many times children are directly or indirectly impacted by domestic violence as well. Child endangerment charges are often associated with domestic abuse charges because children were present during the abuse, sometimes being held by the victim or were victims themselves. Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper is all too ...

Recreation for seniors should be a priority

Managing taxpayer dollars is no easy feat. There will always be people unhappy with how the city decides to allot its budget. This week the city council was influenced by those constraints and made a decision to demolish the Senior Citizen’s Center. The decision was highly contested by ...