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Opinion

The health care emergency behind the Government shutdown

Columnists

Health care access in this country is in grave danger — and your wallet could be, too. Those facts are key to understanding the latest government shutdown. “My kids have health care through Medicaid — which is especially important for my daughter with autism,” Alexis Cortes, a mom of ...

Stop making things worse

Columnists

Acardinal rule as elected officials is not to break things — as in, if it isn’t broken, don’t “fix” it — not unlike the medical profession’s Hippocratic oath: first, do no harm. Our state faces multiple self-inflicted healthcare crises that result from ignoring that rule. • ...

Toddlers know, so why can’t school officials learn?

Columnists

That is the lesson toddlers learn early and smart ones retain for a lifetime. Touch something hot and you know not to touch it again. Educator Ian Roberts delivered a new rendition of the lesson over the past fortnight. Time will tell whether government officials take to heart the learning ...

October is a critical month for those on Medicare

Columnists

October is a critical month for those on Medicare. With the start of the Annual Open Enrollment Period on October 15th,those on Medicare have until Dec. 7 to join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Part D (prescription drug) plan. Costs, benefits, provider networks and what ...

Taking a bite out of the apple

Columnists

Last week, Iowa schools kicked off October National Farm to School Month by serving at least two locally-grown food items for breakfast, lunch, or snacks. Next week on October 8 school students will tackle the ambitious goal of achieving one million crunches of locally-grown apples during the ...