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Backing it up

I read with more than passing interest that the City Council had further discussions on expanding the ever popular “back in” parking in other parts of town. Fortunately, it seemed to gain minimal traction for expansion. I want you to know that I am all in favor of trying new things that improve driving experience and convenience. I lived in a city where “round-a-bouts” were introduced with some fair amount of angst, but it worked out okay in the end. But “back in” parking runs totally against the grain of firmly entrenched driving habits. Pretty sure that’s why most ...

Sweeney-Rastetter conflicts of interest

Senator A Sweeney was one of the twenty two senators that voted against landowner protections from eminent domain abuse with her NO vote on HF639 on 12 May 2025. She calls herself a friend of agriculture and yet could NOT lift a finger to protect landowners. No favorable legislation has moved out the Iowa Senate, in the four years preceding that vote, from any of the dissenters of HF639. I have attended her townhall meetings and have raised concerns. I have asked her at a recent meeting in Poweshiek County this past fall, if she has ever received, either directly or indirectly ...

Teachers’ civil rights

Dear Board of Education: As I was removed from the sub list in 2019 because I insisted on students editing papers they were handing in, (https://www.yahoo.com/news/let-substitute-teacher-because-corrected-110006705.html), and because American education statistics have grown steadily worse, I thought the Iowa Board of Education might have wised up, seen the error of its ways and started supporting teachers. Nix, apparently not. Now, a teacher not only doesn’t decide what goes on in his/her classroom, he or she can’t even get on the internet in off hours and express an opinion. I ...

Trump is bonkers, our congressional reps remain silent

Celebrated historian Heather Cox Richardson says Donald Trump’s demand for Greenland is bizarre. She also called it bonkers. I agree. Trump has demonstrated bonkers behavior many times in recent years, especially the past twelve months. But Iowa’s congressional representatives have remained silent. Crickets. When will Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Zach Nunn, Randy Feenstra and Senators Grassley and Ernst stand up to Trump and challenge his excesses? This is not a time for cowardice. I’m looking forward to the mid-term elections this November. Maybe early voting ...

Back-in parking

The Chamber of Commerce promotes downtown activity. I think the proposed back-in-angle parking will discourage it. After all, few people back into their own garage.

Real reform starts with PBMs

Working in public health has given me a front-row seat to how hard it has become for Iowa families to simply stay healthy. I’ve spent years volunteering with mobile clinics and nonprofit groups, meeting people who are blocked at every turn by pharmacy benefit managers. These PBMs sit between patients and their prescriptions with zero transparency. It’s heartbreaking to stand in a mobile clinic and watch a patient walk away without the medication their doctor prescribed because a PBM denied it or pushed a different, higher-priced drug. I’ve seen patients end up in the ER over ...