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The power of local control: How the Community Services Block Grant is fighting poverty in central Iowa

Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) changes the lives of nearly one in eight people in central Iowa, around 25,000 people per year. Poverty isn’t unique to us — it touches nearly every town and county in the U.S., but what is happening in Marshall County, Iowa, isn’t the same as in Dallas County, Texas, which is why local control is essential. The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) empowers Mid-Iowa Community Action and our local communities to identify our own priorities, directing a modest federal investment into results-driven solutions. In Marshall County, CSBG supports key ...

Reynolds’ summer food program is flawed

This is the final month for Governor Reynolds’ Healthy Kids Iowa (HKI) program. Since June, the state has been providing a food box per school-age child each month — instead of putting funds directly on an electronic card (known as Summer EBT) that eligible families can use at local grocery stores. Without a doubt, Reynolds’ program has been a poor replacement for Summer EBT. It has served about 15% of the families previously helped (35,000 kids under HKI vs 240,000 under Summer EBT). Its monthly pickup system is inconvenient for providers, difficult for families without ...

Trump wants control over DC

Recently, President Trump federalized the DC police and installed federal law enforcement officials in the city. The move was done with the intent to crack down on crime in the city, but the action was unnecessary. Violent crime is down 26% compared to last year according to the DC Police Department. Not only was it unnecessary, but the move will likely hurt crimefighting as a whole. For instance, parts of the FBI were activated to DC, which is dangerous because 1) those people are not well trained in day-to-day policing and 2) those people already have jobs in terrorism, violent ...

Kim Reynolds’ actions continue to sabotage our public schools

I have remained silent but disgusted at our governor and her ilk to damage our once nationally renowned public school system, but no longer. Her recent proposals to placate wealthy contributors (i.e. diversion of public tax dollars to private school entities) has not ended as recent news of her attack on the IPERS program is being reported. As a former 33 year teacher/coaching career in eastern Iowa and now a retiree in central Iowa, I am alarmed by her new assault on educators and their resources. A teaching career can be “sacrificial,” but rewarding. New potential entrants ...

Crazy

There used to be a Russian Colony just north of San Francisco, which was part of Mexico, in the early 1800s. With President Trump meeting with Putin in Alaska, which was itself bought from Imperial Russia, it’s all leading up to a importination of renewed Russian expansion. Feeding into the mass Russian delusion of prior territorial holdings is reminiscent of Jitlers justification for WW2, and “living space.” Meanwhile I got out of 7 of the 8 tickets brought against me. But I have to get a job to pay court costs. Damn, I wish I still had dogs.

Fear of a Non-Caucasian America

rac·ist /rāsest/ adjective: characterized by or showing prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. As Kevin Lewis insinuates a “fear of non-Caucasian America.” A good example, IMO: our current Mayor, who publicly posted on social media that the Mayor Pro-tem and other members of the Council are “old white men.” In that one statement the Mayor strategically discriminated against both age, race, and gender all in one breath. IMO, ...