Ever since I first tore tiny, perforated receipts for Mrs. Cordell’s Indianapolis News subscription in 1967, I’ve made most of my living selling newspapers. more

April 19, 2000: Gov. Tom Vilsack signed a bill that raised the cap on the amount of money that could be used towards early retirement in IPERS. As a result, three North Scott principals, Dennis Albertson, Joe Ragona and Barry Lahann announced they would retire at the end of the school year. The three represented 92 years of administrative experience and more than a century in education. Albertson had been with the district since 1967 and had been a principal for the last 33 years, including at Grissom and Armstrong, a record for the district. more

The late newspaper columnist Bill Wundram of the Quad-City Times in Davenport wrote seven days a week for 31 years. Many of his columns, highlighting a wide variety of concerns in his home community, included the refrain, “Is anybody there? Does anybody care?” more

As the 91st Iowa Legislative Session begins to wind down, the financial situation for FY26 (the fiscal year that begins on July 1) is becoming clearer. Gov. Reynolds and Senate Republicans have each proposed an approximate $9.4B expense budget. Meanwhile, the Iowa March Revenue Estimating Committee stated that Iowa will collect $8.5B to pay for the budget. more

During the 13th week of the legislative session, lawmakers focused on debating bills that made it past the final legislative deadline. With just one month remaining, the focus now turns to passing Iowa’s state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. more

"Somebody needs to grow a spine and tell Elon and his wealthy buddies they have had quite a run up in wealth but it’s time for them to pay their fair share ..." more

"There had been a tariff war in the past, and it did not end well for us. A 1945 decision against high tariffs created stable economies worldwide in reaction to that economic downturn ..." more

"Libraries are more than buildings filled with books—they are lifelines to opportunity. They provide free access to knowledge, job resources, technology, and a safe, welcoming space for people of all ages and backgrounds. In a world that sometimes feels increasingly divided, libraries remain one of the last truly inclusive public spaces ..." more

April 10, 1985: Dean Bassett announced he would close his International-Case farm equipment dealership in Eldridge effective July 1. Bassett said the closure was due in part to a diminishing agricultural market in Scott County. “We stuck it out longer than anybody thought we would,” said Bassett. “We just can’t keep losing money and losing money.” more

Iowa’s economy had its strongest months in three years, according to a Creighton University survey.  The duration of the move into positive territory is unknown with impact of new tariffs acting as a wildcard. more

Four House Public Safety Bills have made it to the Governor’s desk. It is my honor to serve as chair of the House Public Safety Committee. more

There have been numerous culture war bills brought up during the 91st legislative session, and on Thursday, April 3, the companion bill HF 856 DEI, “prohibition for state/local government and all higher education” to SF 507, “Restricting County and city, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs” came before the Senate Education Committee. These two similar bills specifically prohibit any state, county, school district, post-secondary or any other local government agency from promoting any trainings, programming, policies, procedures, or a whole host of other diversity, equity, or inclusion initiatives. more

Last week was the final funnel deadline for bills to be considered.  We did not have floor debate so I wanted to give you some insight into a day on the Ways and Means Committee I Chair. We met Wednesday and passed 15 bills out of committee.  All 15 bills received bipartisan support and were about a variety of topics. Committee work rarely garners headlines but as you see below – that work does impact many of you in many ways.  more

"Because of the relationship we have shared, it was highly disturbing to find out that graduation would be held at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Choosing to hold graduation at this time of day poses a number of issues for our congregations and the members of those congregations ..." more

"The elimination of the Institute of Library and Museum Services (IMLS) is a decision that will hurt popular Iowa attractions that serve residents and draw thousands of visitors ..." more

April 1, 2020: Seven city employees in Eldridge who took trips over spring break returned to face a two-week COVID quarantine ordered by Gov. Kim Reynolds in their absence. Meanwhile, the Eldridge City Council met online for the first time. The Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed six new cases of COVID in Scott County, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 16. more

Last week the House took significant and historic action on eminent domain abuse reform.  From Day One, I have been one of the leaders in the state in ensuring that wealthy individuals cannot bulldoze their way through your Fourth amendment private property rights.  It started with a lake in Clarke County where wealthy developers wanted to condemn hundreds of acres of prime farm ground for a recreational lake. I knew that if it could happen in Clarke County it would not be long before someone tried that in Scott, Cedar, or Muscatine Counties.  We were successful in those endeavors and a law is on the books.  more

"At the Scott County Library System, we invite the community to join the celebration! Whether you’re a longtime patron or haven’t visited in a while, now is the perfect time to explore all the library has to offer ..." more

"Together, we should use public dollars for public schools, which 90% of the Iowa youth attend ..." more

"Grab a Bible and read about it in more detail. It’s good news ..." more