May 5, 1976: The City of Eldridge’s lawsuit against Caterpillar would move forward, as a judge rejected the company’s motion to dismiss. The $50 million suit followed Caterpillar’s announcement that it planned to voluntarily annex its Mount Joy plant into Davenport. more

Iowa students aren’t sitting on the sidelines, waiting their turn – they are already building our future. more

"The presently elected candidates are in place due to our voting, or lack of in 2026. Be active, exercise your duty to vote ..." more

I have my plants in the ground for the season, which is a kind of feat when you consider that I live on the second floor of an apartment building. I have limited myself to mint, parsley and thyme; I have also repotted rosemary that just survived the end of last summer and was slowly nursed back to health, indoors, last winter. All four are now enjoying springtime on my back porch. more

May 2, 2001: The North Scott School Board hired Dr. Timothy Dose to succeed Dr. Pat DeLuca as superintendent of the North Scott School District. Dose, who would be just the sixth superintendent in district history, had served as superintendent of schools in Monticello since 1993. “He is a proven superintendent. He possesses the qualities we want,” said board president Jack Hill. “Every step he progressed and moved up.” For his part, Dose was excited. “It is an opportunity for professional advancement and a good location for me. I’ll be 30 miles from my mother in Clinton and I have a brother in Bettendorf.”  more

I am not someone that will wake up early to run a race, nor do I have the disposition to fully appreciate the nuances of a jazz performance. However, even I, the uncultured and unathletic person that I am, cannot deny Leon Bismarck “Bix” Beiderbecke has had a great impact on our community and the world of art. more

The legislature has been “talking” property tax reform for years.  So far, without result.  Sadly, this year’s House action is no more likely to result in meaningful reform than last year’s…and last year the House did nothing.  Despite endless debate over rollbacks, exemptions and valuations, it seems no one’s property taxes actually go down!  more

We completed the fifteenth week of the legislative session, and Tuesday marked the 100th day and the scheduled final day of the legislative session. As predicted, and with important work still to be completed, we will be heading into overtime. We continue working on big issues and important bills, and we are excited for the opportunity to deliver for our constituents and our state. more

Clickety clack. The great railroad merger of 2025 was highballing full throttle to the station, much to the delight of its supporters. more

"The legislature continues to squeeze public schools while adding unfunded mandates and restrictions. Public schools are now required to accept students from charter schools, private schools, and home schools for athletics and extracurricular activities without compensation. Legislators must recognize that choices can come with consequences, and taxpayers deserve transparency ..." more

It never ceases to amaze me how Lancer Productions takes my already high expectations and super-exceeds them every single time. more

Nothing in a childhood on the east coast can prepare you for a midwestern storm erupting out of a clear day. So much of Iowa is laid flat and so little of it built up that every storm is entirely in view, yet impossible to wrestle into your field of vision. more

April 25, 2001: Long Grove native Allen Johnson was nominated by the Bush administration to serve as the chief agricultural negotiator for the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. A 1978 North Scott graduate, he had held a series of national agriculture posts and was currently serving as president and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association. His appointment was praised by Sen. Charles Grassley. “With Al’s appointment, farmers can know they have a real friend in the USTR,” Grassley said. more

Full and fair disclosure. I lost my wife of 40-plus years to breast cancer on Christmas 2021. She was a nurse, educator, mother and grandmother and my best friend.  So, yes, when it comes to cancer, I’ve got strong feelings.  But I’m not alone.  There are far too many Iowa families suffering such devastating loss.  But what really saddens me is knowing so many of the seats around Iowa family dinner tables shouldn’t be empty today. You know, we’ve heard it all before. Iowa suffers the second highest cancer rate in the nation. And, while cancer rates nationally are declining, Iowa's are increasing, sharply. But why? Science confirms that common cancers—breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, and skin melanoma—are associated with environmental risk factors, such as pesticides, nitrates, PFAS and radon.  more

House Republicans spearheaded the effort to create the EMS levy to ensure dedicated emergency medical services funding.  When an Iowan calls 911—they should feel confident a prompt response is coming and House Republicans are ensuring that. This week a pair of EMS bills passed the House Ways and Means Committee in support of that goal.  more

"Across the U.S., more than 420,000 hospice volunteers give more than 19 million hours of service every year. Hospice volunteers are an indispensable part of the care team, bringing companionship to people in the final months and weeks of life, providing respite to families and caregivers and supporting the administrative responsibilities of hospice programs ..." more

"Iowa shouldn’t be struggling with unacceptable water quality. Iowa shouldn’t have high rates of cancer. Iowa shouldn’t be the major contributor to the dead zone at the end of the Mississippi River ..." more

I drove from Eldridge out to West Liberty several weeks ago for a serious look at the Liberty Press. I had stood in its doorway with several mesmerized children for a letterpress printing demonstration at Christmastime. A few months later and I thought a sustained look backwards at little lead characters might prove a tonic for weeks spent slouching towards artificial this and digital that. more

April 16, 1986: Jim Tank, president of Central Trust Savings Bank, was recommending the sale of the bank to Banks of Iowa Inc., a statewide banking corporation based in Des Moines. Tank was recommending the sale as the best alternative to financial problems caused by the “seriously depressed economy of the area.” While staff had worked to shore up CTSB’s eroding capital over the last year, significant losses from loans had handicapped the bank’s earning power. As a result, no dividends had been paid, and the bank’s holding company had been unable to service a stock loan. CTSB suffered a $721,000 loss in 1985. The potential sale would end 87 years of local bank ownership in Eldridge, although stockholders would have the final say. more

If you steal from taxpayers, you should go to prison. It’s as simple as that. more