Thank you to readers who said they appreciated last week's "Impressions" which explained the difficult choices in the Israeli-Hamas War – thanks largely to the teaching pastor, the Rev. Peter Pettit, of St. Paul Lutheran. One reader wrote, "Thanks for your explanation of the Israel/Hamas war. I didn't understand what was going on, but your article helped me to grasp the problem." more

April 24, 1974: North Scott teachers were preparing to enter contract negotiations with the district and asked for a $1,000 pay increase, to $8,400 for the 1974-75 school year. Jack Dudley of the North Scott Education Association said the district had not kept pace with the cost of living. Dudley said the average teacher was paid $10,290 in the last school year, which worked out to about $4.82 per hour, assuming a teacher only worked eight hours per day during the nine-month contract period. Starting sweepers at Caterpillar earned $4.95 per hour. more

On April 10, the Iowa House passed House File 2641 by a near unanimous 96-aye to 1-nay vote. HF 2641 is the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) departmental bill. The measure proposes a number of changes to the Code that make technical corrections to update Code verbiage, remove dormant or obsolete program and Code provisions, and restructures Code language concerning the Choose Iowa Promotional Program. more

House File 2634 removes the $7.0 million cap on the real estate transfer tax (RETT) that is deposited in the housing trust fund (HTF)—resulting in an increase to that fund and affordable housing across the state. The bill passed out of the House Economic Growth and Technology and Ways and Means Committees as well as off the House Floor unanimously. more

"... I cannot recommend this play highly enough. It is a testament to the enduring relevance and transformative potential of the theatrical arts ..." more

"Volunteers are an essential extension of the Compassus hospice care team. From directly interacting with patients and families to working with care team members behind the scenes to help operations run smoothly, they provide a vital service ..." more

Lancer Productions’ presentation of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” opens this weekend, and I have much to report. more

The images are grim, and the April 10 first-person report from the Amnesty International fieldworker inside Gaza is sickening: more

April 18, 1984: Doug Otto was hired as the fourth superintendent in North Scott’s history. Otto was currently serving as the superintendent at Rockridge, Ill., and would replace Robert “Bear” Stevens, who was taking a position as superintendent in Glenbard, Ill. more

The 14th week included a lot of floor debate as we work through bills going through both the House and the Senate. more

The 14th week of the 2024 legislative session brought more bills to the House floor. As Chairman of the House Appropriation Committee, I have scheduled budget bills to start being voted on within our committee. We will soon be reaching the end of our session. more

If you were having a conversation with your best friend and he said your outfit looked horrible that day, would that make you feel good? more

"We are tired of all the shenanigans, power grabs and greed coming from Des Moines. And it is time for a change ..." more

"Let’s kindly encourage these foreign athletes to learn our language, and compliment them for each demonstration of progress they make along this very difficult road ..." more

"If this bill passes, Iowa farmers and agricultural workers will be unable to hold chemical companies accountable for the dangerous risk associated with using their products ..." more

When I was sitting court-side at Vibrant Arena March 15 before the UNI women's game tipped off in the Missouri Valley Tournament, I watched the three-member officiating crew – all women – go through their pre-game warmups and made a mental note of how seriously they were taking their responsibilities. more

April 14, 1999: Mel Foster Co. purchased 100 acres over four tracts of prime development land, known as the Muhs property, for $1.6 million. A fifth tract of land, containing a farmhouse and outbuildings, was purchased for $316,000 by Norman and Lois Muhs. The property was located west of Mel Foster’s Townsend Farms addition. The North Scott School District said it was interested in purchasing 20 acres for new athletic field and a possible new elementary school, and the city of Eldridge was also interested in five to seven acres for a new park. more

City officials in Davenport have managed to accomplish the impossible this year: They have brought Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature together to agree on something. more

Things are starting to wrap up at the capitol as we end the session, and the House of Representatives is busy working on the budget for the 2025 Fiscal Year. more

As week 13 comes to a close I find myself with a growing appreciation for my opportunity to live here in Iowa, not to mention the great honor of serving you all in the Iowa House. more