To judge by her comments moments after she was sworn in as the new CIA director, Gina Haspel has her priorities in order. Haspel, a 33-year veteran of the intelligence agency, revealed some of her plans on Monday. She wants to improve CIA personnel proficiency in foreign languages, strengthen ...

When President Donald Trump returns from a meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un in June — assuming it happens — he will not be able to get off Air Force One waving a piece of paper and proclaiming it represents peace in our time. Unfortunately, that is the reality of the ...

In Webster County and all across America, teams of dedicated professionals stand ready to render medical assistance in emergencies. For some this is their career. For many others it is a volunteer undertaking that is performed in addition to their normal employment. It’s impossible to ...

Opponents of a measure to make it easier for military veterans to see private-sector health care providers instead of relying on the Department of Veterans Affairs have one big complaint: Doing that could lead to privatizing the VA, they complain. Horrors! Take control of veterans’ health ...

Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst, the two Republicans who represent the Hawkeye State in the United States Senate, are both strong champions of Iowa’s evolving ethanol industry. They are working collaboratively to make sure that our state’s ethanol producers do not face marketing ...

All across Iowa, this is the time of year when high schools celebrate with commencement exercises an important milestone in the lives of seniors. Graduation from high school is a key benchmark event. It is a major transition point in life. For many young folks, not only does it represent ...

Today is National Kids to Parks Day. This is a countrywide celebration organized annually by the National Park Trust “to connect kids and families with their local, state and national parks and public lands.” It has helped popularize these wonderful outdoor recreational venues since ...

First lady Melania Trump has an excellent idea with her “Be Best” campaign to help children. Too bad so many in the media, after listening to her unveil it , focused most of their reporting on her relationship with her husband, President Donald Trump. Approximately half of one major news ...

Leadership Fort Dodge has an ambitious mission. It seeks to develop community leaders “who are informed, dynamic, qualified and motivated.” Now in its 13th year, the project endeavors to mold future leaders by providing them the background information and other tools they need to become ...

Sixteen million Americans served in this nation’s military forces during the most horrific war in history — World War II. The nation’s official memorial paying tribute to their sacrifices was a long time coming. It finally was opened to the public on April 29, 2004, in Washington, D.C. ...

Gina Haspel, nominated by President Donald Trump to head the CIA, spent much of her career at the CIA in undercover roles, performing work truly critical to national security. It is known she played a key role in what is being termed “brutal interrogation” of suspects involved in Islamic ...

Egg production is big business in Iowa. The Hawkeye State’s 54 million laying hens generate a remarkable 16 billion eggs each year, making Iowa the No. 1 egg-producing state in the nation. The Iowa egg industry is a big purchaser of Iowa’s other agricultural products. The state’s layers ...

If you think that Mother’s Day is one of those holidays created by the greeting card industry, you may be in for a surprise. Giving thanks to mothers has been a part of many cultures for as far back as history has been recorded. In the United States, the tradition is frequently traced to ...

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had a valid point in a speech delivered in Berlin on the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx’s birth. Marx, Juncker said, “isn’t responsible for all the atrocity his alleged heirs have to answer for.” Perhaps not. Marx, an icon among the ...

National Transportation Week begins Sunday. This celebration of the transportation industry has taken place each May since it became a permanent event in 1962. An annual observance taking note of this vital industry’s importance to the nation dates back to the 1950s. That makes this an ...

Iowa Central Community College is an enormous asset to all of north central Iowa. Not only does the college provide affordable educational opportunities, but it also helps make certain that workers with the right technical skills are available to present and future employers. One of the many ...

Events in Seattle are re-emphasizing a point about economic development that too many government officials seem to have forgotten: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Officials in that West Coast city have said they plan to establish a new “head tax” on businesses that gross more than ...

The Fort Dodge Noon Rotary Club has been a part of this community for a century. Its many worthy activities and community-improvement projects contribute grandly to making this town a place anyone would be proud to call home Helping young people succeed and taking the time to acknowledge and ...

Gov. Kim Reynolds has officially proclaimed May as Beef Month in Iowa. For many of us, every month is a time to partake of a food that ranks high on the list of culinary favorites. It’s no secret that Americans have a love affair with beef. That’s been true for generations and the ...

The Webster County Board of Supervisors is considering a change regarding the use of off-highway vehicles on county roads. An existing ordinance allows OHVs on gravel roads, and permits them to travel a “reasonable distance” on paved roads. The proposed ordinance as currently drafted would ...