Opinion

State Senate moves to address illegal immigration

Local Columns February 28, 2026

This week the Senate passed several common sense proposals aimed at addressing illegal immigration. One of the first bills we passed was Senate File 2203, which requires the secretary of state to verify that those on voter registration lists are United States citizens. Last year, the secretary of state’s audit of the voter registration list found 277 non-citizens were registered to vote and 35 non-citizens had successfully voted in the 2024 general election. This bill is one more way we can help secure Iowa’s elections and ensure Iowans can have confidence in them. The bill ...

Phil Gunderson has remarkable record of community service

Editorial February 28, 2026

“It’s so great to do great things with great people.” Those were the words of Phil Gunderson, of Fort Dodge, Thursday evening at the annual dinner of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. Many in this city view Gunderson as one of those great people, a fact that was reflected at the dinner when he received the Catalyst Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Growth Alliance. We believe he truly deserves the honor. Just how much Gunderson has done and continues to do for the community was made very apparent when The Messenger obtained a copy of the remarks made by Jim ...

Group dedicated to helping families of fallen officers deserves support

Editorial February 25, 2026

A police officer being killed in the line of duty seems like something that would happen only in a big city. Such a death in Chicago or New York seems possible, but in our mostly rural area that seems far-fetched. Unfortunately, it can happen here. The citizens and law enforcement officers of Algona can provide firsthand confirmation of that sad fact. On Sept. 13, 2023, Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram went to a home where a man named Kyle Ricke was known to be staying. He went there to arrest Ricke on a warrant accusing him of third degree harassment. Cram found Ricke, who shot and ...

Grant Wood memorialized Iowa’s heritage

Local Columns February 25, 2026

For 46 years in a row, I’ve traveled across our state to meet with Iowans in every county, every year. Each time, I learn something new in the county I’m visiting and enjoy getting a first-hand look at high-quality goods and services made here in Iowa. Some things never change, such as Iowans’ productivity and humility. Iowans don’t brag enough to showcase the innovation, pioneering spirit and community vitality that’s part of our heritage, anchoring our economy and enriching civic life. A century ago, a native Iowan captured the essence of self-reliance intrinsic to closely ...

Resident has snow removal concerns

Letters to the Editor February 25, 2026

To the editor: I have written a lot of editorials lately about our government that never seem to get published so I will try a different subject. Unless you live on a snow route, I am sure that there are people all over town that have the same problem that I have been dealing with for 40 years. I live on a street that only has parking on my side, so even though people have driveways they are always parking on the street and when the snowplow comes along, it usually only does the one side which means I rarely have the snow in front of my house moved. The only times I've had the street ...

Winning the war on waste at the Pentagon

Local Columns February 23, 2026

Our armed forces are the most powerful, advanced, courageous, and capable team made up of the finest men and women ever assembled. President Trump’s call for a $1.5 trillion defense budget demonstrates an unwavering commitment to maintaining this might. If we are going to spend nearly as much on defense as the rest of the world combined, however, we must be able to defend to taxpayers how every dollar is spent. As a combat veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I know firsthand that billions of dollars meant for the military are missing the target. That’s ...