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Q&A: Federal boost for rural health

Local Columns

Q: What is the Rural Health Transformation Fund? A: Congress approved this summer a historic $50 billion federal investment to rebuild rural health infrastructure that was included in the health and tax bill President Trump signed into law on July 4. The Rural Health Transformation Fund is designed to help improve access to quality health care for Americans living in rural areas of the country. Beyond providing lifesaving services and a continuum of patient care, rural hospitals and clinics serve as an economic anchor and employer for the region. With fewer patients than their urban ...

‘Safety first, avoid the worst’

Editorial

Farms can be seen as quiet, peaceful places where the crops grow and animals graze in the pastures. Farms can indeed be such tranquil spots. But as all Iowans know, farming is an industry. And like all industries, there are certain hazards associated with it. Tractors can be in crashes on rural roads. Machines can snag arms and legs. Grain bins can become death traps. Most of those nightmare scenarios can be avoided by using common sense and basic safety precautions. National Farm Safety and Health Week, which began Sunday, is a time dedicated to raising awareness of the various ...

Let’s keep making state softball better and better

Editorial

The girls state softball tournament has been part of Fort Dodge for 56 years. It’s going to be part of the community for another 20 years, through 2045. That is not just hopeful talk, that is a fact thanks to an unprecedented 20-year contract extension agreed to by the Fort Dodge city government and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. The extension was announced Sept. 10. The tournament has been held at Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex since 1970, but the contract that has kept the event here for so long has in the past only been extended for a few years at a time. ...

They never chose this life

Local Columns

Behind the stereotypes of homelessness are men with stories of loss, resilience, and hope—and at Beacon of Hope, they are rebuilding their lives. I once asked a class of fourth graders what they wanted to be when they grew up. Their answers came fast and fearless—firefighters, business owners, race car drivers. Big dreams. Cool dreams. But do you know what no one said? Not a single kid said they wanted to be mentally unstable, addicted, divorced, or homeless. And yet, how often do we hear people say, “They choose to be homeless,” or “They just need to get a job”? That ...

Urban deer hunt to begin in Fort Dodge on private lands

Editorial

A deer hunting season is about to get underway in Fort Dodge. It will start Saturday, and chances are many people will have no indication that it is happening. The fact that the hunting won’t be obvious to everyone in town is a good thing. We hope it stays that way because that means the hunt is being conducted flawlessly by expert archers. The hunt will continue through Jan. 10, 2026, on privately owned land that meets size requirements. Most of that property is on the northern, eastern and western edges of the city. The decision to allow what is called an urban controlled bow ...

Delivering a pay raise for our troops and strengthening our national security

Local Columns

In 1961, the United States Congress passed the first National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Then, and in every conflict since, our brave men and women at home and overseas relied on Congress to authorize new programs, procure advanced weapons, and make quality-of-life improvements for servicemembers. For six decades, the NDAA has recognized the ever-changing, modern battlefield — and the soldiers we field upon it. This bill authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense, establishes defense policies, and supports military personnel. In Congress, it is our responsibility ...