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Warns of threat to American democracy

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: At Eggs and Issues, I brought up what I believe is the essential issue that everyone should be talking about: that the United States may lose its democratic status. For those who don’t know, the group that monitors and reports on the democratic status of nations put out a warning that the United States may not qualify as a democracy in next year’s report. When I brought up the issue, only Kraayenbrink spoke on the issue. He was very dismissive, explaining that we are a republic — not a democracy — which, duh, no country is a true democracy because voting on ...

It’s time for spring — and farming

Editorial

It’s getting to be that time of the year. Although it is early in the season, you just may have seen someone working in the fields already. You may have seen a tractor rolling down a rural road. If you are a farmer, perhaps you have been looking over the fields and getting the machinery ready. All that activity means one thing — the time to start planting is drawing near. Yes, there may be a late season snow storm, but spring is coming and with it comes the annual planting. Spring is the time when the pace quickens on the state’s roughly 90,000 farms. According to the ...

Law would make Iowa’s roads safer

Editorial

We think Iowa lawmakers are getting close to making the state’s roads safer for everyone. How are they doing that? By advancing a bill that would prohibit drivers from using electronic devices unless they are in a hands-free mode. State Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, first introduced the bill more than four years ago after hearing horror stories from people who were in crashes or nearly in crashes because another driver was using their phone instead of paying attention to the road. Meyer has now submitted the bill in four consecutive legislative sessions. And in each of the three ...

Homegrown Iowa biofuels support American energy dominance

Local Columns

Domestic energy production is a critical component of both our short- and long-term economic growth, bolsters our national security, and strengthens our international competitiveness. From getting to work and heating and cooling homes to keeping the lights on and growing crops, our families, farmers, businesses, manufacturers, and many other sectors of our economy rely on reliable, affordable, and abundant sources of energy. President Trump recognized this reality when he declared a national energy emergency on his first day in office and later established a National Energy Dominance ...

Protect our road workers by slowing down

Editorial

Despite the heaps of snow outside, the calendar tells us that it is now spring. All of that snow is in fact, starting to melt. And once all that snow melts into water that trickles down into the storm drains, what will we find on our streets? Yes, you guessed it - potholes. Chances are that over the years everyone has heard some version of the old wise crack that goes like this: In Iowa, we have two seasons — winter and road construction. The annual chore of fixing all the potholes will be part of the road construction season. Plus there will be fresh coats of asphalt and concrete ...

Colorectal cancer in Iowa: A concern for our communities?

Local Columns

March marks Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to highlight the impact of colorectal cancer in our state and encourage screening to save lives. Colorectal cancer remains the third most common cancer diagnosed in Iowa and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with an estimated 1,650 new cases and 550 deaths expected in 2025 alone (Iowa Cancer Registry)?. Despite advances in prevention and treatment, Iowa continues to have a rate which exceeds the national average. This concerning trend underscores the urgent need for increased screening and education, especially in ...