Opinion

Keep Iowa’s roads safe during harvest

Editorial September 14, 2026

Following the recent area rains, the corn and soybeans have to dry down quite a bit before farmers can harvest them. But it won’t be too long before the combines roll. Soon it will be the time of the year when big, slow-moving farm vehicles rumble out onto roadways dominated by faster-paced traffic. That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who lives in farm country. Even so, all of us should pay special heed to safety considerations as we share the roads with agricultural vehicles. In general, Iowa has been doing a good job of keeping accidents involving farm vehicles to a minimum. ...

Iowa Supreme Court still preaches open government, but choir is splintering

Local Columns September 12, 2026

The Iowa Supreme Court typically opens its rulings on the state’s public-records and open-meetings laws by reciting that the cases start with a “presumption of openness.” But a new study of the court’s open-government decisions finds the presumption now wins only about half the ...

Flu shots provide potentially lifesaving protection

Editorial September 12, 2026

Just about everyone has called in sick at some point, saying they had the flu when they were sniffling, sneezing, maybe running a fever and generally feeling lousy. Those symptoms definitely add up to an illness, but the problem is not really the flu. Influenza, as it is properly known, is much, much worse. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, influenza is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Influenza and pneumonia are among the top 10 causes of death in the state. Fortunately, there is a way to prevent influenza. A yearly vaccine can protect a person ...

Sept. 11 is a day of remembrance

Editorial September 9, 2026

A whole generation of Americans can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on Nov. 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. On Friday, the nation will mark the 25th anniversary of another unforgettable tragedy. Millions will remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they learned that the United States had been attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. For about 15 minutes after the first jet hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center on that September morning, it was possible to believe that a horrifying accident had ...

Every minute matters

Local Columns September 9, 2026

Your heart works around the clock, never taking a single second off. It powers life’s biggest milestones — from family celebrations and sporting events to the simple, everyday moments that matter most. Every beat keeps you moving, making heart health one of the most important investments ...

Unsung heroes keep our schools functioning

Editorial September 5, 2026

A new school year is fully underway. We’re guessing that students all across the area went back to school filled with a mix of excitement and maybe a little anxiety. The same might be true of their parents, especially parents of the youngest children going to school for the first time. Their teachers were waiting for all those kids when they walked into school for that first day of classes. It is easy to view teachers as the central figures in the American education system. They are entrusted with preparing our children for the future by helping them to gain knowledge, skills and ...