The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has been reflected in a series of discouraging statistics. But Iowa recently got a bit of good news: The state’s unemployment rate has dropped and is well below the national figure. According to Iowa Workforce Development, the state’s ...
A unique way to support a local organization that serves the disabled gets underway today. It’s called The Ultimate Virtual Fundraiser for the LifeWorks Charitable Foundation. Teresa Naughton, the executive director of LifeWorks, sums up its purpose as ‘‘raising funds and raising ...
October has been designated National Pork Month. That makes it an especially good time to reflect on the importance of the pork industry to this state. It’s unlikely that anyone who lives in Iowa does not already know that pork production continues mightily to the economic vitality of the ...
Sections of the Des Moines River and its banks in Fort Dodge are cleaner now thanks to the volunteer efforts of employees from three local businesses. Humes Distributing Inc. started the cleanup recently when a crew of eight employees spent about three hours pulling debris from the river ...
In her first term, state Rep. Ann Meyer has proven to be a hardworking, thoughtful and independent lawmaker. That’s why the Republican from Fort Dodge should be re-elected to serve House District 9 in the Iowa Legislature. With health care, and especially mental health care, a pressing ...
Fairly and correctly administering the law was a form of public service that Mark Cady turned into his life’s work. Cady, the Fort Dodge man who was the chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court when he died last November, was a steady presence in courtrooms for nearly 40 years. He began his ...
Maggie Lennon and a friend were out running one day last year when she got an idea that is now paying off for local people who sometimes have to rely on a food pantry for their next meal. As she and her fellow runner were putting in some mileage, Lennon got the notion that it would be neat to ...
Riding the big yellow bus is an essential part of the school day for thousands of local children. Those school buses do more than take kids to and from class. They are also the transportation to field trips, sports events and other activities. With so many buses on the road carrying ...
Many Americans worry that traditional values such as patriotism and true heroism are becoming rare in our nation. Hershel “Woody” Williams is a living argument to the contrary. Williams ought to be holed up at his home in Ona, West Virginia. At 97 years of age, he is well within the ...
Iowans need to keep U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst working for them in Washington, D.C. Since taking office in 2015, the Republican who is Iowa’s junior senator has gone to work for farmers, small business owners and veterans. She has earned a reputation as a champion for ethanol and biodiesel, key ...
Local teenagers with an interest in the arts and music now have an opportunity to make a bigger impact in the cultural life of their community. They can do that by applying for a seat on the youth advisory council being formed by the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association. ‘‘I think it’s ...
If the authorities are correct in their allegations against a group accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the 13 men ought to be viewed with a mixture of horror, disgust. Real Americans do not attempt to change either society or government by force. Those who do so, ...
When will we have an effective, safe, vaccine against COVID-19? That depends. Federal public health officials who are in the know and without any political agendas have said deliveries of vaccine can be expected sometime in January. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts a ...
President Trump’s tweet Monday “Don’t be afraid of COVID” has invited more criticism that he’s again downplaying the virus. Mr. Trump doesn’t do nuance, and he and his team have often acted recklessly, most prominently at the Rose Garden ceremony announcing Judge Amy Coney ...
The U.S. Census Bureau needs to do one thing at this time in the nation’s history: keep on counting. It needs to keep counting every man, woman and child in the country up until an Oct. 31 deadline. That seems like a no-brainer for the agency charged with carrying out the national ...
By the end of September 2019, 30 U.S. law enforcement personnel had been killed while on duty. Thirty-seven have been killed this year. Non-fatal injuries have soared, too. It is not being inaccurate to note that many, probably most, police officers, sheriff’s deputies and other law ...
It has been seven months since Americans began locking down against COVID-19. Many have attempted to get back to “normal” by donning masks, washing hands more frequently and taking a step or two backwards sometimes, to maintain social distancing. But many others have remained cloistered ...
Bill Greehey, the former chief executive officer of Texas based Valero Energy Corp., hasn’t lived in his native Fort Dodge in a long time, but he still cares about the community. A new building at Iowa Central Community College stands as a tribute to his interest in his old hometown. It’s ...
There are various types of businesses that operate as cooperatives, but according to the National Cooperative Business Association they all are owned and democratically controlled by their members and are designed to serve those members. The members typically are the people who use the ...
National 4-H Week, which began Sunday and concludes Saturday, is a good time to celebrate the enormous contributions 4-H makes to our community and nation. It’s hard to imagine anyone in Iowa who doesn’t know a bit about 4-H, but this week is an appropriate occasion to reflect on the ...