Passing new laws is part of the work Congress undertakes. Much of the time lawmakers spend in Washington, however, is devoted to detailed scrutiny of the vast array of federal agencies and programs. Assuring that taxpayer dollars are used as Congress intended and that the programs authorized ...
As we Americans celebrate the beginning of a new decade, we continue to allow a serious challenge to escalate to crisis proportions. It is the national debt — $23.2 trillion as 2020 began. Thoughtful Americans understand the perils of a big national debt. It can increase inflation. It ...
Going to see Lights at Kennedy has been a holiday tradition for many Fort Dodge area families for several years. Each Christmas season, businesses and civic groups have assembled colorful displays full of lights and other decorations in a section of John F. Kennedy Memorial Park north of Fort ...
Today, the members of the Fort Dodge City Council elected in November will be sworn in. The one newly elected member of the council is a familiar face. Andy Fritz, who served as an at-large member of council from 2010 to 2017, was chosen by the voters of Ward 2 on the city’s south side to ...
Today, we welcome in a new year. Last night, no doubt many readers stayed home, joining the ranks of those sitting on the couch, counting down the final moments of 2019 while participating vicariously in the festivities broadcast from Times Square in New York City. Others celebrated the ...
When the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Webster County Sheriff’s Office need some extra help, they have a unique resource to call upon. Both agencies can utilize a joint reserve unit of fully trained volunteer law enforcement officers called Reserves. And while many communities have a ...
All across the Hawkeye State, people will be taking advantage of this holiday week to pursue celebrate the arrival of another new year — 2020. That makes it especially important that we resolve to keep our streets and highways safe. That can be accomplished by paying heed to a few safety ...
As 2019 drew to close, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue shared his assessment of how well the department he leads succeeded in meeting its goals this year. He has good reason to be proud of its record because the U.S. Department of Agriculture accomplished much this year. “At USDA ...
Buried in the 2020 federal budget bills Congress approved this week is $25 million for gun safety research to be divided between the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The inclusion is less notable for the amount — $25 million is a drop in the ...
The holiday season is a time of year when most people are very responsive to philanthropic requests. Consequently, donations and offers of help are plentiful. The needs of those who depend on charities for sustenance do not end just because Santa has returned to the North Pole. That is ...
Iowa’s economy is robust and getting stronger. It has a quality of life that makes those of us who call Iowa home reluctant to even contemplate living anywhere else. Gov. Kim Reynolds has made stimulating economic development a key goal of her administration. She understands that unless ...
Some 2,000 years ago, an event took place that changed the course of history. No singular event has focused the attention of man on himself to the degree that the story of Bethlehem has, for it is the story of man. Kingdoms have risen and fallen, and great nations have perished from the ...
All across the nation, a feeling of anticipation is in the air. It is Christmas Eve, a time when those whose jobs do not demand that they be at work complete preparations for tomorrow, the biggest day on most of our calendars. Once the packages are all wrapped, the last decorations are adjusted ...
State Rep. Mike Sexton, R-Rockwell City, has been chosen by his fellow Republican lawmakers to fill a key leadership role in the House of Representatives. During a caucus Wednesday, they elected him to be the House majority whip. In that role he will be the right hand man for House Majority ...
Almost nobody gets through life without at least a few health care woes. Making sure that knowledge about how best to address medical issues continues to advance is the mission of the National Institutes of Health. The NIH has achieved an impressive research record in many areas. In recent ...
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 ...
Athleticism and artistry were on full display recently when the Iowa Central Community College dance team won three first place awards in a statewide competition. During the 44th annual Iowa State Dance Team Association contest in Des Moines, the team swept three classes of competition. It ...
A decision made in a split-second can turn someone from a bystander into a hero. The decision those heroes make is to help another human being even at great risk to themselves. Two area men – Greg Leohr, of Callender, and Ryan Cripe, of Fort Dodge – became heroes on the evening of Jan. ...
The Santa Cops project is a delightful annual effort to make the holiday season a bit brighter for area youngsters whose families need a hand up to make this time of year as merry as it should be. The Fort Dodge Police Association, Webster County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Dodge/Webster ...
While the battle to prevent teenagers from smoking tobacco is achieving substantial success, a new health risk has emerged that threatens the health of young Iowans. There has been a dramatic increase in vaping. Unfortunately, too many parents, school leaders and youngsters aren’t ...