Americans are accustomed to hearing endlessly about legislative gridlock in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, that seems to be a situation likely to persist for the foreseeable future. Here in Iowa, the Republican Party controls both houses of the Legislature. Since our state also has a ...

When Americans enjoy fireworks on every Fourth of July, they have John Adams to thank for the colorful displays. Adams, one of the Founding Fathers who became the country’s second president, wrote to his wife, Abigail, when the Declaration of Independence was approved in July 1776 in ...

When you drive past the Crossroads Mall in Fort Dodge, it seems obvious that something transformative is going on there. There are all kinds of fencing and construction equipment on the property. One new building housing a convenient care clinic is already standing, and two new roads pass close ...

Make plans to spend some time at the annual Farm News Ag Show. It will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Palo Alto County Fairgrounds, 2101 Madison St., Emmetsburg. The show will appeal to those with even a casual interest in agriculture, but for those who want more in-depth ...

In every town there are special people who contribute to the success of the community through the giving things they do. These folks — whose selfless contributions make life better for others in their hometowns — sometimes go unacknowledged. That’s unfortunate because many of the people ...

A once plain wall at the Fourth Street Depot in Fort Dodge is now decorated with a colorful mural showing a piece of the community’s history: the old Bennett Viaduct. The bridge spanned the Des Moines River from 1901 to 1981. A large American flag known as Old Glory on the River flies from ...