Breaking News

Local Columns

Fraudsters are treating the Treasury like a personal piggy bank

Tax Day has come and gone ... along with the money the IRS took from your paycheck. Even if you paid your taxes on time and in full, you are still subject to the threat of an IRS audit. Meanwhile, fraudsters are treating the national treasury like a personal piggy bank, stealing more than $1 billion from the government every day. The IRS wants a cut of that loot, requiring that criminals report bribes and stolen goods as taxable income. But does anyone really think the crooks stealing tax dollars are going to share their spoils with the IRS? Fat chance. In fact, too many of ...

Fort Dodge without TIF is a weaker Fort Dodge

Fort Dodge’s conversation about tax increment financing should begin with a simple question: What would our community look like without it? TIF is an Iowa urban renewal tool that allows communities to reinvest new tax value created in a designated area back into that area. For Fort Dodge, it has been one of the most important tools available to encourage job creation, expand our tax base, and move redevelopment projects from ideas to reality. That is why the “without TIF” question matters so much. In Fort Dodge, we do not have to imagine what TIF has made possible. We see it ...

Tax season delivers historic tax refunds

Q: How is the Working Families Tax Cuts Act helping families make ends meet? A: The tax law delivered a welcome boost to family budgets this tax season. According to the IRS, the average tax refund is up 11 percent compared to last year. Estimates show the average tax cut for Iowans is more than $3,000, equating to an extra $250 a month. That’s a financial lift families can use to buy groceries, pay for child care, put gas in the car and invest in home repairs. President Trump’s signature on July 4th enacted the landmark law, stopping the largest tax increase in U.S. history. ...

A reminder to take a break

There’s nothing quite like being knocked down by sickness to humble you in a hurry. Recently, I came down with whatever has been making its way through our community, and for several days, I had no choice but to stop. Not the usual “take the day off” where I still check messages, return calls, or keep an eye on what’s coming in. This time, it was a full stop. No emails, no meetings, no multitasking from the couch. Just… rest. Admittedly, it’s not something I’m particularly good at. Never really have been. And I know I’m not alone in that. There are a lot of people ...

Don’t let poverty destroy a child’s hope

It is hard to imagine a child growing up in our community with little or no hope for a bright future. Unfortunately, we know that living in poverty can destroy hope in the hearts of children. United Way of Greater Fort Dodge believes that one of the worst things about childhood poverty is the slow acceptance that there is no way out and that there is nothing they can do to change or break from the hopelessness of being poor. Those who live in poverty often experience high rates of chronic and acute health problems, depression and mental illness, hunger, homelessness, low self-esteem ...

Strengthening Iowa agriculture in global markets

Over the last several years, farmers across Iowa have endured challenging market conditions as they dealt with weather, rising input costs, and other countries targeting American agriculture to gain unfair advantages. These conditions affect their families, operations, and our rural economy, which is built on our strong agricultural sector. Growth in our agricultural industry starts with strong markets. That is why it’s critical that Congress gets the Farm Bill across the finish line and onto President Trump’s desk to be signed into law to deliver certainty and opportunity for our ...