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Preventing and reacting to falls in the winter

Winter in Iowa is here, and weather-related falls are of greater concern. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (2022), “Falls were the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for all ages in Iowa in 2020.” Falls, particularly those in the winter, can happen to anyone, but commonly occur in the 65 and older population. Our team at UnityPoint Health — Trinity Rehabilitation Services and UnityPoint Clinic Orthopedics — Fort Dodge recommend the following to help you and your loved ones avoid winter falls. To Avoid A Fall • Talk to your doctor about your ...

State auditor explains his role

As Iowa’s taxpayer watchdog, I hear from Iowans just about every day with concerns about state and local government. Oftentimes, there are steps my office can take to address those concerns; other times, the next step is as simple as directing folks to the best channel in state government to address their question. Sometimes, it’s easy to also confuse misplaced priorities for misspent money—one requires a change in leadership, and the other requires an audit investigation. Randy Evans, the executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, wrote a column that raised ...

Securing our border and protecting our families

Last December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that more than 302,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended at our southern border, the highest number of crossings ever recorded in a single month in American history. This figure also comes on the heels of a CBP report confirming that more than 785,000 illegal immigrants were encountered at our border since last October alone. The numbers don’t lie. Our border is wide open thanks to President Biden’s ridiculous policies that encourage illegal immigration and fail to enforce our nation’s laws. I’ve been to the ...

Fort Dodge Public Library: For 150 years, books remain its focal point

The Civil War veteran who is considered founder of the Fort Dodge Public Library could be forgiven for not envisioning that 150 years later, it would feature far more than hard-cover books, to wit: eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, comics and graphic novels, movies and TV shows, and music. ...

Whistleblowers are government’s greatest fraud fighters

Should our courts abandon 150 years of precedent and make it easier for wrongdoers to steal taxpayer funds? Fraudsters surely think so. Employees-turned-whistleblowers of medical-device manufacturer Exactech Inc. accuse the company of selling defective knee-replacement parts to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies, resulting in additional costly and painful operations. Now the company wants a federal judge to dismiss the case not on its merits, but on the dubious and ahistorical claim that the whistleblowers lack the authority to bring the lawsuit. The ...

Making an impact in 2023

2023 marked 100 years since the Iowa Legislature created the position of Iowa secretary of agriculture. In that time, 15 different Iowans have had the opportunity to lead the talented team at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Though much has changed since 1923, one thing has remained consistent: a commitment to serving Iowans and promoting our state's thriving agriculture. Our work matters and it impacts the lives of consumers every day. We are honored to play a role in supporting the industry that is at the heart of Iowa and drives our economy. Here are a few ...