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Insurrection 2.0

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: Just as in 2016 and 2020, Donald Trump is telling his supporters that the only way he can lose the election is if it is rigged. In 2016, Trump lost the election by more than 3 million votes, but won the presidency through the archaic Electoral College. In 2020, Trump lost the election by over 7 million votes and also lost in the Electoral College. As we know to this day, Trump has denied he lost the election even though there has never been a shred of evidence to the contrary. His actions on Jan. 6, 2021, lead to one of the darkest days in our country's history. I ...

A new Backpack Buddies program is needed in Fort Dodge

Editorial

For 14 years, thousands of local kids relied on a unique program to keep their tummies full with good food on the weekends throughout the school year. Each Friday they picked up a backpack, or in more recent years, a bag, filled with nutritious food. That food was courtesy of a program called Backpack Buddies and it was vital for them because of their families’ economic situations. They relied on school breakfasts and lunches during the week for nutritious meals. But the weekends were another story. On Saturdays and Sundays, they may not have gotten much to eat at all and what they ...

Empowering Iowa small businesses to support America

Local Columns

Innovation should not just come from Washington when it is thriving right here in the heartland. In Iowa, small businesses make up 99% of businesses and employ more than 50% of the workers in our state. While these businesses have been put through the wringer by inflation and the unrelenting tsunami of regulations, Washington has punished them in a much less obvious way over the last 15 years — by squeezing them out of selling to the biggest consumer in the country: the federal government. Since Fiscal Year 2008, the number of small businesses competing for federal government ...

Thanks UnityPoint for excellent care

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: On Tuesday, July 23, our mother at the age of 92 fell and unfortunately broke her hip. She was transported to UnityPoint by ambulance and assessed in the Emergency Department. After X-rays confirmed what she knew and we suspected was a broken hip, the discussion began as to whether she could withstand surgery and if so, where would be the best place to have it done. We have a large and opinionated group of siblings and have heard the complaints over the years about the medical care here in Fort Dodge. Because we feel it is extremely important that Fort Dodge maintain a ...

Community Health Center and Upper Des Moines Opportunity team up again

Editorial

If it seems like it gets dark just a tiny bit earlier every night, that is because it probably does. As the days get just a bit shorter and the nights get just a bit cooler, that means summer is winding down. And as summer winds down, that means one thing for local kids - school will soon resume. Getting ready for another school year can be a real chore for parents. Buying supplies and clothes, plus getting the kids any required physical and dental exams can be a big financial blow for some families. The Community Health Center of Fort Dodge and Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc. ...

Expanding comprehensive cardiology care close to home

Local Columns

Following Iowa Heart’s official notice to us in April that they would no longer be able to provide 24/7 cardiology coverage for Trinity Regional Medical Center, we completed a full evaluation of current cardiology services and cardiology access for our patients. We believe for the highest quality, most coordinated care, outpatient and inpatient services cannot be separated. Therefore, we made the decision to hire cardiologists and interventional cardiologists that can care for patients in both the outpatient and inpatient setting to ensure a comprehensive heart care program. We ...