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Opinion

Q&A: Blue slips

Local Columns

Q: What is the blue slip tradition in the U.S. Senate? A: The blue slip refers to a paper form, literally a blue piece of paper, the Senate Judiciary Committee has used for more than a century to give home-state senators the courtesy to show their endorsement or disapproval for a ...

The Messenger to unveil 68th football publication

Editorial

Fall in Iowa is the season of harvest, pumpkins, orange-colored leaves and, of course, football. On cool Friday evenings and on Saturday afternoons, people from all across the Fort Dodge area gather every fall to watch their local heroes of the gridiron compete. They’ll scream and cheer for ...

Honoring labor, honoring Jane Burleson

Local Columns

Recently, I was honored to introduce Fort Dodge’s own Jane Burleson as she was inducted into the Iowa Federation of Labor’s Hall of Fame. Jane’s incredible story is a reminder that the labor movement is not just about contracts and wages; it’s about people who spend their lives fighting ...

Local residents need to remember the good things

Editorial

Fort Dodge had an opportunity Monday to make a good first impression on a company that could be a major part of the community in the future. The early results from the Hometown Tour by representatives of Kading Properties appear to be good. The company leaders had good things to say about ...

‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ is jet fuel for economy

Local Columns

Among several issues that Americans report as their highest priorities, a strong economy usually tops the list. That makes complete sense. After all, a strong economy means bigger paychecks, more jobs, and greater opportunities for families, farmers, workers, and businesses in Iowa and ...