Author's note: Colleen Armstrong from Burlington was a student in my Creative Writing class. She wrote the following powerful story about her struggle with cancer. With an old Betty Crocker cookbook …

I woke up Saturday morning about 30 minutes late. On my phone alarm, you have to set the damn day when you set the time and I forgot to do that. I jumped out of bed as quickly as a man my age can do …

Dear Editor When a politician tries to convince you that someone in the other party is an extremist because they took a position that one of the politician’s own party leaders agrees with, …

Voters have busy lives — families to care for, jobs demanding their attention, bills to worry about.  So, they can be forgiven if they do not closely track their government leaders’ …

The Hound Dome cracks me up. That place was packed Friday night to see the Fort Madison girls give No. 15 Keokuk all they wanted, and then watched the boys keep the Chiefs from an outright Southeast …

Dear Editor, Once upon a time long ago Iowa Republicans believed big government should stay clear of the day-to-day operations of counties, cities, towns and school boards. No more! An appetite …

These days, with political campaigns that seem to go on forever, Iowans may not recognize the significance of what occurred at polling places across the state on November 5, 1968. Voters approved an …

I bought my first pair of Lululemon pants this week. I had a lot of trouble going online to shop for them because I just had a feeling at some point someone’s gonna ask for my man card. Guys, …

Dear Editor: I am very concerned about the Iowa State Legislature dismantling the Area Educational Agencies.  I am currently a member of the Board of Directors for Great Prairie AEA, and I am a …

The Fort Madison Public Library’s winter reading program theme is “Where We Come From” inspired by the picture book by Diane Wilson, Sun Yung Shin, Shannon Gibney and John Coy, …

So I’ve been looking for ways to re-engage after a long span of squeezing work in between trips to the doctor with my mom. I told Dr. Mike that I was having trouble because my life for the …

I just got home from spending the day with my family following my mother’s funeral services Saturday morning. I quickly dumped the tie and sweater vest that is quickly becoming my go to formal …