It was hot and muggy, with temperatures in the low nineties in Missouri (making it misery) and high eighties in Iowa—unusually hot for early May.  Ginnie and I had been in Liberty, …

In 2017, the Iowa Legislature responded to concerns from Gov. Terry Branstad and amended Iowa law to ensure when government employees are forced out of their jobs the reasons must be made public and …

Let this week’s Beside the Point serve as an open greeting card to all Moms on Mom’s Day. As your children, and more pointedly, as your sons, we know we were a pain in the ass. …

Phil Clevenger may have gotten his grit and determination from his grandfather, Ulrie Clevenger, who was known to say and put into practice that he'd, “Walk a mile to pull a …

Have you ever read a legislative bill? I’m a very humble person, but when I sit down to read something, I have a pretty decent ability to comprehend things. At least I did. I’m getting …

If you watch the Iowa Legislature in action, there are some truisms you see time and again. Such as: Each political party is in favor of transparency and accountability — until they gain the …

Dear Editor Another county session and more money expected to come out of the residents' pockets...in a county with a 14%+ poverty rate (2021 census) and a median per capita income of approximately $28,000.

There’s something that’s lingering from last week’s news cycle. It was a busy cycle with news of the shared athletic programs being salvaged between Fort Madison High School and …

Dear Editor, At its April meeting, the Central Lee Board of Education approved the district’s tax levy for the 2023-24 school year. The district was able to drop the tax rate another 3 …

I thought the often-repeated desire to weed out waste, fraud and abuse from government spending was something Republicans, Democrats and independents could all agree on in Iowa.   Boy, am …

Prom. It’s that time of year and it means following well-dressed students around southeast Iowa and watching the boys get frustrated with hours and hours of photos, while the girls get …

FORT MADISON - Mental Health Month is observed every May in the United States to raise awareness about mental health issues, reduce stigma, and encourage people to take care of their mental health. …