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Iowa has a Sam Brownback problem

Iowa has a Governor Brownback problem. In 2011 in Kansas Sam Brownback was elected governor, and he did what Iowa Republican lawmakers and Governor Reynolds have been trying to do — starve the state to appeal to voters who don’t like to pay taxes. Massive state income tax cuts in Kansas in 2012–2013 — often called the "Kansas experiment" — which aimed to spur economic growth but led to severe state budget shortfalls. In addition, it did not spur the Kansas economy more than the neighboring states. Iowa is spending more than it taxes for the last three years. The state's ...

MPL boardroom antics pt. 11

The letter to you published on Aug. 24, titled MPL boardroom antics pt. 10, featured a Statement of Concern rejected from an MPL agenda. In the Sept. 15 MPL board meeting, board members failed to perform their appointed duties as requested in the Statement and failed to resign for reasons also listed in the Statement. Instead, during comment time recent appointee Lea Husak, referred to pressure from patrons as bullying. If bullying includes patron/citizens exorcizing the right and importantly, the duty to hold appointed TRUSTees accountable, then the label is accurate. Characterization ...

Joshua and the stranger

Many centuries ago, there was a major land-battle shaping up. Joshua and the Israelites were following their God. It was during a time when God was cleansing the land for the Israelites. Many people cannot believe God would destroy folks in this manner, they believe this story didn't really happen. But it did happen and there is a lesson there. In a weary state, Joshua rested and began to contemplate the enormous task God had called him to. Looking "across the way" (across the valley) he saw a man not dressed in Jewish clothes and He was carrying a weapon of war. So Joshua confronted ...

The problem: United States debt

According to recent news items the national debt is over $40 Trillion dollars. People seem to ignore this issue because they feel they can do nothing about it. However, almost all families have debt, and they know what they must do if their loans become too large. Answer: They need to decrease spending and try to earn more income. The latest annual U S Government Financial Position & Condition Report was dated September 30, 2025. The web address is: fiscal.treasury.gov/accounting/us-financial-report/nation-by-numbers. This 180-page report summarizes trillions of dollars of transactions, ...

Data centers not a passing fancy

Dear Editor, Mayor and Councilors, Recently, I wrote an article about the data centers proposal likening it to an egg from a Golden Goose and cautioned about a moratorium. Since then, I have realized that a reasonable moratorium is good. It provides time to study a proposal and to develop our plan, requirements and strategies when presented with an offer from a data center. Data centers are not a “passing fancy.” They are here to stay because every aspect of our lives is affected by the Internet one way or another. So why can’t all of us buckle down and work together and give ...

Appreciation for construction of Garwin Emergency Services Building

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Mayor, City Council and veteran leadership from the Fire Department Chief along with lifelong volunteer firefighters Rick Raymond and Gary Aldrich, the small community of Garwin is finishing up on construction of a new Emergency Services building that will house both the Fire Department as well as the Ambulance. Rick Raymond is a current firefighter with over 40 years of service and has donated countless hours towards the planning and actual building of the structure. It is clear that this dream of a new fire department building would not have been ...