Opinions
Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting
My Uncle Luther could hold his breath for 30 minutes.
That’s incredible.
Not really. He could do it only once.
Driving by Bruce’s drive
I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur to me. The weather was doing well...
Dear Savvy Senior,
After watching the coverage of the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case, I’m worried about my own elderly mother who lives alone in another state. I want to make sure she’s safe without being intrusive. Are there simple, affordable ways to check in on her from afar?
--Concerned Son...
Good recipes come from sources other than traditional cookbooks. I was poking around in my recipe crypt and found a little folded paper that seemed to have been enclosed in a package of slow cooker plastic liners. I know there are mixed opinions about using these liners but they sure make clean-up...
The United States is the fourth largest country in the world in terms of total area. According to The World Factbook, the U.S. features more than 9.8 million square kilometers (roughly 3.8 million square miles), and the country’s terrain is as diverse as the people who call the nation home. There...
During the last quarter of the school year, Iowa schools are required to administer the Iowa Statewide Assessment for Student Progress (ISASP) in grades 3-11. In years past it was called the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) for the elementary level and Iowa Test of Educational Development (ITED)...
Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting
I was walking an Alaskan trail when I met a bear. All I had in my backpack was a can of fly spray, so I sprayed the bear.
What happened?
The bear flew away.
Driving by Bruce’s drive
I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive,...
Dear Savvy Senior,
Does Medicare offer any coverage that helps beneficiaries quit smoking?
New Beneficiary
Dear New,
If you’re ready to quit smoking, Medicare can indeed help! Medicare Part B covers up to eight face-to-face counseling sessions per year to help you kick the habit, and if you have...
On Monday, the House Appropriations Committee met to pass the Senate’s SSA bill with an amendment. While the Senate’s bill originally called for setting SSA at 1.75%, our amendment set SSA at 2.25%. It also included $14 million to increase pay for educational support staff. Our goal in fighting...
The sixth week of the legislative session, the initial "funnel" deadline was this week, making advancements crucial. Subcommittees and committees were busy working through large numbers of proposals being considered in each chamber.
The legislature reviewed SSB 3163, which modifies higher...
Heading into week 6, which is the last week of the first funnel, the session is in full swing!
I was invited to speak at two subcommittees, one for Senator Lofgren and one for Senator Salmon.
Local school officials said a proposal advanced by Iowa lawmakers this week to increase state per-pupil...