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Iowa Central looks to the future

Robbers traditionally had to go somewhere, often wearing a mask and packing a gun, in order to steal some money. Now, a new breed of bandits can help themselves to someone else’s money with a few keystrokes on a computer. Stopping these cyber crooks requires a new set of security skills. Those skills can be learned at Iowa Central Community College. Now the college’s students are going one step further, forming a club in which they’ll face off against like-minded students in cyber security competitions. They’ll get real-world experience stopping hackers and thwarting ...

Trade mission is a good move

The marketplace for Iowa’s many agricultural and manufacturing products extends well beyond the borders of the Hawkeye State. Increasingly, international sales are an important part of the picture. That’s why Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig are taking part this month in a trade mission to Colombia and Panama. This undertaking is being led by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. It will include representatives of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Corn Growers, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and Midwest Premier ...

Plan to attend Pork Congress

For more than four decades, the Iowa Pork Producers Association's Iowa Pork Congress has been an event where pork producers and assorted experts gather to share views and information about an industry that has long been vital to the state's economy. The annual incarnation of this very popular gathering is in Des Moines at the Iowa Events Center today and Thursday. Organizers say it is the nation's largest winter swine trade show and conference. Once again this year, the show will feature an impressive roster of speakers and an appealing array of exhibitors. There will be in the ...

Reynolds seeks better policy dialogue

The quality or our state’s school systems is among the most important determinants of Iowa’s long-term prospects. In addition to making life richer through stimulating a love of lifelong learning, good schools have an enormous impact on economic development. When they produce graduates who have the skills and knowledge that employers need, they help make our state an ideal location for businesses to grow and an attractive venue for investment in new enterprises. Gov. Kim Reynolds has made keeping Iowa’s schools topnotch a key priority. She recognizes that state funding and ...

What’s in a window?

The buildings of our past, particularly those we deem importantly historic, are not merely reminders of the way things once were done: They are part of the fabric of our communities. That is why, in our opinion, the choice made by the congregation of a Webster City church to completely restore 38 spectacular stained glass windows to their original glory is so important. In all, 38 windows in the First Congregational United Church of Christ were removed by Cathedral Crafts Inc., of Winona, Minnesota, in June and taken back to its shop. Crews took them apart, cleaned the glass, then ...

Include charitable giving in holiday budget

It can be easy during the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season to overlook the fact that for the less fortunate among us, there will be no holiday from need. Children whose parents cannot afford those toys our youngsters think they have to receive, adults unable to find work to pay for lavish holiday feasts and senior citizens whose fixed incomes preclude much celebration at Christmas should be in our thoughts and prayers during the next few weeks. They also should be included in our Christmas season budgeting. Just a few dollars from each of us can make an extraordinary ...