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Here’s another place where Iowa needs more transparency

There has been a lot of talk lately about why Iowa’s K-12 school districts need to be more transparent, and more accessible and more accountable, to parents and the rest of the tax-paying people of Iowa. That is the justification offered for a bulging backpack full of bills introduced in the Legislature this year. But lawmakers should not stop with their push for improved transparency in schools. There are bills before the Legislature this year that would require a monitoring camera be installed in every classroom, online lists of every book in every school library and every book ...

Senate change won’t better inform Iowans

Typically, in the days leading up to the start of a new session of the Iowa Legislature, the attention is on lawmakers’ goals and priorities — and on the pledges they make to work together for the good of the people of Iowa. This year, however, Republican leaders who control the Iowa Senate announced a controversial decision that erases more than a century of openness — evicting journalists from the floor of the Senate chamber. This ill-conceived action makes Iowa an outlier among the legislatures in the 50 states. You could count on one hand those that do not allow journalists ...

Share in the holiday spirit with community Saturday

Things are going to be very festive in Webster City on Saturday as local businesses, the city of Webster City, the Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations collaborate for Christmas in the City. At various venues around the community, local residents will have an opportunity to meet Santa, experience a pioneer Christmas, hike the trails in search of candy canes and hear a reading of the holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol.” Santa will be a busy guy on Saturday. He starts off the morning with Breakfast with Santa from 9 to 11 a.m. at Hy-Vee. Then he’ll meet with ...

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 ...

4-H is about helping youths achieve

National 4-H Week, which began Sunday and concludes Saturday, is a good time to celebrate the enormous contributions 4-H makes to our community and nation. It’s hard to imagine anyone in Iowa who doesn’t know a bit about 4-H, but this week is an appropriate occasion to reflect on the important contribution this organization makes by helping young people develop skills and values that will serve them well for a lifetime. It has been more than a century since 4-H got its start in Iowa in 1901. Today it is the largest youth-development program in the Hawkeye State. About one-quarter ...

Use caution as cyclists roll through Webster City Tuesday

Webster City is going to welcome a lot of visitors Tuesday — probably more than 15,00 people. All of those 15,000 people will be here as RAGBRAI rolls into town. While Webster City is not an overnight stop on the route, the bicyclists will be taking a break here. There will be food and entertainment downtown. To safely accommodate the bicycles and provide their riders with a good time, some streets will be closed Tuesday. Those who live and work in Webster City will need to be flexible and accept some temporary changes to their daily routine. Patience and caution will be needed ...