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Church duds have changed

Local Columns

The other day I was thinking about what people wear to church nowadays. After a year of online church services, some folks are probably accustomed to worshipping in pajamas… or worse! I was raised in conservative circles and in later years have been shocked a time or two at the types of clothing I have seen in church. Don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about clean blue jeans and tennis shoes. The shock came from shorts or jeans with holes, flip-flops, worn out printed t-shirts; that sort of thing. Things have changed over the years. Back in the ’50s the words “Sunday ...

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Coronavirus

In the months since COVID struck, we have encountered many challenges. Iowans lost precious work hours or their job altogether. Kids were home with school closures and senior citizens became even more shut in. As the state started its economic recovery, a historic storm ripped across ...

Iowa Senate addresses child care, property taxes

Local Columns

Last week was the 12th week of the legislative session. It included the next important legislative deadline of the year. In order to be considered for the rest of the year, policy bills needed to be out of their original chamber and through committee in the second chamber. In other words, we spent time this week looking at policy bills sent to us from the House. Early in the week I was excited to vote yes on Senate File 496. This bill eliminates noncompete agreements with employees making, on a monthly average, $14.50 an hour or less. It prohibits noncompete agreements for low-wage ...

Country Roads: The job of eradicating disease

Local Columns

My second COVID-19 vaccination was administered on a recent Sunday afternoon. Other than some fatigue, I experienced no unpleasant side effects from the shot or from the first one for that matter. My wife has had her first vaccination and has an appointment for the second. One of these days we’re going out to dinner somewhere. Anywhere. For the last year dining out has meant carryout food consumed at our dining room table; I’m looking forward to going out to eat soon. When given my “COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card” at my first vaccination appointment I was reminded of ...

Proven more than qualified to lead

Letters to Editor

To the Editor: With March being Women’s Month in the U.S. and International women’s Day during the first week, it is important to recall that it was 52 years ago that Shirley Chisolm was historically elected the first Black woman in Congress. Black women are the backbone of the U.S. democracy and have proven more than qualified to lead. There are no Black women in the U.S. Senate, no Black women on the U.S. Supreme Court, no U.S. Black women governors, no Black women presidents. The Rev. H. Milton Cole West Des Moines

Editorial offers no criticism for Trump

Letters to Editor

To the Editor: The Los Angeles Times editorial in the March 8th edition was very critical of President Biden for not imposing sanctions against Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (who will be referenced as MBS for the rest of this letter) of Saudi Arabia after the report released by the office of Director of National Intelligence on 2/26/21 proving MBS ordered the murder of U. S. journalist Jamal Khashoggi. President Biden had been in office for only 31 days when this report was finally released after having been held up by the Trump Administration since 2019. President Trump ...