The nearly 1 in 5 Americans who live in rural areas rely on local hospitals and health systems as a critical – and often the only – source of care in their communities. But rural hospitals are more than just care sites. They serve a vital role for regional economies; jobs generated by ...
Greetings friends! Now that the second funnel week is over, we voted on many more bills than we normally do to send to the governor’s desk or to the House. This week we passed out of the Senate the Life Amendment. The section reads, “To defend the dignity of all human life, and to protect mothers and unborn children from efforts to expand abortion even to the day of birth, we the people of the State of Iowa declare that this Constitution shall not be construed to recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion or to require the public funding of abortion.” With the eventual ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
