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Opinion

The toys of summer

Local Columns

Many of the toys kids play with nowadays had not been invented when I was a kid. In fact, today’s kids probably would not recognize many of the ways we entertained ourselves in the 1950s. As the days heat up I think back to the summers of my childhood. These memories often include the toys ...

What the governor’s veto communicates

Editorials

The speed with which Summit Carbon Solutions applauded Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ veto of House File 639 is notable. The following email arrived in the Daily Freeman-Journal’s inbox at 4:21 p.m. Wednesday: “We thank the Governor and her staff for their thoughtful and thorough review of ...

The governor’s letter of veto

Editorials

June 11, 2025 The Honorable Paul Pate Secretary of State of Iowa State Capitol Building Dear Mr. Secretary: I hereby transmit House File 639, an Act relating to hazardous liquid pipelines, including common carrier requirements, proceedings under the Iowa utilities commission, including ...

We are all going to die

Local Columns

This is for you, Doug. I will never forget the moment I told you I was going to take over the DFJ for two months. You rolled your eyes. That was back in the spring of 2022. This is for you, Loween, whose expressions I remember clearly when I presented at a Rotary meeting in the basement ...

More in common than I thought

Local Columns

My father and I didn’t have a lot in common and that fact began to show up in our relationship when I was about 12 years old. The age labeled “pre-teen” is difficult for the pre-teen and his/her parent. In my case, it began a time of being many things my father wasn’t. Please ...