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Opinion

Rural hospitals are vital care providers and economic engines

Local Columns

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 ...

The capitol roundup

Local Columns

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 ...

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 ...

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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 ...

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 ...

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 ...