Features
Glad to see state mRNA vaccine ban didn’t pass through legislative funnel
Thursday, March 13, 2025 11:07 am
It’ll still be a few weeks before we know for sure which bills survive the current legislative session in Des Moines, but a good number of bills have come to the end of the road — including one I was glad to see didn’t pass through the so-called funnel.
Iowa’s new stance on discrimination brings to mind other civil protections
Friday, March 7, 2025 11:32 am
Well, Iowa made history again. Not necessarily in a good way.
Klimesh’s Corner: Lawmakers heading toward session’s first funnel
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 11:36 am
We just finished up week seven in the legislature and are barreling toward the first funnel at the end of next week. Any bill that does not clear committee on either side is dead for the session, except for those in the Ways and Means Committee and the Appropriations Committee. It has been an extremely busy session, and I have been working on policy issues in several committees. I am also the new chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, which has been a challenging and extremely interesting committee.
Greetings from the Capital: A productive and dedicated legislature
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 9:33 am
Things are getting done here at the Capitol, thanks to a productive and dedicated legislature. This week marked the end of week seven of the legislative session, and we are approaching the first funnel date of March 7 for policy bills that must be moved out of subcommittees and adopted by committee to be eligible for further consideration this session.
State legislation could lead to a different kind of silence in the library
Saturday, March 1, 2025 10:16 am
The last couple weeks were particularly dizzying for me as I glanced at the bills being introduced in Des Moines. It’s hard to keep up with every single idea that gets thrown out there under the capitol’s dome, and things will eventually get winnowed down in the weeks to come. But bills that affect public libraries often catch my attention.
Driftless Weddings: The perfect blend
Thursday, February 27, 2025 11:50 am
Wyoming + Decorah celebrations are the right combination for local couple
Driftless Weddings: Words, friends and family
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 11:59 am
Tyler Wright, Jaclyn Jirak treasure close connections during September wedding.
Driftless weddings: Celebrating life and love their own way – Maddie Putnam and Caleb Keck share their wedding day memories
Saturday, February 22, 2025 11:31 am
“I love being married,” Maddie said. “We cook and eat dinner together every night, have a routine with our dogs, workout together and are building a life that we want together. It’s the best feeling knowing you’re coming home to your best friend.”
Driftless Weddings: Diamonds are forever – so are wedding tattoos
Friday, February 21, 2025 11:23 am
Riley Bodley, Trystan Riley put personal details into their wedding
Driftless Weddings: Conner and Marissa Ariss look back on fall wedding
Thursday, February 20, 2025 8:43 am
Conner and Marissa Ariss briefly crossed paths while taking the same college course in early 2020. Classes moved to an online format within a matter of weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the two met again that fall, and a relationship eventually grew from there — they married in November of 2024.
Driftless Weddings: Local couple redefines ‘promposal’
Thursday, February 20, 2025 8:38 am
Leah Weis and Brendan Lovstuen of Decorah staged a lighthearted stunt in high school, and it came full circle last summer.
A lot of ‘ifs’ are at play following governor’s response to Sheriff Marx
Friday, February 14, 2025 4:24 pm
I’ll admit, I didn’t think the letter Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx wrote last week would turn out to be front page news. To me, the sheriff was simply explaining what actions his office might take if immigration officials were to make a local stop or began some sort of local enforcement action. It simply struck me as an effort to provide helpful information and context for area residents and families.
Fair warning: debate’s good, but the gate’s closing
Friday, February 7, 2025 4:07 pm
I had to chuckle while doing my proofreading this week, because I completely agree with the first line of Mr. Johnson’s letter to the editor — these three-column letters about Decorah’s proposed municipal electric utility are indeed getting old, regardless of whether the authors are supporting or opposing next month’s referendum.
Echoes: Rural kids move to town for high school
Monday, February 3, 2025 9:58 am
Back in 1925, mid-January meant it was time to return to high school classes after Christmas vacation.
Greetings from the Capital: Committee work beginning in Des Moines
Monday, February 3, 2025 9:14 am
The second week of session has been shorter than usual with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The workload has ramped up for me with the release of the governor’s recommended budget.
Radon: a serious health problem in our community
Thursday, January 30, 2025 9:06 am
January is National Radon Awareness Month. While most people are familiar with the concept of radon, many are unaware of what a serious health problem radon represents to our community.
‘If you can’t be first, be better’
Thursday, January 23, 2025 10:59 am
Sometimes folks seem to believe we journalists are supposed to be all-knowing, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), we aren’t. Take for example, the recent situation at Aase Haugen here in Decorah.
Greetings from the Capitol
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 10:59 am
The first day of the 91st General Assembly began with the swearing-in ceremony. As the week progressed, the House and the Senate convened for a joint session to hear Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Condition of the State address, as well as Chief Justice Susan Christensen’s Condition of the Judiciary. Lastly, we heard from Major General Stephen Osborn, the adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, on the Condition of the National Guard.
Seek out reliable information, because digital lies require no work
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 3:32 pm
I’m increasingly irked at how quickly misinformation crops up following natural disasters in the digital age.
Snow days and shovels call important lessons to mind
Tuesday, December 24, 2024 10:11 am
As this column is being written, it looks like we might still get a white Christmas with a few days to spare — Iowa weather can be fickle though, so forgive me if I’m wrong.