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The Rowley Report: Senate sifts through bills during second funnel

The second funnel week’s purpose is basically the same as the first funnel week, but this time around the Senate is working with House bills, as opposed to Senate bills. This week’s schedule was focused on committee work as the Senate held debate on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday several subcommittee meetings were held along with standing committees to round out the week.

Letter to the Editor: Congratulations to Spencer Hospital

I am writing to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Spencer Hospital for achieving the prestigious recognition as a Top 20 Rural & Community Hospital & Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital for the ninth consecutive year. This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to the commitment, dedication and excellence demonstrated by the entire team at Spencer Hospital.

Guest Commentary: Second school security bill

In the wake of the tragic shooting in Perry, Iowans have demanded workable and effective school security measures.

A recent poll in the Des Moines Register indicated 60% of Iowans supported the plan to thoroughly train and arm school personnel who volunteer to serve in such a capacity inside school buildings.

On Wednesday, the House passed a bill that looks at school safety from the side of infrastructure.

Pastor’s Column: Perspectives on prayer

How do you pray? This is a very personal question. I recall visiting with residents of the nursing home who told me they say the Lord’s Prayer every day. You can’t go wrong with that, especially if you are taking it to heart and not simply repeating the words mindlessly. But even if you find yourself not concentrating on every word, turning your heart to God as a daily practice keeps you mindful of trusting God’s faithfulness.

The CommStock Report: Trespassing on the Parker Ranch tour

When traveling, my wife and I always include visits to farms and ranches. When on the Big Island of Hawaii, there is no bigger farm or ranch than the Parker Ranch encompassing the northwest portion of the island. There is a huge range of diversity on the island from lava desert to rainforest but this portion of the island is lush grassland. The Parker Ranch near Waimea is the sixth largest cow-calf operation in the U.S., running close to 15,000 cows.

Letter to the Editor: Voter ID

The ID graphic is wrong. Valid IDs are required for voting as defined by each state. For federal elections, in 2002 President George W. Bush signed the Help America Vote Act into law, which required all first-time voters in federal elections to show photo or non-photo ID upon either registration or arrival at the polling place. Of special note, buying a gun does not require an ID or license or registration.

Letter to the Editor: Responding to Wills column

In Tuesday's SDR, Iowa Rep. John Wills informs us that the Republican caucus in Des Moines has approved new standards for history and civics teaching in Iowa. This is remarkable because the State Department of Education has not expressed a need, much less a desire, to enact new standards. Wills goes on to say that the initiative by House Republicans was necessary because history and civics education in Iowa received a "D" grade from an outfit called the Fordham Institute.

Letter to the Editor: GACO has something for you

Playwright George Bernard Shaw once said: “Two things define you: your patience when you have nothing, and your attitude when you have everything.” During this Season of Lent, we are encouraged to prepare for the celebration of Easter by increasing our time and attention in the areas of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. In other words, we try to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus.

Guest Commentary: Holding illegal immigrants accountable for their crimes

Last month, the country learned the tragic news that 22-year-old Laken Riley — a nursing student from Georgia — was murdered by an illegal immigrant while out on a jog in broad daylight. As a father of four, my heart breaks for the friends and family of Laken who are enduring unimaginable pain right now. As an American, I am outraged that President Joe Biden refuses to secure our border and keep our communities safe.

Guest Commentary: Mental health legislation advances through the Legislature

This session, the Legislature has advanced seven bills to address mental health care in Iowa. These bills build on the work the Legislature has done over the last six years to expand access to mental health care, increase workforce, increase Medicaid rates, create sustainable long-term funding of the mental health regions and provide an emphasis on children’s mental health care.

The below list includes the status of each bill as of March 6.

Lawn & Garden: Spring garden cleanup with pollinators in mind

Spring cleaning, indoors and out, is a long-standing tradition for many households. But as we learn more about the important pollinators, insect-eating toads, songbirds and beneficial insects, the more we realize we need to adjust some of our timing and methods.

Extension Outreach: Celebrating Clay County 4-H volunteers with a Hall of Fame nod

Each year at the Iowa State Fair 4-H volunteers or alumni from each of Iowa’s 99 counties are inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. These inductees are volunteers, community leaders or Extension staff members who have dedicated themselves to furthering the reach and impact of 4-H in their counties and across the state.

Randy's Review: ‘Dune: Part Two’

Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya return in the second — very long, nearly three hours to be precise — installation of the “Dune: Part One” story in the creatively titled “Dune: Part Two.” Denis Villeneuve is back at the helm, directing after having both co-written the screenplay and co-producing the film.

Guest Commentary: Sounding the alarm over our growing agricultural trade deficit

Agriculture is the economic engine of Iowa. When our farmers and producers are successful, our economy grows, our main streets thrive, our businesses invest in new employees and finance expansions, and our rural communities grow stronger. As is obvious from our endless fields of corn and soybeans and our countless hog, cattle, and poultry operations, we grow and raise more than we can consume and sell in Iowa — or even our country.

Guest Commentary: House tightens foreign ownership of farmland law

This week the House of Representatives passed a bill to strengthen Iowa’s laws on ownership of Iowa’s agricultural land by nonresident aliens. Senate File 2204 easily passed with bipartisan support with a vote of 95-0. SF 2204 amends the current law to increase reporting requirements, increase enforcement of current laws, and authorizes the attorney general’s office to investigate reports of potential violations of Iowa’s laws concerning foreign ownership.

Pastor’s Column: 2:17

A little backstory before looking at the biblical text I’ve come across. Have you ever been around a person who is into seeing numbers in everything common? They see a number somewhere and think they should buy that number of quarts of milk, or pairs of socks or cupcakes. They see a sign and think this is their lucky year because they just turned 55. A bit of hyperbole, but my point is people can make numbers say just about whatever they want them to say.

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