Fifty years ago, we put students before politics and the AEAs were created with the help of Sen. Chuck Grassley, to create equal opportunities for all students, so that regardless of whether you lived in a rural area or an urban area, all children and educators had equal access and support to ensure Iowa students could achieve at the fullest.

Once again Gov. Kim Reynolds has another plan to harm all schools in Iowa in this 2024 legislative session. The dismantling of the AEA will not only impact public education, but the private schools too. Iowa has overwhelming written and responded to leave the AEA’s as they are. The bill has been amended and the new revised one is equally flawed.

In about 1999, my family lived up on Lake Minnewashta in Arnolds Park, which was a fun place to live! One thing it taught us as we traveled back and forth from there to Spencer daily across that flat farmland on 71, what it looks like in town is not what it looks like out on the highway between Milford and Spencer. The skies were blue, it was negative 42 (including windchill factor) and windy.

Friday morning, I found myself watching coverage of the 138-year-old Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, celebration at Gobbler’s Knob — who came up with that name, explanation please — surrounding the annual spring forecast timeline from the seer of seers and prognosticators of prognosticators — a furry little groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil.

I’ve long believed that cutting taxes for our families, farmers and small businesses spurs investment in our rural communities, promotes economic growth, and creates good jobs. When we let hardworking Iowans keep more of their hard-earned money, folks are encouraged to start their own enterprises, hire new employees, support businesses up and down our rural main streets, and put money aside for a rainy day.

According to a survey released by Gallup on Oct. 13, 2023, the average U.S. teen uses social media 4.8 hours per day. Girls use social media roughly one hour more than boys per day. Teens favorite platforms are YouTube and TikTok with Instagram a distant third in popularity.

Add unexpected beauty to your patio, deck or balcony with summer-blooming bulbs. You may have grown elephant ears, lilies, dahlias, gladiolus and caladiums in your garden, but did you know they also thrive in containers? Some summer bulbs grow even better in pots than they do in the garden. These include the exotic-looking flowers of Abyssinian gladiolus, calla lilies, pineapple lilies and spider lilies.

Hey, I was there to help, right? Right there in the kitchenette loaned us by the Roosevelt Hotel in Anchorage. My wife, Pam, ran the headquarters for the Iditarod Dogsled Race, and it was the second year of the race, 1974, and there I sat, a genuine Alaskan long-distance dog musher who had participated in the first race the year before.

So when a nicely dressed elderly gentleman with a thick Boston accent stopped by for coffee and questions about the race … hey, I’m there for you.

Last time I encouraged record books and this time I want to say how excited I am for the number we received and for the quality. There is room for improvement, but the kids did the work and all have a place to work from for next year! As I am getting ready for my personal year end business meeting it is helpful to gauge how you are doing if you can see where you started. No matter what profession an exhibitor lands in life there is value in doing and understanding the record keeping.

You choose, the hardest jobs in America are:

• Donald Trump’s hairstylist, his skin tan retailer and his attorney team — they’re really busy.

• Joe Biden’s Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, his public event sign language interpreter or his speech and policy writing team.

You choose.

Friends, I filed a bill this week with several of my colleagues that would provide pre-birth child support to mothers who are carrying a father’s child. Right now, that support, for the most part, does not start until the baby is born and, as a pro-life person, I felt that the unborn child needs and deserves the support. Quite frankly, guys have been getting off the hook for too long and need to take accountability for their actions.

The word “really” can be used in so many meaningful ways. It can be used as a question: “Really?” It can be used in the sense of gossip — “REALLY!” It can be used to express interest — Really.” It can be used to express doubt — “Really?” Or, it can accentuate truth — “Really!” But, it can also accentuate unbelief — “Really!” “Really” is a really interesting word.

Could it be that congressional leaders could come to a budget agreement ahead of the deadline of Jan. 19 when portions of the government run out of money again? Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy did a budget deal that his House caucus later reneged on costing him his job. The new speaker, Mike Johnson, who actually physically sat next to Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and shook his hand, also has reportedly done a deal for $16 billion in less spending than the Democrats had proposed.

Just like us, insects spend their winters in different locations. Unlike us, they spend their winters in different stages of development. Some may overwinter as adults, others in their immature stage as grubs, caterpillars or nymphs, while others will be in the pupal stage like a chrysalis or cocoon. Understanding their lifecycle and location can help us support beneficial insects while managing problem insect pests.

In the Senate during week three the focus was on scheduling subcommittee meetings for discussion and public comment. The scheduling process can be quite a challenge as the other senators are also setting up their times for subcommittee, while looking ahead to meeting the first funnel deadline of Feb. 16. Hundreds of bills are packed into this three-week period. I served on and chaired a number of subcommittees.

Bills introduced: