Is oxygen a pollutant? If not, then carbon dioxide cannot be a pollutant as well. Oxygen is produced by plants. To thrive plants need water, soil, nutrients, sunlight and carbon dioxide. Some would suggest we need to reduce the carbon dioxide (plant food) in the air. Some say greenhouse gasses are bad. Yes, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, but are greenhouse gasses bad? Do we really know what the ideal amount of carbon dioxide should be in the air?

Is oxygen a pollutant? If not, then carbon dioxide cannot be a pollutant as well. Oxygen is produced by plants. To thrive plants need water, soil, nutrients, sunlight and carbon dioxide. Some would suggest we need to reduce the carbon dioxide (plant food) in the air. Some say greenhouse gasses are bad. Yes, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, but are greenhouse gasses bad? Do we really know what the ideal amount of carbon dioxide should be in the air?

Legendary author Agatha Christie’s greatest detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh — who also directed the third tale of this ongoing big screen resurrection of classic Christie novels) returns, albeit reluctantly, to discovering whodunnit.

The other day I was talking with my children who asked one of Christianity’s massive questions: “Why does God save people?”

How would you answer this question? Surely there are lots of “right answers,” according to the Bible. We would be in-line with the Bible if we said, “Because he loves people” or “Because he wants to fix a broken creation” or “Because in his mercy, he knows we have no other hope.”

In case you missed it, we just put the wraps on our annual nine-day celebration in Clay County, of course I mean “The World’s Greatest County Fair.”

There are so many reasons to love daffodils. These spring-blooming bulbs aren’t fussy about where they are planted. They come back to bloom again year after year and are not bothered by deer, rabbits or other garden pests. But there’s also a whole world of beautiful daffodils beyond the classic yellow ones. Daffodils are available in unusual flower styles and unexpected colors that can bring a whole new look to spring gardens.

Since the beginning of his administration, President Joe Biden has weaponized the heavy hand of government to tilt the scale in favor of policies that he supports — absent any congressional action or approval whatsoever.

Many decades ago, Mrs. Gentry and Mr. Halferty put up with an inquisitive kid’s classroom questions about American democracy and the workings of government.

I did not imagine back then how the meaning of some words could take on such importance in government. Take, for example, a much-talked-about word in Iowa last week, vexatious. It means abrasive, aggravating, annoying, irritating or nettlesome.

After Tuesday’s less than positive gas prices rant — in case you didn’t noticed they jumped 70 cents a gallon overnight last week — I thought I better to take a more positive direction today. So allow me to begin by inviting you to a little coffee-and-conversation every Tuesday morning at Coffee with the Editor, starting bright and early, at 7 a.m., in the dining area at the Grand Avenue Community Outreach.

I’m sure most of you have heard about Summit Carbon Solutions, the pipeline that is proposed to carry CO2 from ethanol plants through Iowa to be stored underground in North Dakota. They have spent the past two years trying to get people to sign easements, giving up rights to their land for a minimal price. Those landowners who have not signed easements were served eminent domain papers. I happen to be one of those landowners.

Do you remember Sept. 11, 2001? Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news of the horrific event that occurred that day? I do. I remember being unemployed at the time while my wife worked a night job.

One surprise to me during the recent GOP presidential primary debate was when Vivek Ramaswamy called climate change "a hoax," some in the roomful of GOP supporters booed him. He has been trying to become the previous president's mini-me on these issues. His plan has been to ingratiate himself with Trump supporters and position to take the bulk of them if the pending criminal trials go badly for the former president.

Fall is the polishing time. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. For some reason, the spirit that guides us made our experiences in fall the peak of the year’s efforts.

For animals, both wild and domestic, it is the rut, the breeding time. The bulls and bucks have never looked better. Their antlers and horns are hardened into weapons and sharpened against trees. Their bodies are lean and aggressive and they tend to lose all good sense.

Before I dive in, let me take a moment to wish my life, Leah, a happy 34th anniversary. I know, many of you are wondering, how could you put up with her for more than three decades … sorry, that’s probably the other way around. Six kids, three weddings, one engagement and 10 grandchildren later, here we sit. Thank you for standing beside me through all these health challenges. Perhaps for should have paid closer attention to the “in sickness and in health” clause in our marriage agreement.

The Board and Commissions Review Committee created by the government realignment legislation has continued its work to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of each board, council, commission, committee or other similar entities of the state established by code.