June 14 people will recognize/celebrate any one of the 18 designations it has including Flag Day here in Spencer. Millions will also recognize it as "No Kings Day" due to 45's threat to democracy.

The fiscal year 2026 budget will spend $9.424 billion in the next year, an increase of 5.33% over the current year.

Sunflowers are one of those happy plants many gardeners can’t resist planting. Kids love to watch the plants reach for the sky and everyone enjoys all the visitors. You are likely to see hummingbirds, bees and other pollinators on the flowers, songbirds munching on the seeds, and squirrels practicing acrobatic contortions as they try to gain their fair share of the harvest.

It’s the heat that defines us this month. It greets us at daybreak with its promise, but in an hour or so, it bears down on our shoulders and makes us dream of shade and something cold to drink.

The best thing about our hot season, however, are evenings when most of the earth cools, and that breeze slides in off the mesa and caresses our cheeks. Then it’s time to sit, and laugh, and tell stories and just be with someone we love. Then is the culmination of a day we can be proud of.

Remember Kelli Bloomquist?

I’m sure it’s a head scratcher for some of you.

How about Kelli Linn? A little more familiar perhaps?

Isn’t it time to finally forgive yourself?

In today's full-contact political environment, it's sometimes necessary to be blunt. Take for instance elected Republican's claims that their budget priority to cut Medicaid funding is only intended to reduce fraud, waste and abuse — more cynically — sustain the future.

It's not true. Straight up. Republican Medicaid cuts would hurt all Iowans.

We’re now less than 100 days away from the Clay County Fair! This exciting annual event provides an opportunity for 4-H members to showcase what they’ve learned over the past year and receive recognition for their accomplishments.

The version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” enacted by the House will encounter more modification by conservative senators before it becomes law. I have no confidence that they could pass one that would fiscally correct the unsustainable debt trajectory of the U.S. Given his support of the House bill, President Donald Trump doesn’t even intend to try.

When an older rodeo champion decides to reenter a competitive event at his own peril to raise money for his extremely ill grandson, the professional bull riding world is turned upside down in “The Last Rodeo.”

Neal McDonough and wife, Ruve, are deeply involved and have starring roles in this latest Angel Productions release, which is somewhat predictable, yet highly touching film.

It's easy to get mad when you’re already staring down the barrel of high prices for everything and then find out you're probably gonna be hit with a big rate increase for an essential service.

The news that Spencer is facing a potentially $55 million project to repair and modernize its wastewater treatment plant was one of those maddening events. Understandable as the anger is, a lot of folks are directing their ire toward the wrong people.

The future of every Iowan’s right to own private property rests in the hands of Gov. Kim Reynolds. At question is whether the governor will sign HF639 into law to curtail the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines by private companies for profit without public necessity. Hundreds of impacted Iowa landowners anxiously await her decision.

Keep your flowers blooming longer and your garden a bit tidier with deadheading. Removing faded flowers can promote repeat bloom on some plants, encourage fuller, more compact growth and tidy up the garden.

Fishing is fun! It’s important that we keep that in mind whenever we have the opportunity to go fishing. Fishing is even more fun when we catch a few or a bunch of fish. Or a big one. We’ll increase our chances of catching a few, a bunch, or a truly big one if we remember to fish for the “biters.” Here’s what that means.

If you like to fish, this is the time of year when you can pick your poison … no matter what type of fish you like to target, you can have success! Don’t believe me, just check out the guide reports on Facebook. Walleye, bass, northern pike, muskies, crappies, bluegills and perch. Yes, pick your poison!

A COUPLE WALLEYE STORIES