Last Tuesday, Iowa U.S. 4th Congressional District GOP candidate Kevin Virgil stopped by Coffee With The Editor (above) at the Grand Avenue Community Outreach, and visited with those attending to share information and tackle questions. Grass roots politics at its finest.

This week in the Senate we continued our work on bills received from the House. This process is key to getting the bill ready for floor debate through discussion and amendment if necessary. Three of the committees I serve on, Judiciary, Commerce and Workforce, all met.

“This whole election process just doesn’t work for me,” Dud said, sipping his coffee. “There’s no way we can tell who is best for the job.”

Doc, being the senior member of the Mule Barn truck stop’s world dilemma think tank, looked kindly at Dud. “Well, haven’t you been reading what each guy stands for, Dud?”

Did you know that 81 million or 26% of U.S. adults live with a disability? Whether these conditions are due to accidents, injuries, or complications of health issues at any age, there are many of us who have to “just ADApt” to the challenges we face because of disability.

Spring: A lovely reminder of how beautiful change can truly be. This statement seems to especially apply this year as our office is settling into our new location. We've started our spring programs, camps, livestock weigh-ins and tagging, and poultry orders. It is an exciting time for growth and is the perfect time for applications for the Spencer Community Gardens to open.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.