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Guest Commentary: Fiscal year 2024 budget ready for implementation as governor signs appropriation bills

With Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature on each of the 2023 budget bills, the state’s spending plan for the new fiscal year is now set.

The governor signed all of the fiscal year 2024 budget bills on June 1. She chose not to use her line item veto authority on any of the appropriations levels enacted by the General Assembly. The only item veto involved policy in the Judicial Branch appropriations bill.

Guest Commentary: Agriculture education is a vital investment for rural America

As a father of four, ensuring that our kids receive a quality education is a top priority for me. From trade schools to four-year universities, our great state offers our students many opportunities to further their education, develop the skills they need to enter the workforce, and live fulfilling lives. I am also proud that Iowa — particularly the 4th Congressional District — is home to phenomenal community colleges that prepare our students for the whatever the future holds.

Pastor's Column: 'From hopeless to redeemed'

There is no easy way to tell people that your life was a mess and you have a criminal history, unless you have Jesus in your heart and in your life. Sixteen years ago my life was a mess after a series of events, from my mother getting sick, to hanging out with the wrong people, and then my mother passing away due to complications with rheumatoid arthritis. I ended up neck deep in a crazy and chaotic world of crime and drugs.

The CommStock Report: From worse to just bad

July lean hog futures soared over $19 from recent lows to recent highs from an island bottom on the charts. The most shocking surprising thing to me about that was that it could rally $19 and both packers and hog producers were still losing money despite such a price recovery. On June 12, the standard packer margin was a negative $19.87 a head and the integrated packers that produce their hogs were losing $23.23 a head.

Home Country

Watching the fly fishing going on down at Lewis Creek is a little like box seats at the Bolshoi ballet. You might not even know what those old guys are doing, but dang they seem to do it well.

Long, sinuous casts out from the bank to the Lunker Hole. The Lunker, often dreamed, never caught, but our community would be the poorer without him.

“Fly fishing,” said Marvin Pincus, “is just another name for life.”

“Or love,” said our cowboy, Steve.

Guest Commentary: Last chance for 65-plus and military property tax relief

HOW TO FILE FOR THE SENIOR HOMESTEAD TAX CREDIT & EXEMPTION

House File 718, the property tax relief signed into law this session included a new senior homestead tax exemption and an increase in the exemption for military veterans. The Iowa Department of Revenue has updated the forms for 2023 on their website and are available for eligible Iowans.

Letter to the Editor:  Are the 'end times' upon us?

These days all the shootings, muggings, attacks on school children, escalating out of control domestic battles — they all give one pause for wondering what will become of us. Are the "end times" upon us? How much worse can it get? We probably don't want to know. Suffice it to say it gives credence to the notion that we are all fearful and flawed, and at the same time you can add forgiven to the mix.

Guest Commentary: Track down every last penny

Washington is borrowing money from China to pay for pointless projects in China.

You read that right!

Since 2017, more than $1.3 billion U.S. tax dollars have been sent to our adversaries, Russia and China. It’s a scary thought, but this sum likely doesn’t reflect the total amount because federal agencies do not follow the trail of tax dollars to their final destination.

Lawn & Garden: Gardening under a black walnut tree

Wilting, yellow leaves or stunted growth means it is time to look around your landscape and surrounding landscapes for clues. A common cause of these symptoms is the black walnut tree.

Extension Outreach: Life lessons from 4-H livestock projects

As I am writing this article I am preparing for a busy week. Meat goat weigh in, YQCA training and swine tagging will all take place between writing this and it being published. Summer has arrived! Dog project youth start practices on Mondays for the month of June and will add Thursdays in July. Horse project exhibitors have their practices on Wednesday throughout the summer. Also starting in June are the rabbit project practices held at the Small Animal Building on the fairgrounds.

Guest Commentary: How to file

House File 718, the property tax overhaul signed into law this year, included a new senior homestead tax exemption and an increase in the exemption for military veterans. The Iowa Department of Revenue has updated the forms for 2023 on their website and are available for eligible Iowans.

 

HOW TO FILE FOR THE SENIOR HOMESTEAD TAX CREDIT & EXEMPTION

Letter to the Editor: Improve opportunities for the average Iowan

I think David Kruse is a very intelligent man. I read his commentaries and regard them as good information. He has played by the rules although it is likely that he has closer connections with those who write the rules than your average grease monkey.

One Man’s Perspective: Hey buddy, wash your seat

I regularly get emails which include polling results for a variety of things. Some times I share them because I feel they might be of relevance to our readers. Other times I just roll my eyes and wonder why would anybody ever research this information in the first place.

This is one of those times. But in the interest of receiving your feedback, I’m going to share it anyway.

Guest Commentary: Protecting Iowa corn growers through the USMCA

On July 1, 2020, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) — which was signed into law nearly two years earlier — entered into force, formally replacing the North American Free Trade American (NAFTA).

Randy’s Review: ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’

Animation and voice talent transition well to the big screen as the second of three scheduled entries in the “Spider-Verse” centered around two Spider-teens Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld). The two originally met in the 2018 initial venture “Into the Spider-Verse” which brought a rag-tag group of Spider heroes together in Miles universe.

Book Review: 'China & Me' a charm and delight

When Joan Olander was growing up on her grandparents’ farm near Rowena, South Dakota, little did she know she would one day become Mamie Van Doren, Hollywood smash box office actress, a contemporary of Marilyn Monroe and Jane Mansfield.

Also, little did she know, in 1980 she would acquire China, a Moluccan cockatoo that would accompany her through the rest of her life.

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