When a lot of talk in the neighborhood is about who will survive farming this year, it is natural to ask ”Why?” Abraham Lincoln started the USDA (United  States Department of Agriculture) to ‘help’ farmers in 1862. It’s been 164 years and the government has not found a way to satisfy farmers’ appetites for security.

During Week 14 of the legislative session, Iowa House members advanced key pieces of legislation and spent more time working on budget priorities – signs that session is moving closer to adjournment. This week focused on a range of issues from emerging technology regulations to energy incentives. 
Below are summaries of some key legislation considered this week: 

In a rather surprising turn of events, this week has been quite Iowan in nature for me, as opposed to my more typical, internationally-oriented escapades.

On April 15th, Americans will see the impacts of the Working Families Tax Cuts as they submit their tax filings for the year. For too long, many have seen Tax Day as a day of stress and uncertainty. But this year, Republicans are helping rewrite the course for millions of Americans, and many are already seeing real relief and real results.

41 days is all that remains until the 2026 Primary Election!  I thought I’d share some important facts about Primary Elections here in Iowa and other important things you need to keep in mind as we approach absentee voting and Election Day! 

Last night, at the time of my writing this, was Cultural Evening at Grinnell College. Overseen by the student-led International Student Organization (ISO), the tradition dates back decades, to the 1960s at least, and has likely gone through more changes in form and feel than even the U.S. music industry has in that same timeframe.

General Smedley Butler received two Medals of Honor, the Marine Corps Brevet Medal, and numerous other awards in his 34-year military career.
Smedley Darlington Butler served in the Philippine-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, World War I, and the Banana Wars. The Banana Wars had U.S. troops assisting in the confiscation of Central American land for fruit production. (Like in The Monroe Doctrine and Trump’s Venezuelan oil theft.)

The Iowa House took action during week 13 on a range of priorities including agriculture, workforce development, veterans services, and education. Several measures focused on supporting Iowa farmers, expanding opportunities for students, and improving services for those who have served our country.

Transparency isn’t just something I apply to my work as the State Auditor – it’s part of my core.
My faith instructs me to live in light; to be honest, to look for the good, to be charitable, to lead with integrity. I teach my children that when they make a mistake – because we all do – own it. Trying to cover it up creates more trouble.

Over the last several years, farmers across Iowa have endured challenging market conditions as they dealt with weather, rising input costs, and other countries targeting American agriculture to gain unfair advantages. These conditions affect their families, operations, and our rural economy, which is built on our strong agricultural sector. Growth in our agricultural industry starts with strong markets.

It’s the middle of April and things have been so busy!  People ask me what I do in this job and it’s so hard to put into words what my days look like, what tasks fill my days, etc, but….a lot of times, I get to the end of a day and my husband will ask me what I did all day and I often reply “I’m not sure, but I was busy and it went fast”.  This is my reality.  No two days are alike, some days the hours change my day on a dime.  So, I thought I

Last week, during the Great American Agriculture Celebration, we saw the largest gathering of farmers ever hosted at the White House, and I was honored to join President Donald Trump in 

highlighting historic wins for farmers. 

Back home in Iowa, a common sentiment I hear from farmers is that they have felt left behind by Washington. Thanks to President Trump, that course is finally being reversed, and farmers are 

What is meant by national security? Treason keeps popping up as I consider what our government is up to and who pays the costs.

The Iowa House of Representatives voted to move the speed limit to 60 on two-lane state highways. Also during Week 12 of the 2026 legislative session, the House advanced various bills impacting agriculture, healthcare, economic development, and the judicial system. This week’s activity reflects ongoing efforts to modernize and streamline state systems, as well as align Iowa with regional and national standards.

When something local changes, people notice.
They should.
A newspaper or a radio station isn’t just another business—it’s part of the identity of a community. These are the institutions that tell the stories of a place over time, day by day, week by week, name by name.