Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism (http://www.iowawatch.org/)
Iowa is out of step with other states when it comes to a basic right — the right to vote in our elections, columnist Randy Evans writes in this opinion piece. For most of its history, Iowa has prohibited felons from voting.
Each Thanksgiving, we like to bring out this news quiz because the state of Iowa’s history of Thanksgiving football goes back quite a few years. How far? Find out.
Elizabeth Carney had a great opportunity in 1935 — a trip to Spain. Of course, Civil Wat broke out there the next year.
Iowa is speeding toward a dangerous crossroads this week, and there has been too little discussion about what might occur and zero discussion about what the state should do.
Urban expansion, at least in the few areas where Iowa cities are growing, is eating up some of the state’s best farmland. The urban growth is part of a national trend in which good farmland is lost to new residential neighborhoods.
America has lost millions of acres of farmland over the nearly three decades to urban and rural development. Despite conservation efforts by state and local governments and increased financial incentives for farmers, urban development and the expansion of rural residential real estate over the last 25 years has eliminated farmland across the country at levels not seen since the early 1970s.
Driving along Route 47 in Kane County, Illinois, corn and soybean fields are dotted with signs advertising the amenities of burgeoning communities. For more than 20 years, Kane County has been a poster child for urban sprawl, the spreading of development of land on the edge of a metropolitan area.
“Burlington must not be less charitable and humane than other cities of the state…” Burlington Hawkeye
“The people of Iowa have been blessed with abundant harvest, and the appeal should be generously responded to.” Iowa City Citizen
“Davenport has raised enough Russian relief money to buy two cars of corn. Let us make a better record in Dubuque,” Dubuque Times
Iowa History, a weekly column, appears at IowaWatch on Saturdays. Cheryl Mullenbach is the author of non-fiction books for young people. Her work has been recognized by International Literacy Association, American Library Association, National Council for Social Studies, and FDR Presidential Library and Museum. Visit her website at: www.cherylmullenbachink.com
Across the state newspapers encouraged readers to contribute to famine relief efforts for Russia in 1892.
It’s no shocker that environmental and consumer advocates are furious about the Trump administration proposal to throttle sweeping Obama era rules intended to dramatically reduce auto tailpipe emissions and boost fuel economy. But pushback also is coming from less likely sources: auto manufacturers and their suppliers, and even a major oil company.
David prevailed over Goliath in the famous tale from long ago using an unconventional weapon, his sling and a few stones. These days, river rocks aren’t a potent weapon. Now, it might just be the spotlight. And the spotlight was shining brightly last week in Iowa when an Associated Press reporter cracked open 32 years of cover-up by the Roman Catholic Church’s Sioux City Diocese. Randy Evans
STRAY THOUGHTS
Randy Evans is the executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council.