NEWTON, Iowa — In these last hours before the Iowa caucuses, we are walking along what Hamlin Garland, perhaps the most prominent of the regional novelists of the pioneer prairies called, in the title of his 1891 book, “Main-Travelled Roads.” These well-worn byways lead to libraries at community colleges, speeches before the Iowa Pork Producers […]

A s you likely know by now, I have resigned my position as the state Senator for District 32, a position I’ve held since 2012. The decision was a difficult one to make, but I’m confident it was the right one for me and my family. As those close to me will know, I have […]

I n my estimation, there’s only one presidential candidate in 2016 fully capable of doing the job, and she’s anything but a natural. As Hillary Clinton’s also been the target of maybe the longestrunning smear campaign in American history – including roughly a dozen partisan investigations and a six-year leak-o-matic “independent counsel” probe led by […]

Federal courts have become a key part of the legislative process. At the same time, polls report falling public confidence in the courts. When it comes to the U.S. Supreme Court, that’s hardly news. Many know that the Court is now composed of four conservatives, four liberals (perhaps calling them non-conservatives would be more accurate) […]

Balls! What a concept. Balls for baseball, balls for pool, balls for football and basketball too. Balls for cricket and tennis and bowling, balls used in golf that just keep on a-rolling. Rugby’s got balls, and so does lacrosse, so if you don’t love balls, then dude, it’s your loss. It’s an amazing invention that […]