On the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 15, I hosted my first of several telephone town halls for 2025. Nearly 6,000 Iowans joined us to ask questions about topics important to them and to learn more about my work in Congress for our families, farmers, businesses and rural communities. Being transparent and accessible to my constituents is very important to me, and I will continue to advocate for commonsense policies that support our families and advance our shared Iowa values.

As the Legislature came into session, a lot of things have already happened. We have started things up, elected our leadership, had the governor’s address, the State of the Judiciary and the State of the Iowa National Guard.

I would like to present for your consideration something that can benefit each of us and will advance the kingdom of God throughout this New Year. And the kingdom of God should have priority in our lives and offers a wonderful promise. Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” People seemingly think differently at the beginning of a new year.

This year, thousands of students will take standardized tests to measure their academic performance and college readiness. Although they have been used for decades, a new wave of college admissions has deprioritized standardized tests for applicants.

Now when President Donald Trump throws out buying Greenland what he means is acquiring control of what is necessary to protect for national security interest rather than specifically statehood. Greenland would be suited for becoming a territory of the U.S. He is also forward-looking addressing problems that may not be problems today but actually positioning for the future. China almost always appears to come up in the mix as they are looking ahead.

Monday, the service for Sara Schmidt filled the parking lot at Hope Church, so much so they had to secure parking at multiple neighboring lots. I was unable to attend as I had to work to get Tuesday’s Spencer Reporter out for our dear readers. My family did go to the come-and-go visitation with Sara’s family Sunday afternoon. It was more of a celebration of her all-to-short life. Pictures filled the lobby. It was hard to smile — looking at her smile.

What a year we had in 2024.

There is so much to say — but no words can express what we have experienced. Our area saw horrific devastation, but also the best in humanity. Volunteers came from all over to help piece use back together. People set aside their own problems to help others. We are on recovery road.

I want to thank you all for your efforts. Whether you made food, shoveled muck, or rescued people on boats, thank you.

Q: What are you doing to stop human trafficking?

A: Although it’s hard to believe human trafficking and forced labor exists in the 21st century, these horrible crimes take place right underneath our noses, even in rural America. Over the years, I’ve learned that children, runaways, foster youth and migrants are targeted for illicit sex trafficking and forced labor. This issue comes up during my annual 99 county meetings.

Each gardening season seems to offer new growing challenges. Our gardens are exposed to more drastic and variable weather with changing weather patterns. Floods, droughts, wind, temperature extremes and unseasonable weather episodes can have immediate and long-term impacts on our plants.

It’s Tuesday afternoon at two, which means Clarice Devon is on her way to the Curl Up ‘N Dye beauty salon. It’s like the sun coming up or the price of bread increasing. Tuesday. Two. Clarice.

“Clarice!” yelled Fran. “Ready to be beautiful?”

“Sure,” she said. “I enjoy lost causes.”

Clarice Devon is one of our angels. She’s one of the few people in town who will tolerate old people and shut ins, and she not only takes care of them, but seems to relish it as well.

The Master Gardener spring training application window opened on Jan. 13. We are offering the spring training series in Clay County, which will begin Feb. 24. Iowans wishing to become a Master Gardener volunteer register with an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county office, participate in online learning modules and complete in-person volunteer orientation.

Half of the film’s budget must have been spent on teaching the ensemble cast of animals to talk. That’s how realistic they look in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” a prequel of sorts.

Q: What is Real ID?

A: Two decades ago, the 9/11 Commission issued recommendations to enhance ID verification systems following the horrific attacks in 2001 that killed thousands of Americans on U.S. soil. Its report underscored why Congress beefed up national standards, “For terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons.”

At the end of this year, significant portions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which was signed into law in December of 2017, officially expires. That means that — absent congressional action — taxes for Iowa families, farmers and businesses will increase.

Recently, my son-in-law was hit by a car. He and my daughter had just finished supper on New Year's Eve and began to walk across a protected cross walk up at the Lakes when a driver accelerated through it and tossed him 50 feet through the air. He landed on his head and sustained a serious injury.

He and my daughter had been very careful to not be behind the wheel that night because of crazy drivers on New Year’s Eve. They never expected to be hit while on foot.