The Department of Revenue recently updated their guidance regarding the retirement income exemption that went into effect at the beginning of this year. The department was hearing from numerous Iowans that plan administrators were still withholding on their retirement disbursements.

This week the Iowa House of Representatives passed a piece of legislation that streamlines and realigns the state government of Iowa. It has been nearly 40 years since the organization of the state government has been evaluated and restructured in order to be serve Iowans. In that time the number of cabinet level departments and agencies has grown to 37 agencies.

When I was praying and considering what to write for this article, the Lord gave me a dream. In that dream, I was walking along care-free under a canopy. The sun was shining and birds were singing, but then it began to rain, and rain very hard indeed. That was fine, because I was under the canopy, and although the rains came down around me, they did not come down on me; I was dry.

Eminent domain ... don't know that anyone really likes it but without it we would be missing some roads, airports, electricity and some other necessary infrastructure that makes our world work. The concept of eminent domain is that it should be used ... but sparingly. If the vast majority sees the value in something, then a few intransigent holdouts cannot over-rule the consensus. The controversy then becomes … where is consensus triggered to where eminent domain is implemented?

Some members of the Iowa Senate do not think that public notices published in newspapers remain relevant and necessary. A bill filed in the newly formed Technology Committee just over a week ago moved through committee in two days and last week moved through the Ways & Means Committee in one day. Senate File 546 would result in removing a major component of government transparency.

Of all the policies government agencies must abide, there is none greater than transparency.

This is "Sunshine Week," seven days which celebrate the great American — and Iowan — principle that government belongs to the people, and thus, its actions, records, deliberations, considerations, and decisions are to be taken and recorded in view of the public eye.

In an article titled “National ban on transgender athletes in girls sports passed by U.S. House panel, published on March 9, by Ariana Figueroa, it was noted: “The U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee early Thursday passed a bill on a party-line vote that would block transgender girls from competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity, a reflection of a broader push in multiple states to curb the rights of transgender student athletes.”

Funnel week may be over, but that doesn’t mean all of the work is over. Subcommittees will be done for the most part, but now my time will be focused on debate and running the bills I chaired in subcommittee on the floor. This week our focus was on floor debate and sending important bills to the House to be considered.

After one of our legislative deadlines last week, our focus in week nine was on floor debate and sending important bills to the House to be considered for discussion. Debated this week was Senate File 507. This bill tackles the issue of state investing based on Environment, Social and Governance performance.

Bring the beauty of your favorite gemstones into the garden and your outdoor living space with the help of jewel-toned plants. Even a pot of these beauties placed on the balcony can provide bold color, vibrancy and lushness to any space.

A true tale of the spiritual hippie awakening

When the pastor of a struggling Southern California church’s rebellious daughter brings a hippie evangelist home to meet her father, the two polar opposites come together to lead a nationally transformative movement.

Predictable, yet satisfying, tale of 2nd-generation boxer

Last week was the Annual Conference for ISU Extension and Outreach, where over 400 Extension professionals from around the state gathered in Ames. The theme was “honor our past, celebrate our present and embrace our future.” The theme was especially on brand as our vice president of Extension and Outreach, John Lawrence, will retire at the end of this month and we welcome our new vice president, Jason Henderson.

What would Jesus do today if he visited America? I think he would be very disappointed and shed tears of sadness. In the Gospels he taught love and forgiveness. He gave us the golden rule to live by: Treat others as you want to be treated. He said to bring all the children to him. What is happening in America today is not what he wanted. All the hate, prejudice, violence and lack of Christianity.

As the second largest exporter of agricultural goods in the nation, trade is vital to our economy in Iowa. 415,000 jobs are supported by trade in our state, and in 2018, Iowa exported roughly $14.4 billion in goods and services. As such, our farmers, producers, manufacturers, and agricultural community rely on strong trade agreements that open foreign markets and maintain our global competitiveness.