Remembering Ned Chiodo
Ned Chiodo could be grouchy and grumpy. He could be quarrelsome and argumentative. And, on bad days, he could be irritable and irascible. And, always, he was stubborn. And he [...]
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Posted October 01, 2025in Guest Commentary
Posted July 03, 2024in Guest Commentary
A casual ballhawk
We live in a cozy brick ranch on the west side of Des Moines that was built in 1954, the same year I was put together. From the street, you’d [...]
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Posted March 26, 2024in Guest Commentary
Iowans are born with a weather gene
My Iowa-coded genetic material struck like a squall when I wrote a letter to faraway family members. Before you could say “Chinook wind,” I’d flooded the page with a lengthy [...]
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Posted March 06, 2024in Guest Commentary
There’s something happening here
I’m starting to wonder if guns aren’t more prevalent nowadays in the city where I’ve lived all of my life than I imagined they were in places like Dodge City, Abilene [...]
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Posted December 06, 2023in Guest Commentary
You’ve come a long way, buddy — An open letter to Caitlin Clark
Dear Caitlin, Where I was coming from was growing up a sports junkie in the pre-Title IX days. When I graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1972, there was no [...]
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Posted December 06, 2023in Guest Commentary
Merry Christmas…
Twelve drummers drumming… …for some folks who are stepping down — Frank Cownie, who served 20 years as mayor and now can go back to selling fur coats…and proud East-sider [...]
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Posted May 03, 2023in Guest Commentary
Remembering Sharon Malheiro
Sharon Malheiro died in her sleep the other day, apparently of a heart attack. She was 67 years old. She was a civil-rights lawyer who fought bravely and brilliantly against [...]
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Posted April 05, 2023in Guest Commentary
Your American dream becomes your worst nightmare
The term “American Dream” was coined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author James Truslow Adams in 1931. His dream was simple: “Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with [...]
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Posted December 05, 2022in Guest Commentary, Just Released
Christmas rest and peace
Christmas is a good time to catch up on your pumpkin pie eating. Pecan pie seems readily available, so this, too, is a good option. Try to drink one glass [...]
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Ode to The Ritual Café, Downtown Des Moines
Bohemian waystation for 20 years — peace symbols, feminist aura, their decidedly granola menu. Smoothies and bars, quiches and cookies, oolong tea and Mayan mochas. Open-air ambience when its oversized, street-facing [...]
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