Wade, the last-born of the five children Bin and I produced, surprised me with a guest column, written when he returned to Los Angeles after a visit here. To say that I love this piece is a bit of an understatement.
Longtime readers may recall that Wade was a frequent topic in my old Inkspots columns, as his antics from age 2 on made Dennis the Menace look positively saintly. So, here is an Inkspots column from an all-growed-up Wade.

As nearly 40 percent of Iowa's energy needs are met by wind, communities that host renewable energy projects are generating millions in tax revenue.
Iowa has 7.312 megawatts of installed wind energy capacity through approximately 4,145 turbines. One project, MidAmerican Energy's Wind XI, is estimated to generate $12.5 million in property taxes each year.
Read the entire guest editorial in the May 23 Advance.

Each year, more and more older adults are making a positive impact in and around Iowa, more specifically in the Elderbridge Area Agency on Aging service area. As volunteers, employees, educators, mentors, advocates and more, they offer insight and experience that benefits the entire community. That's why Older Americans Month (OAM) has been recognizing the contributions of this growing poplulation for 56 years.

The Iowa Supreme Court delivered an important and unanimous decision on April 5 on the issue of public access to law enforcement investigative files.
But, the exact ramifications of the decision remain a matter of conjecture.
Read the rest of this editorial in the May 16 Kossuth County Advance.

The 2019 Iowa Legislture adjourned at the end of April. When session began back in January, I shared our goals for the year to put politics aside, work together, and stay focused on improving the lives of everyday Iowans.
As leader of the Iowa House Democrats, I pledged to work in good faith with the majority party to solve the problems we face. I also challenged lawmakers to face the toughest issues before us in a collaborative, meaningful way.
So, how did it go?

Having visited the Roosevelt family's 34-room summer cabin on Campobello Island, we wanted to see their home on the Hudson River near Hyde Park, N.Y.
Witnessing all that wealth made us wonder where it came from. It did not just happen; the Roosevelts, who were colonists in the 17th century, were industrious and thrifty, building wealth by importing sugar from the West Indies, selling dry goods and investing in Manhattan real estate.

Once again I find myself in a time warp.
I'm writing this before I leave for California to celebrate grandson Dylan's seventh birthday. However, you will be reading this (at least I hope somebody reads this) after I have returned. So, I'm left with the dilemma of whether to write in the past tense or the future tense.
Oh bother.
Read Molly's Ink Spots in the May 9 Kossuth County Advance.

The Iowa Legislature's efforts to limit property tax revenue growth depends on one large variable – taxpayers.
You know – you.
Read Brad's On the Side column in the May 9 Advance.

The Iowa Legislature wrapped up its 2019 session last weekend. One of its final acts was passing a bill that will force cities and counties to take extra action if they want to raise property taxes by more than 2 percent. The new law was passed by the Republican majority, and Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, intends to sign it.

Our children tell me often that I scarred them for life.
When they were little, one of the lullabies I sang to them was "Go tell Aunt Rhody."
Read Molly's Ink Spots in the April 26 Advance.

Here's a comment and/or question that came to us with a payment:
"Funny how the Kossuth County Advance placed the turbine article right on top of the trespassing article in the April 11 paper. Trying to stomp out negative media coverage of the turbines? Looks like it to me."
Uh, no.
Get the whole editorial in the April 25 Kossuth Coutny Advance.

Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development Corporation is preparing for its 2019 summer intern program for students who have graduated from high school and are enrolled in college.
This year's program marks the 20th anniversary of the K/PACEDC Summer Intern Program which began in 1999.
Read the entire guest editorial in the April 18 Advance.

I cannot remember the first time I found myself at home on a weekday and witnessed the parade of humanity that took the stage on Jerry Springer's television show. Crediting Jerry Springer for mainstreaming weird isn't exactly fair. For sure, people have been weird for most of time. But, as one guy once told me: "Brad, we all have dirty laundry, but we don't need to air it in the front yard."

What were you wearing?
It's a question people as of survivors of sexual assault all too often. It's a question wrought with victim-blaming that implies that maybe survivors could have prevented their assault if they had worn something less revealing or less sexy.
Read the whole letter to the editor in the April 4 Kossuth County Advance.

I've probably mentioned a time or 20 that Bing and I have five children. They are, of course, quite exceptional, or, as Garrison Keillor would say, above average. Three of said children live in sunny California. The other two are brave Midwesterners, residing in Minnesota and Iowa.