Like it or not, West Branch Community Schools is a small school district.

Your Capitol Voice: Nearly unanimous agreement: Property tax law must change
by Bobby Kaufmann, State Representative · Opinions/Editorials · March 19, 2025
This week in the Legislature is the first week post-funnel.

82nd Indivisible Group: What happened to accountability, Rep. Kaufmann?
Opinions/Editorials · March 19, 2025
What kind of man bullies a Quaker? Berates a disabled retiree? Badgers a veteran?

The Gruenhagen Gazette: More than 20 percent of pupils considered ‘chronically absent’
by Kerry Gruenhagen, Iowa Senate District 4 · Opinions/Editorials · March 19, 2025
Week nine of the legislative session was full of floor debate and passing bills over to the House of Representatives.

Letter: Trumponomics makes us poor, not free trade
Opinions/Editorials · March 19, 2025
You can’t turn on the news without hearing about Trump’s latest tariff tiff.

Your Capitol Voice: 82nd Indivisible trying to divide; SNAP dropping unhealthy foods
by Bobby Kaufmann, State Representative · Opinions/Editorials · March 12, 2025
We have had almost 15 Listening Posts in towns across the District with more to come.

82nd Indivisible Group: With suffering, chaos & fear, authoritarian Trump moves in
Opinions/Editorials · March 12, 2025
It has been a week. Pushback is growing against the wholesale firing of federal employees in the VA, FAA, National Park Service, Federal Arsenals, US Geological Survey and other public agencies.

The Gruenhagen Gazette: Legislature to weigh rollbacks, business courts
by Kerry Gruenhagen, Iowa Senate District 4 · Opinions/Editorials · March 12, 2025
The eighth week of the legislative session was a busy one as we worked to get legislation through before the first deadline of the session.

Letter: Iowa way too conservative for young doctors
Opinions/Editorials · March 12, 2025
Recently Gov. Reynolds outlined a plan to increase the number of doctors completing their residencies in rural Iowa hospitals.

Letter: Oh, the clarity of trans athletes honed in Iowa
Opinions/Editorials · March 12, 2025
In the recent (March 6, 2025) West Branch Times our two Republican public servants representing us in the Iowa State Legislature have brought such common-sense clarity to any question of transgender sexuality that we can all more securely snuggle into bed, enjoy sweet dreams and have no more nightmares about the indecent exposure that has been rampantly sweeping the highways, byways, back woods and center stage of our dear state of Iowa.

Guest column: An avoidable and sad loss for our students, community
by Greg Hetrick, WB School Board President · Opinions/Editorials · March 05, 2025
Head Football Coach John Nestor was an excellent coach and leader of our student-athletes.

82nd Indivisible: Voters deserve leaders giving straight answers
Opinions/Editorials · March 05, 2025
Some good news this week.
Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen and Rep. Bobby Kaufmann stated at Stockton’s listening post Saturday they oppose all library bills moving through the statehouse.