Last Friday (Feb. 2nd) was Groundhog Day, and with the prediction of Punxsutawney Phil, we are supposed to have an early spring. I have to agree with “Phil” as this week, the weather in the Capitol city definitely is living up to the prediction.

Q: What’s the 10-year forecast for the federal budget and its impact on the economy?

China poses the greatest threat to America’s economic and national security.

By Jennifer Hesebeck  - Excelsior UMC and Faith Community Church

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Here are a few statistics for you…

• This year, Americans are expected to spend over $18 billion on Valentine’s Day.

Editor's note: The Dickinson County News also reported on the Jan. 30 Dickinson County Board of Supervisors meeting, which was solely focused on discussion of the county's conflict of interest policy. The article was available online the evening of Jan. 30 and was printed in the Feb. 1, 2024, edition of the newspaper.

To the residents and voters of Dickinson County,

According to a survey released by Gallup on Oct. 13, 2023, the average U.S. teen uses social media 4.8 hours per day. Girls use social media roughly one hour more than boys per day. Teens favorite platforms are YouTube and TikTok with Instagram a distant third in popularity.

During the fourth week in the Senate, the pace continued to build as we are fast approaching the deadline to get policy bills through subcommittee and standing committees. Three bills I am working on passed out of standing committees:

• SF 2153 regarding the Insurance Commissioner’s authority concerning insurance producers, business entity producers and preneed sellers (Commerce).

Q: Why did the Senate Judiciary Committee bring Big Tech executives to testify before Congress?

I’ve long believed that cutting taxes for our families, farmers and small businesses spurs investment in our rural communities, promotes economic growth and creates good jobs. When we let hardworking Iowans keep more of their hard-earned money, folks are encouraged to start their own enterprises, hire new employees, support businesses up and down our rural main streets and put money aside for a rainy day.

By Gary Lambert - Light of the Lakes Friends Church

Here's what you need to know today:

Life is short.
Death is sure.
Sin is the cause.
Christ is the cure.

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, (you) that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus), that whosoever (you) believeth in Him (Jesus), should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Nuff said!

I would like to personally thank the following businesses — Custom Creations of Spirit Lake, CC Screen Printing of Arnolds Park, The Three Sons of Milford and Healthy Smiles Dentistry of Spirit Lake. Because of their generosity, we were able to take five very large suitcases of clothing and dental supplies to the students and families of financially challenged folks in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. These families cannot afford to send their children to school.

Most Americans viewed with awe the declaration of Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

On behalf of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, we would like to thank so many for making our 44th Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games another success for our business community. Although the games may have felt a little different from those of the recent past, lifelong memories were made for so many individuals from near and far. Events of this scale are not possible without an army of volunteers and the continual support from our entire community.

I filed a bill this week with several of my colleagues that would provide pre-birth child support to mothers who are carrying a father’s child. Right now, that support, for the most part, does not start until the baby is born and, as a pro-life person, I felt that the unborn child needs and deserves the support. Quite frankly, guys have been getting off the hook for too long and need to take accountability for their actions.

In the Senate during week three, the focus was on scheduling subcommittee meetings for discussion and public comment. The scheduling process can be quite a challenge as the other senators are also setting up their times for subcommittee, while looking ahead to meeting the first funnel deadline of Feb. 16. Hundreds of bills are packed into this three-week period. I served on and chaired a number of subcommittees.

Bills introduced: