Q: How did the Working Families Tax Cut law boost the farm safety net?

On July 4, 2026, the United States marks its 250th birthday. Two and a half centuries after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Americans have a chance to reflect not only on where we have been, but also on where we are headed.

With the 2026 midterms approaching and the 2028 presidential election right behind them, Democrats are raising a discredited ruse to pack the Supreme Court with additional justices.

There’s just something about summer in a small town.
Maybe it’s because everything seems a little slower. Maybe it’s because there’s no packed schedule telling you where you need to be every minute of the day. Or maybe it’s because some of the best memories are made from the simplest things.
In the small town where I grew up, summer meant freedom.

It has been a while since you heard a United States leader say, “The fault is mine alone.”
If you visit Abilene, Kansas, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Museum offers countless artifacts of leadership — far from the battlefields of Europe and the White House where the five-star general left his mark.
One museum artifact that caught my eye on a visit several years ago stands out because of what it says, and its backstory. 

This Sunday is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Across the country, it is also a day set aside to honor those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Known as The Longest Day, the observance is a reminder of the long journey families face when a loved one begins to lose pieces of themselves to a disease that currently has no cure.

HARLAN — For months, the Harlan Community Theatre has prepared for one of their most ambitious productions to date, and next week those months of work culminate with performances of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” July 16 -18 at the Harlan Community High School Auditorium with 7 p.m. shows Thursday through Saturday, and a second show on Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee.  

HARLAN — Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand urged Iowans to reject partisan politics and embrace bipartisan problem-solving during a campaign town hall at the C.G. Therkildsen Activity Centerin Harlan Thursday, July 2, telling approximately 70 attendees that Iowa’s biggest challenge is not a single policy issue but a political system that rewards division over cooperation.

SHELBY COUNTY — As summer flies by, the start of a new school year is just around the corner, and so is the annual back-to-school shopping season. While many families look forward to preparing for the first day of school, the rising cost of backpacks, notebooks, clothing, and other supplies can create a significant financial strain.