After a long weekend, the legislature finally passed property tax reform before Sine Die on Sunday night.  We continue efforts to lower the tax burden on Iowans with historic property tax reform.  By reining in government spending, buying down the education levy, and increasing transparency, we are putting taxpayers first and delivering an estimated $4.2 billion in property tax relief over six year

I’m running for Iowa House District 60 because I believe we need leadership focused on improving the lives of the people—and that starts with addressing corruption head-on.

I’ve made a clear commitment: I will not accept corporate PAC money.

We see the same pattern in politics—relationships between legislators and corporate interests reinforced through financial backing and shape policy in ways that don’t reflect the will of constituents.

There are moments in life that seem small while they are happening.

This week, the House advanced a property tax reform bill with bipartisan support (64-23).  Many of you have been following these discussions closely, and while this marks a key step forward, there is still work to be done as we continue working with the Senate to reach meaningful, long-term reform.  This updated version is a strike-after amendment with continued focus on delivering relief, increasi

In the race for Iowa House District 60, candidate Dani Ollenburg is drawing a clear line on one of the most important issues facing Iowa landowners: protecting private property from government overreach and eminent domain abuse.

Nelson Media Company recently acquired five newspap

Like many of you, I had seen the buzz.

Hearts.

Last week, several members of our newspaper team at Nelson Media Company traveled to Des Moines for the Iowa Newspaper Association convention. It was a full day of networking, learning, and talking — nonstop — about newspapers.

This was the first year I’ve ever attended the convention.

And honestly, it will be the last year I ever miss it.

Every Feb. 2, we gather around a famous rodent in Pennsylvania and pretend his shadow can tell us how much winter we have left. As a former meteorologist, I’ve never put much stock in a groundhog forecasting our future. Atmospheric science is a little more complicated than that.

Still, Groundhog Day does serve one useful purpose: it reminds us that winter, no matter how stubborn, is closer to the end than the beginning.

If you would have told me in mid-October that I would own a Mitchell County newspaper—with a physical location, a growing staff and a strong foundation built around a paper that was, frankly, way down in the weeds—I would have told you there’s no way.

And yet, here we are.

For the first time in more than 50 years, humanity is preparing to leave Earth orbit and journey back toward the Moon.

Next month, NASA plans to launch Artemis II, a 10-day crewed mission that will carry four astronauts around the Moon and safely back to Earth. If successful, it will mark the first time humans have traveled beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo era ended in 1972.

That fact alone should give us pause.

In my television days, I interviewed—or sat in on interviews with—people many would recognize instantly. Names like Ginger Zee. Terry Bradshaw. Jon Taffer. Those conversations were exciting, memorable, and part of the job.

But for all the interviews I’ve done, there was one arena I had never truly stepped into: politics.

I think playing cards is one of the first truly fun games many of us learn as kids. Long before video games, apps, or streaming services, there was a deck of cards on the table. Card games teach problem-solving, strategy, and basic math, but they also tap into something deeper — that natural competitive itch most of us carry. And whether you’re a kid or an adult, that part never really goes away.

One of my favorite things on this planet includes my family, a fresh pair of comfortable socks and a good book.