By CHUCK OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, Oct. 15, 2018 – The truth is that Fred Hubbell should have run for governor of Iowa a dozen years ago, or maybe in 2010 or 2014. But thank goodness he’s running now, right when Iowa really needs him. This state needs a reboot. And Hubbell – one of our…
By CARLA OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, Sept. 21, 2018 – You might say I’ve bought new dancing shoes for my continuing cancer dance, and they’ve turned out to be pretty comfortable, all things considered. For the most part, the DJ has been playing some pretty good tunes, as well. And it’s been a beautiful September. I’ve…
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER CARROLL, Iowa, Oct. 4, 2018 – In a town so Catholic that the local radio station still broadcasts the rosary every afternoon, I just went to the most gut-wrenching, emotional and sad church meeting I’ve ever attended. On Wednesday evening, Bishop Walker Nickless, spiritual leader of perhaps 100,000 Catholics in the Catholic…
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, Oct. 2, 2018 – After traveling to Cuba 18 months ago, then studying and thinking about it, I’m kicking myself that I didn’t get involved earlier in my life in the beautiful island nation that is one of the most interesting places on Earth. But I’m happy and proud to…
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, Oct. 15, 2018 — Let me share one happy observation about the full field of candidates here in Iowa as we approach the Nov. 6 general election. I don’t think I can ever recall a time when I felt like there were more good, qualified people running for all positions…
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 26, 2018 — For more than 30 years, public officials, individuals and groups in Iowa have been advocating for better U.S. relations, trade and tourism with the neighboring island nation of Cuba. That effort will be explored and renewed on Sunday, Oct. 7, with an afternoon forum “Why Cuba…
DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 5, 2018 — Rev. Stan Dotson — pastor, professor, author, musician, tour guide and raconteur of the first rank — is one of very few Americans now actually living and working in Cuba. The 56-year-old Dotson, whose permanent American home is in Asheville, N.C., is now associate pastor of the First…
Republished here is my column from the Feb. 15, 1983, edition of the Des Moines Register, a sort of review of the annual “victory party” that a slow-pitch softball team in the city had at the Des Moines Club, of all places. It was headlined “The Mad Dogs howl again.” This is now getting some…
IDA GROVE, Iowa, Sept. 17, 2018 — Photographer Don Poggensee says in his observations of birds in Iowa, he notices that the hummingbirds are usually the first to start moving south, “as early as the end of August or the start of September.” So he took a few photos of ruby-throated hummingbirds, “our most common…
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, Aug. 19, 2018 – I’ve long said that one of the things I like most about being a Catholic is that the church is slow to bend to the social whims of the moment, including my own. That has probably helped Catholicism survive for centuries in the many very different…
