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Trick or Treat   This is Halloween, and regardless of how you feel about the day, it's going to be an expensive one.   The National Retail Federation's annual consumer survey says Halloween ...
Jeff Stein Oct 31, 2025 Robert Taylor / CC
Full Shopping Bags   For all the talk about a tight economy, we Americans are apparently looking forward to dumping some cash on holiday gifts again this year.   Gallup conducted its first s...
Jeff Stein Oct 30, 2025 beatabecla / Depositphotos.com
Making it Official   Iowa fourth district congressman Randy Feenstra made it official yesterday morning, formally kicking off his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor in 2026. &nbs...
Jeff Stein Oct 29, 2025
Part of the Plan   This is the end of the first month of the partial federal government shutdown, day 28. It won't take much for the government to reopen with a so-called clean continuing resolut...
Jeff Stein Oct 28, 2025 swisshippo / Depositphotos.com
Shutdown Impact   The noted pollster Scott Rasmussen conducted research for Napolitan News last week on the federal government shutdown and who Americans believed to be at fault.   The resul...
Jeff Stein Oct 27, 2025 rickmcmillin / Depositphotos.com
Now It's FM   We've talked before in this space about the "AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act" proposed in Congress. It would mandate that all vehicles have an AM radio for use in national emergencie...
Jeff Stein Oct 24, 2025 Fotofabrika / Depositphotos.com
Vending Machines   Around 40 years ago, a young entrepreneur in Iowa City knew that hook ups often happened after a night at the bars. Condoms were available for purchase from machines in the men...
Jeff Stein Oct 23, 2025 3DMAVR / Depositphotos.com
Under Construction   It's a bit jarring to see a bulldozer start ripping into the walls of the White House. Demolition began on the East Wing this week as part of the quarter billion dollar ballr...
Jeff Stein Oct 22, 2025 Vacclav / Depositphotos.com
The Look of Democracy   We are in the aftermath of the so-called "No Kings" protests this past Saturday. Some were well attended, with people genuinely concerned about-and informed on-key issues....
Jeff Stein Oct 21, 2025 miflippo / Depositphotos.com
Holding Off the Stormtroopers They held so-called "No Kings" rallies this past Saturday; organized by well-funded sources designed to protest the Trump Administration. I got a mass email Saturday from...
Jeff Stein Oct 20, 2025