Randy Evans

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Articles

Bitcoin explained, Iowa & Drake entanglements, national and local politics, will Grassley be consistent, stories around Iowa,

Nov 17, 2024 | iowawriters.substack.com | Julie Gammack |Zachary Smith |Randy Evans |Laura Belin

We are pleased to welcome to the roster of outstanding Iowa writers and will include his new Cornhole Champions podcast in our weekly Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roundup. To be the first to hear it each week, subscribe to his column. The recount is on in Iowa's 1st Congressional District race. Cornhole Champions host Zachary Oren Smith spoke to an elections expert with first-hand experience about the realities of a recount.
Political TV ads are short on context

Nov 5, 2024 | maqnews.com | Randy Evans

It’s a challenge, but not impossible, to find topics on which Republicans and Democrats share the same view these days. Here’s one: Election Day means we can all celebrate the end of those infernal television commercials. My tolerance for these ads has never been high. One reason is the way their assertions oversimplify the pluses (or the minuses) of one candidate’s or the other’s stand on some issue.
Constitution offsets policy differences

Oct 22, 2024 | maqnews.com | Randy Evans

Afamily acquaintance was on Vice President Dick Cheney’s Secret Service detail during George W. Bush’s presidency. His Christmas photo one year was a portrait of him, his wife and Cheney together at a White House reception. Back then, the agent entertained us with stories of people lining the streets as Cheney’s motorcade passed. Many greeted the vice president with their middle fingers extended. Back then, those spectators most likely were Democrats who disagreed with Bush administration policies.
Officials show lack of concern for transparency

Oct 8, 2024 | dewittobserver.com | Randy Evans

Talk about lousy optics — and I am not referring to out-of-style eyeglasses. Public perception is the topic for today. There were a couple of recent news nuggets that illustrate in different ways an uncomfortable fact of life in Iowa — that too many state and local government officials are not comfortable with the public looking over their shoulders as they perform their official duties. One case overflowing with irony involves the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors.
Officials show lack of concern for transparency

Oct 8, 2024 | maqnews.com | Randy Evans

Talk about lousy optics — and I am not referring to out-of-style eyeglasses. Public perception is the topic for today. There were a couple of recent news nuggets that illustrate in different ways an uncomfortable fact of life in Iowa — that too many state and local government officials are not comfortable with the public looking over their shoulders as they perform their official duties. One case overflowing with irony involves the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors.
Secrecy hasn’t always impeded understanding

Oct 1, 2024 | dewittobserver.com | Randy Evans

Thirty-three years ago on a snowy Friday in November, the nightmare of mass school shootings shocked Iowa like it has never been shocked before. It was 3:40 p.m. A former University of Iowa graduate student with a brilliant scientific mind, and a .38-caliber revolver, walked into a conference room in Van Allen Hall, the home of the university’s renowned Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Secrecy hasn’t always impeded understanding

Oct 1, 2024 | maqnews.com | Randy Evans

Thirty-three years ago on a snowy Friday in November, the nightmare of mass school shootings shocked Iowa like it has never been shocked before. It was 3:40 p.m. A former University of Iowa graduate student with a brilliant scientific mind, and a .38-caliber revolver, walked into a conference room in Van Allen Hall, the home of the university’s renowned Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Public needs light on school shootings

Sep 17, 2024 | maqnews.com | Randy Evans

Ihave fielded a bunch of emails, text messages and phone calls in the days since the school shooting in Winder, Georgia. Each one is from Perry, Iowa. Each one had the same question for me and the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Each one came from a parent, teacher or other concerned person asking, why isn’t the public allowed to read the official findings by state agents about the shooting at Perry High School and Middle School last January 4?
Iowa voters, be careful what you’re asking for

Sep 3, 2024 | maqnews.com | Randy Evans

We are in the home stretch of another presidential campaign, and it is important for voters to be alert for the unintended consequences of candidates’ promises. Office-seekers and their supporters like to portray issues in terms of absolutes — as in, my position is the very best way to address this issue; my opponent’s way is all wrong. Most of the time, issues are not all black, nor all white. Most of the time, issues involve many shades of gray, meaning there are no simple solutions.
Don’t bend your principles for a desired outcome

Aug 27, 2024 | maqnews.com | Randy Evans

Here we go again. Don’t be surprised if there is a hard-fought campaign between now and the November election over a guy named David May. You may not recognize his name. But you will in the weeks to come. May is the newest member of the Iowa Supreme Court. His name will be on the ballot in November, with voters having the opportunity to weigh in on whether he should be retained as one of the seven justices on the court.