The Elbert Files

The recent situation involving the Des Moines Register and its controversial profile of Carson King has me recalling lessons learned during my time as an editor at the publication during an ethics scandal that occurred …

I was walking toward the Des Moines Art Center on a surprisingly cool day when my friend K.C. joined me.

He didn’t say anything at first, which was unusual. He appeared to be deep in …

Climate change has me reconsidering my long-standing opposition to Iowa’s first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses.

Since 1976, only two candidates have won contested caucuses and gone on to become president: Republican George W. Bush in 2000 and …

Central Iowa’s High Trestle Trail reminded me recently how enjoyable biking can be. 

Over the years, I’ve spent a fair amount of time on my 1973 Schwinn Super Sport bicycle, although not so much in …

The Dow: September is historically a volatile month for investors, but it’s hard to imagine it being worse than August this year.

Last month, the Dow Jones industrial average posted several triple-digit direction changes, beginning …

A nomination that recently placed a four-block commercial area in the East Village on the National Register of Historic Places contains many interesting nuggets.

For example, the city’s oldest gay bar, Blazing Saddle at 416 …

Gov. Kim Reynolds has created an interesting distraction from Iowa’s dirty water problem.

Instead of directly confronting the issue, which is increasingly a national embarrassment, she’s proposed a contest for Iowans to create videos promoting …

I was standing on the Grand Avenue bridge surveying the site of the future federal courthouse when my friend K.C. joined me. 

“It’s quite a hole,” he said.

“Not yet,” I replied. “But it will …