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The Elbert Files

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The Elbert Files: Hamilton’s water work

The River Knows; How Water and Land Will Shape Our Future
By Neil D Hamilton,
$24.95
Ice Cube Press

Neil Hamilton’s new book, “The River Knows: How Water and Land Will Shape Our Future” covers …

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The Elbert Files: Letter from Knox


Knox and Becky Craig. Submitted photo

My father-in-law, Knox Craig, was a gifted letter writer.

Knox grew up in Oregon and graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in English in 1942.

He …

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The Elbert Files: Flourishing fields of smiles

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ new state motto, “Iowa: Freedom to Flourish,” is the fifth state slogan proposed by an Iowa governor since the 1950s when license plates identified us as “The Corn State.”

The governor’s choice …

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The Elbert Files: Kaleidoscope era ends

Demolition of the downtown Kaleidoscope Mall on Walnut Street marks the end of an era.

The mall is coming down to make way for a 33-story apartment building.

For much of the 20th century, Walnut …

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The Elbert Files: Iowa economy concerns

Iowa’s economy appears to have stalled and may be sliding backward. 

Seven of the eight economic factors that make up the Iowa Department of Revenue’s Iowa Leading Indicators Index were below par in the most …

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The Elbert Files: Changing downtown traffic

The last time Des Moines made major changes in downtown traffic patterns was 70 years ago when more than a dozen streets were converted from two-way to one-way traffic.

The goal in 1953 was to …

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The Elbert Files: Good news, bad news

I have good news and bad news for Iowa Democrats.

The good news is that the New York Times recently reported Democrats nationally are benefiting from the U.S. Supreme Court’s year-old Dobbs decision, which overturned …

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The Elbert Files: How I got here

An amazing number of things had to happen in the distant past for each of us to exist. I learned that from “Finding Your Roots,” Henry Louis Gates’ public television show that traces the genealogy …

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The Elbert Files: Life imitates art

The sculpture T-8 by Mark di Suvero, at the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Photo by Dave Elbert

My friend K.C. was at the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, lying on his back …

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The Elbert Files: Alexander von Humboldt

It’s time Iowans rediscover Alexander von Humboldt.

Yes, that Humboldt – the Prussian polymath who was friends with Thomas Jefferson and Simón Bolívar; the guy for whom a north Iowa county and city are named. …