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Opinion

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The Elbert Files: New visions for downtown

Assistant Des Moines City Manager Matt Anderson was right when he described the city’s decision to acquire the five-story Nationwide Insurance building at 1200 Locust Street as “a once in a generation opportunity.”


Moving city …

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On Leadership: Latino community’s importance to Iowa’s economic future highlighted in recent report

As Iowa businesses confront a shrinking workforce, many leaders are wondering where to turn for talent. One particular population in Iowa may provide an answer for the future: the Latino community. 

 

Since Latino Heritage …

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The Elbert Files: Rights of nature

Michael V. Reagen asked recently if I would write about the “rights of nature” movement.

You may remember Reagen, who spent two decades in Des Moines, first as head of the Iowa Department of Social …

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Guest opinion: Employment law considerations with hybrid work

Submitted by Nate Borland, attorney, BrownWinick

The fully remote workforce prophecy has not proven true in Iowa. Instead, many Iowa employers sought the middle ground between a fully on-premises staff and a fully remote staff, adopting …

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The Elbert Files: The IRS and anarchy

Ronald Reagan famously said in 1981: “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”

It’s a great quote, and on rare occasions it is true.

But most of the time today, …

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On Leadership: Supporting Gen Z and millennials in the workplace

Throughout history, older generations have had opinions about younger generations’ tastes, morals and work ethics. When I was in college, I remember the elderly cook at the cafeteria where I scrubbed pots and pans constantly …

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The Elbert Files: Ames and the airport

I was disheartened to learn Ames will provide no money for a new passenger terminal at Des Moines International Airport.


Ames is where I was born and received all of my formal education. My parents …

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The Elbert Files: Our merry-go-round

I was at the drinking fountain in the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park when I saw my old friend K.C. admiring Keith Haring’s colorful sculpture of three dancing figures.

Haring was a 1980s graffiti …

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On Leadership: Workforce on the move

Employees are on the move, and no one is sure how to get them back. 

 

I recently moderated a panel discussion of top leaders from various industries about their experiences leading through the pandemic …

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The Elbert Files: Iowa’s early fairs

Craig and Diane Leaming have an unusual connection to the Iowa State Fair. Their 1880s west-side home was once a ticket station for trains carrying passengers between downtown and the fairgrounds.


The Leamings live on …