by admin | Apr 22, 2026 | Activism, Agriculture, architecture, Business, Chicago, Climate, Environment, Government, Housing, Philanthropy, Public policy, Renewable Energy, Resilience, Technology, Transportation, Urban Planning, Volunteerism
Once I was in downtown Chicago on April 16, at the corner of Adams and LaSalle, my first task was to enter what once was a bank building and pick up a name tag that had a number on the back. The second task was to take an elevator to the 40th floor and start meeting...
by admin | Mar 27, 2026 | Activism, Blogging, Books, Civil rights, Education, Journalism, Political philosophy, Politics, Public policy, Writing
As a long-time member and officer, and past president (1997-99) of the Society of Midland Authors, I am happy to share the announcement below concerning our declaration on freedom of expression and of the press, and the Declaration itself. This declaration was the...
by admin | Mar 13, 2026 | Aging, Books, Careers, Chicago, Civil rights, Climate, Disaster, Disaster policy, Disaster Recovery, Emergency Management, Government, Hazard Mitigation, History, Hurricanes, Immigration, Minnesota, Natural Hazards, Personal history, Politics, Public policy, Public safety, Resilience, Social Equity, Texas, War, Wildfire
Given the almost comically corrupt nature of Kristi Noem’s administration of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as its Secretary, I half-expected that her inevitable meltdown after the most recent Senate hearing would lead to flying monkeys celebrating as...
by admin | Nov 25, 2025 | Activism, Blogging, Chicago, Christianity, Civil rights, Crime, Government, History, Identity, Immigration, Journalism, National security, Public policy, Public safety, Racism, Social Equity, Social Media, Volunteerism, Writing
Then the righteous will reply, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and fed you, or thirsty and gave you drink, a stranger and took you home, or naked and clothed you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and come to visit you?” And the king will answer, “I tell...
by admin | Mar 3, 2025 | Activism, Books, Chicago, Foreign policy, Government, Gratitude, History, National security, Politics, Public policy, Russia, Ukraine, War
When the nation and the world witness the sort of crude spectacle that was broadcast from the Oval Office last Friday, it should not be surprising that many Americans are embarrassed and upset at the behavior of the men holding the two highest offices in the land....
by admin | Dec 26, 2024 | Careers, Climate, Disaster, Disaster Recovery, Education, Floodplain management, Hazard Mitigation, History, Iowa, Natural Hazards, Personal history, Public policy, Resilience, Retirement, Texas, Urban Planning, Weather
About the time the rising Cedar River crested in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on June 13, 2008, a torrential downpour from an incoming thunderstorm joined forces with it to create the perfect flood. In the previous flood of record in the city, the river had reached 20...
