Andy Hallman

Is it immoral to break the law? That may seem like a silly question, or a question with an obvious answer. I suggest it is neither. Contrary to popular opinion, I posit there is no moral presumption to obey the law.I am not asking, ?Why should someone obey the law?? There are reasons to obey the law that have nothing to do with morality. For instance, criticizing the government in North Korea will get you ...

A representative democracy is one in which the public elects officials to govern on its behalf. All levels of government in the United States operate in this fashion, from the city council to the U.S. Congress. At all of these levels there is confusion about the duties of both elected officials and their constituents. For instance, should a legislator vote based on their own beliefs and ignore opinion polls? Or ...

Americans labour under the delusion they practise roughly the same customs as their friends throughout the English-speaking world. Many do not realise that their orthographic behaviours differ considerably even from their neighbours to the north, Canada. While the United States may have the largest defence budget of any country, and fought in the most theatres of war of any nation, it is still not the centre of ...

I had a birthday last week, on April 5. I spent the night at a storm spotter class. I can now recognize different types of storms from quite a long way away.Believe it or not, it was a more memorable birthday than the one I had four years ago, the big 2-1. How is that possible? Well, I?ll tell you.In the spring of 2007, I was a resident advisor in a dormitory called Friley at Iowa State University. A ...

The column of Washington Evening Journal reporter Andy Hallman.

Editors note: The story has been updated from it's original format. OTTUMWA ? One person is dead and at least two others injured in separate shootings Friday in Ottumwa, including a shootout between suspects and law enforcement officers.At 1:42 p.m. Friday, the Ottumwa Police Department received a call reporting shots fired at 831 S. Lillian St. in Ottumwa. The caller advised that one person had been shot. ...

Gretchen McLain never doubted she would be ready for RAGBRAI 2018.The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa is happening this week, when 8,500 riders make the 428-mile journey from the Missouri River to the Mississippi. It's an arduous task that taxes a cyclist's stamina.But McLain had to worry about much more than just getting in shape. One year ago, McLain could not walk under her own power after ...

Editors note: This is the second in a two-part series on the Miller family and immigration. Fairfield native Leanna Miller had an eye-opening experience two years ago when she visited Nogales, Arizona, which straddles the United States-Mexico border.Miller went to Nogales in October 2016 with a group of fellow students from Beloit College in Wisconsin, where she is about to enter her senior year. The group ...

This is the first in a two-part series on the Miller family and immigration.A 13-year-old Fairfield boy realized other people needed birthday presents more than he did.Chaiden Miller, son of Dan and Annalisa Miller, celebrated his birthday Aug. 9. Instead of bringing him gifts, he instructed his friends to bring donations for immigrants affected by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Mt. Pleasant ...

FAIRFIELD ? Those who have dropped by The Ledger lately have noticed something different. It's moved!It didn't move very far. In fact, the staff are now in a building next door to their old office, in a space that once held the press room.The Ledger made the move a few days before Christmas, and ever since the employees have been getting acclimated to their new surroundings. Ledger client specialist Alice ...

MEDIAPOLIS ? Pekin?s Cinderella run in the volleyball postseason came to an end Thursday when the Panthers ran into the Mediapolis Bulldogs in the Class 2A regional semifinal.Pekin had previously defeated Cardinal and Sigourney in the playoffs to set up the showdown with Mediapolis. The winner would advance to the regional final for a chance to play at state.The Bulldogs brought a stout 31-7 record into the ...

The Cardinal baseball team went 1-1 in its home tournament Saturday, falling to Davis County 5-1 while creaming Tri-County 20-5. The Comets followed that performance with a convincing 7-0 win against Danville Monday. MUSTANGS 5, COMETS 1Davis County scored two in the first, two in the sixth and one in the seventh. Cardinal?s lone run came in the sixth when Marcus Olson doubled home Drayton Hamm. That would ...

The Cardinal boys? basketball team was feeling good coming off a nail-biting win Thursday against Pekin, but has suffered a couple of setbacks in its two games since then.The Comets hosted Holy Trinity Catholic Friday, which was the Comets? third game in four games. Fatigue might have played a factor in Cardinal?s 68-40 defeat. On Tuesday, Cardinal was back in action, this time on the road against Burlington-Notr...

The Van Buren baseball team is moving on up.The Warriors defeated Iowa Mennonite School in the district final game in Fairfield Saturday by a score of 5-2.Van Buren scored two runs in the third and three in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. IMS plated two in the sixth but that was all the scoring they had in them.Brandon Plecker went 2-4 with a double, a run and a stolen base. Will Mertens was 2-3 with two runs, a ...