Monday, February 24, 2003

GENERAL: Cold and windy across Iowa today. All locations statewide reporting below zero wind chills.

CANDIDATES/CAUCUS: Typical slow Monday morning in Iowa – and in Wabbitland. Dem candidates still absent, but one thing is certain – they haven’t lost their maps of Iowa. While they seek support elsewhere, they are still consumed by the lingering question that baffles many prospective presidents: Where’s Fonda – not Jane, but Fonda, IA?

IOWA POLITICS: DMR Columnist Borsellino reports that Dem State Rep. Ed Fallon of Des Moines is considering run for governor in 2006…Copyrighted DMR Iowa Poll shows support for lowering OWI standard, offering incentives for school consolidation and reviewing child custody for parents with live-in friends.

MORNING SUMMARY: Top DMR front page headline: “Global Buildup…GUARD: Military questions reliance on reservists…U. N.: Washington woos key nations for vote.” Report says about 4,800 Iowa Guard members have been on duty at one time of another since 9/11 attacks, making for the state’s biggest mobilization since World War II…Borsellino also reports that security tapes exist showing former Polk County manager, who was fired last month, removing files from office during weekend prior to her dismissal…Attorney General Miller says Iowa has joined others in filing a Friend of the Court brief with the U. S. Supreme Court to express support for affirmative action policies at the University of Michigan.

WAR/TERRORISM: DMR Religion Writer Shirley Ragsdale reports that more than 100 gathered in Newton last night for discussion of war and peace…Today’s DMR carries Washington Post story: “Embassies: Bush viewed as bigger threat to peace…U. S. officials report people worldwide are beginning to fear the president more than Saddam Hussein”…Latest TIME/CNN survey, according to TIME magazine, reveals that GWB is making a case that Saddam must go – 54 percent surveyed in mid-February poll said U. S. should use military to remove him.

STATE ISSUES: The Quad-City Times/QCTimes.com reports that Iowa legislators will be briefed today on proposal designed to put Iowa in running for a $100 million federal bio defense facility. Todd Dorman writes that the legislation is expected to spark an array of other cutting-edge, life science business ventures…. DMR headline: “Hospital leaders vow top care…Low Medicare reimbursement rates hurt Iowa City facility.” New administrators at University Hospitals face challenges.

OPINION: DMR editorials – “Rules that spell failure…Tangled federal edicts guarantee schools can’t measure up”…”A small price for democracy…Iowa shouldn’t put off updating election machinery”

SPORTS:  Women’s Sunday basketball: Iowa (13-11) over Wisconsin, 76-59; Drake (13-9) loses 70-56 to Creighton…Wrestling teams prevail: Iowa whips Northwestern 44-8, Iowa State registers double win – over Fresno State 34-8 and North Carolina State 30-16, UNI over Fresno State 35-3, meaning Fresno State traveled a long way to lose twice…First major high school tournament – State Wrestling Tournament – descends on DSM on Wednesday for four-day tournament. Tournament expanded to four days this year (vs. three days in past) to alleviate crowding at Vets Auditorium because of work on the Iowa Events Center.

WEATHER: …Snow sweeps across most of Iowa; roads in NW corner of state were still mostly snow-covered this morning. Most northern, central and eastern parts of state had partially covered roads...DSM 5 a.m. 3 degrees, -15 wind chill…Lowest in state –4 in Estherville to 14 in Keokuk and Fort Madison…High today 10, looking at record low tonight of –9 or –10, High Tuesday 18 with chance of snow.  Wind chills of –20 to –30 will not be uncommon across Iowa tonight and tomorrow morning.

IOWAISMS: If all goes as scheduled and planned, and weather permitting, the signature symbol of the University of Iowa – the Gold Dome on Old Capitol – will be replaced over the noon hour in Iowa City today. A fire destroyed the dome during renovation in November 2001…Collegiate basketball star Kyle Korver – son of the senior pastor of the Third Reformed Church in Pella – subject of feature story by Curry Kirkpatrick on ESPN.com. Korver – identified as “Creighton’s shooting star” in the ESPN.com headline – joins Iowa natives Kirk Hinrich of Sioux City and Nick Collison of Iowa Falls, both veteran starters at Kansas, among nation’s college basketball elite. Key quote “his Dutch-settled hometown where, Korver says, ‘things get pretty crazy. I’ve ridden on floats and everything.’”

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