Tuesday, February 25, 2003

GENERAL: Wimpy Wabbits not in Iowa while prospective Democrat supporters – and all Iowans – in Mother Nature’s freezer. Instead, the Wabbits become political snowbirds and migrate south to FL, trying to sway and secure labor union support (see item below). Iowans also wait to see how Wabbits will fare about RAGBRAI and Iowa State Fair time when actual temperatures will most likely be about 90-100 degrees warmer – or 100-120 degrees higher than current wind chills. Come summer will they find a convenient union convention in northern Minnesota or Canada to escape sizzling heat and humidity? Are these Wabbits just fair-weather hares?

CANDIDATES/CAUCUS: Four Wabbits – Gephardt, Lieberman, Edwards and Moseley-Braun – make pitch to union bosses in FL, but several media outlets indicate AFL-CIO boss John Sweeney is discouraging individual unions from endorsing any Wabbits. A fifth Wabbit – Dean -- is scheduled to appear at the union confab today… Interesting sidebar: An Associated Press report indicates the Florida hotel where the union leaders – and Presidential Wabbits – are meeting is “at the center of a federal lawsuit against its union owners and the pension fund used to buy and renovate it.” The Labor Department, according to AP, has sued officials in charge of the plumbers and pipe fitters’ union pension fund, alleging imprudent use of the members’ money…Kucinich’s new pro-choice position attracts attention – and flak – for flip-flop on abortion issue. Both pro-life and pro-choice advocates uncertain about his dependability on abortion-related concerns…QCTimes.com – the Quad-City Times – carries letter to editor from Craig A. Nemecek, Bettendorf, this morning saying the campaign should “not be Hart-less.” Nemecek says Gary Hart “is of unmistakable presidential moxie.”

IOWA POLITICS: Iowa Ag Secretary Patty Judge returns from trade trip to Cuba, says that Castro is “mesmerizing” and Cuba is hungry for Iowa farm products. Judge brings back a box of Cuban cigars – a gift from Castro. (See 2/21 morning update for more on Judge’s Cuba and trade goals.)

MORNING SUMMARY: Cold temperatures dominate most early morning newscasts today…Top front page DMR headline: “U. N. is told: Iraq failed…Extend inspections, war opponents reply”…Top headline on QCTimes.com: “Saddam: I want to debate Bush” AP coverage of Dan Rather interview with Saddam.

WAR/TERRORISM: DMR’s Lynn Okamoto reports on Iowa Senate debate last night over Iraq resolutions. Headline: “Strong emotions mark Senate debate on war…A resolution is passed as discussion splits along party lines.”…Ceremonies will be held in Audubon, Cedar Rapids, Centerville, Johnston, Muscatine, Perry and Red Oak over next two days as almost 500 Iowa Army National Guard members head for active duty mobilization at Fort McCoy, Wis…Protest rally, especially for teenagers, is scheduled at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Statehouse.

STATE ISSUES: DMR sidebar this morning indicates that new Energy Bill should be ready for congressional consideration this summer that would increase ethanol use…Vilsack, in Washington for the national govs association meeting, says he’s visited with Bush administration officials about increased funding to help states with education and homeland security initiatives. Vilsack says that he’s also encouraged efforts to promote the Loess Hills in western Iowa and increased emphasis on development and use of renewable fuels…As part of Black History Month festivities, state legislators pay tribute to the 12 members of the Tuskegee Airmen from Iowa.

OPINION: Top DMR editorial supports initiative to establish a National Center for Food Safety and Security in Iowa…Yepsen column: Reports price-tag on the average seat in the Iowa legislature last fall was $54,000, saying: “It’s time to quit worrying about the gift law and $3 lunches. It’s time to start worrying about six-figure campaigns for seats in the Legislature.” Also writes about Hensley political ambitions and Iowa GOP chair Chuck Larson’s prospects of becoming U. S. attorney.

SPORTS: Men’s basketball tonight – Iowa at Ohio State, Iowa State vs. Colorado in Ames. Cyclones will be without Clint Varley, a reserve from Stuart, after he was arrested Sunday morning (and suspended from the team) for OWI with a reported blood-alcohol level of 0.199. Both games times about 7 p.m.…Success & sadness at Drake: Carla Bennett has been selected as one of 12 candidates for the State Farm Wade Trophy of the Year – an honor awarded to the best women’s basketball player in NCAA Division I. Funeral services were held yesterday for Gus Guydon – who ranked as the No. 2 scorer in the school’s history when he graduated in early ‘60s. He returned to Drake as an assistant basketball coach in the late ‘60s  – the first African-American to hold such a position at a major Division 1 college. Guydon also served as an interim coach at Iowa State for the 1973-74 season.

WEATHER: Early morning temps either set new record lows or on brink of breaking records...5 a.m. DSM: -4 with  –18 wind chill. The record low for DSM was –5 set in 1967…Most reporting stations, except in southeast Iowa, have below zero actual temperatures. Wind chill examples: Mason City –21, Spencer –20, Ottumwa –15, Davenport –18…DSM forecast: High today 18 with possible scattered flurries, Low tonight 10, High tomorrow 28…Future forecast: WHO-TV’s Ed Wilson says “warmer at the end of the week…and another couple shots of light snow.” Highs could get into the upper 30s and 40s by the weekend.

IOWAISMS:  Despite winds, contractors in Iowa City decided it was safe to replace the gold dome on Old Capitol.

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