Wednesday, February 26, 2003

GENERAL: Overnight news headlines: At least 10 die in Connecticut nursing home fire…If any Wabbits even consider DSM visit today and thru weekend, forget it. Wabbits would be crushed by the annual stampede – and confused driving on city’s one-way streets -- of fans as the High School Wrestling Tournament begins four-day run at Vets Auditorium.

CANDIDATES/CAUCUS: Special interests and interest groups love the Iowa caucuses. Reports indicate that the Reform Voter Project has launched a flight of TV spots in Iowa, but there’s no confirmation about the content of the spots or the extent of the current buy. The reports indicate the commercials are anti-GWB, but we’ll check them out further in the days ahead.

IOWA POLITICS: Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports that GOP legislators reviewing the new collective bargaining agreement with state employees union raised red flags. The main concern, Henderson reports, is over what the state will pay for health insurance coverage – with the state paying 85 percent of the premiums.

MORNING SUMMARY: Top DMR front page headline: “Blix: Iraq discloses additional weapons”…Top story QCTimes.com: “Bush: Iraq must fully cooperate” …Luke Helder, the suspected mailbox pipe-bomber, who was arrested last spring after a multi-state rampage to create a “happy face” across the nation, has been transferred from the Linn County Jail in Cedar Rapids to Minnesota for psychiatric evaluation.

WAR/TERRORISM: A “virtual march” against the war planned. Organizers say they hope to send an email-a-second to members of Congress to protest war. One of the main “march” promoters is MoveOn PAC – a group originally organized to oppose Clinton impeachment…Darwin Danielson of Radio Iowa reports that Congressman Jim Leach says some foreign leaders are finding it hard to back the U. S. on the Iraq situation because their countrymen are not supportive of the American policy. Leach says that close friends of the U. S. like Mexico are having trouble because the people of Mexico are against any war. Danielson also reports that Leach says comparisons between Iraq and Vietnam are frail and flawed. The Danielson report says Leach added there are risks in Iraq the U. S. hasn’t faced before, including use of weapons of mass destruction. The report says Leach believes that makes Iraq more difficult than Vietnam ever was. Leach was the lone member of the Iowa delegation to vote against the resolution authorizing use of military force against Iraq.

FEDERAL ISSUES: Top headline in DMR Business section: “EPA gives final OK to new corn…Genetically engineered crop could boost profits” Washington Bureau’s Philip Brasher reports that it could increase farm profits by 10 percent…Several outlets, including CNN and AP, report union membership at lowest level in two decades at 13.2 percent of workforce.

STATE ISSUES: Headline on copyrighted DMR Iowa Poll: “Many Iowans consider property tax least fair”…DMR’s Jonathan Roos writes that Iowa Senate President Kramer has proposed legislation to expand gambling, including authorizing three more gambling boat licenses.

OPINION: DMR editorial: “Health costs: A real drag…America’s hodgepodge system puts a damper on the economy.”

SPORTS:  State’s major basketball teams prevail, both now 14-10 for season -- Hawks overcome an 11-point deficit to win third Big Ten road game of the year, beating Ohio State 71-64. In Ames, ISU takes early lead for an 81-55 win…Basketball games tonight: Men – Drake hosts Illinois State, Northern Iowa at Indiana State; Women’s basketball tonight: Colorado visits ISU in Ames.

WEATHER: Wabbits continue to pose threat to Iowa sanity, but weather trends toward more tolerable, sane conditions…5 a.m. DSM conditions: Calm and 7 degrees, locations across Iowa above zero this morning…High today 25, Low tonight 10, High tomorrow 32…Highs in mid-30s through weekend with chance of snow… From yesterday: DSM finally set record low -- at -6 -- about 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

IOWAISMS: An Iowa tradition begins again – buying season for prom gowns. Girls coming to tournaments – wresting this week, the boys and girls basketball tournaments over coming weeks – scout DSM stores for prom gowns. Some stores guarantee that no other girls at the same school will get an identical gown.

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