GENERAL:                                                                                                                Monday, March 31, 2003

American and British ground forces intensity efforts while air campaign – with at least 800 sorties planned overnight -- also picks up in Iraq. Reports of loud blasts – with smoke overhead – this morning in Baghdad. Urban warfare underway in some Iraq cities…Fairly slow, quiet morning in Iowa as Dem candidates continue to avoid state while searching for campaign funding elsewhere before tonight’s first quarter filing deadline…Services for Iowa’s first Iraq combat victim – Marine Sgt. Bradley Korthaus of Davenport – will be held next Monday, 4/7. Burial with military honors will be in the National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. Korthaus drowned crossing the Saddam Canal. Marine Corps is conducting investigation into situation. …CNN reports Pentagon concerned about losing the “perception war” – that media reports, especially with weekly news mags hitting newsstands questioning war ops. Peter Arnett interviews on Iraqi TV aren’t helping. Need to get back “on message” – but critics contend the media has some 500 embedded reporters who are telling the story for better or worse...Greatest political suspense in Iowa today is whether state officials and Iowa’s racetrack casinos will reach last-minute settlement on tax dispute by 5 p.m. deadline. If dispute not resolved, several environmental programs – which are funded with gaming revenues – could be discontinued or delayed, and state’s appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court will proceed.

CANDIDATES/CAUCUSES:  

Lieberman scheduled in Council Bluffs 4/10, will be at home of last fall’s defeated Dem Congressional candidate Paul Shomshor … More from First Lady wannabe Elizabeth Edwards. Yesterday morning’s Iowa Pres Watch update had Elizabeth Edwards’ criticism of the Bush administration for “squandering” the goodwill U. S. enjoyed after the 9/11 attacks, but there’s more – a quote from Ed Tibbetts’ coverage on QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times): “She [Edwards] also asked activists to imagine a candidate who can reach out to non-ideological voters when they decide whom to support next year. She said her husband fits that bill. “We have to win those people, she said. When asked who among the challengers might not be able to reach those people, she declined to say.” …Quote from an e-mail Edwards – John, not Elizabeth -- sent to potential contributors last week: “Please contribute to my campaign now – before Monday – to demonstrate to the media and the political establishment that we have raised enough early money to be considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination.”

IOWA POLITICS: 

Democrat Gayle Collins is preparing to run for mayor of DSM, according to Register’s Borsellino column this morning. He notes that her decision could setup re-match of a high-profile city council race a decade ago if Republican Christine Hensley also runs. It was a nasty campaign with Hensley winning by a few votes… Register notes today more registered voters in Polk County (Des Moines) than any other county in state – what a surprise that state’s most populated county would have most voters: 85,695 Dems, 73,685 GOPs, 74,471 non-aligned, no-party registered voters.

MORNING SUMMARY: 

Top headline, Omaha World-Herald online: “Push to Baghdad begins anew”   From Chicago Tribune online: “U. S. targets militias in cities” Des Moines Register top front page headline: “Dozens of Guard in Army’s grasp… Marines target Saddam kin near Nasiriyah”  QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times) online headline: “Holy sites are a new obstacle for U. S. soldiers”  Sioux City Journal top headline: “Allied forces inch toward Baghdad”…The United Way of Johnson County (Iowa City) and American Red Cross have ended a 10-year relationship. The United Way claimed the Red Cross Grant Wood Area chapter violated a “blackout period” – from Labor Day to mid-November – that prohibits groups receiving United Way funds from competing with it during annual fundraising campaign…A Davenport priest has been issued a summons to make an initial appearance this week – Friday (4/4) – in U. S. District Court in Des Moines. The Rev. Richard Poster, 38, faces one count of receipt and one count of possession of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The federal grand jury indictment, according to the Quad-City Times, prompted the Scott County Attorney’s office to drop similar charges filed a month ago …From VOANews: “American Airlines is taking part in last-minute negotiations with unions and banks to try to stave off bankruptcy. If the negotiations fail then the world’s biggest airline might have to file for bankruptcy within days.” Three of the nation’s 12 largest airlines – United, US Airways and Hawaiian – are already in bankruptcy as Congress considers requests for additional federal assistance. 

WAR/TERRORISM: 

Leftover from yesterday: The Sioux Journal reported about a Harkin visit to Sioux City on Saturday – Harkin said “he has no doubt the U. S. led coalition forces will defeat Saddam Hussein’s army. The issue, he said, is how long that war will take to win. ‘When I go to bed every night I say a prayer that when I get up in the morning, the war will be over,’ Harkin said during a visit to Sioux City to tour several projects.” 

FEDERAL ISSUES:  

Despite rhetoric that all concerned – including Democrats – are committed to accelerate GWB’s supplemental request for Iraq war and homeland security funding, some – especially Dems -- indicate they want to restrict or dilute Bush’s $74.7 billion package. According to several media reports, the first fight will be over giving the president – or Rumsfeld -- a “blank check” or unlimited flexibility to spend the $59.9 billion requested for the “Defense Emergency Response Fund” to support troops. The second battle will involve efforts by several Dem lawmakers – including Hillary, Harkin and Lieberman – to increase money for homeland security. The administration request was for $4.2 billion for domestic security – but Hillary and Lieberman (and House Democrats) want $11 billion…As Congress works toward developing a new energy bill, the Quad-City Times reported yesterday demand for – and efforts to promote – biodiesel fuels are increasing. QCTimes.com coverage indicated River Valley Coop, with several locations throughout the Quad-City area and one of 300 biodiesel distributors statewide, sold 150,000 gallons of biodiesel to bulk customers last year. River Valley spokesman Dave Schulz said he expects that number to grow and the coop plans to start offering biodiesel at the pump early next month in Muscatine, West Liberty and Durant. 

STATE ISSUES: 

Headlines in today’s Des Moines Register tell the story as state lawmakers return to work for another week: “Bold goals in legislative bind…GOP leaders want to revamp the tax system, but Republicans can’t reach an agreement…Time is running out on Vilsack’s top priority: A $500 million economic development fund.”…Morning newscasts report that legislative interest in increasing state’s cigarette tax is gaining momentum. …WHO Radio (AM1040), Des Moines, reports this morning food stamp applications in IA have increased every month over the past two years, up about 60,000. Meanwhile, federal figures indicate loss of 34,000 jobs – mostly in rural areas – over last couple years. 

OPINION: 

Des Moines Register editorials: “Merge tiny schools – and make them better…As districts combine, they should strive to broaden their curricula.” & “Corporate scandals aren’t over…Enron was small potatoes compared to what happened at HealthSouth.”…From Des Moines Register’s “Voices of Iowa” anonymous call-in line for comments about the Iraq war: “After the United States conquers Iraq, will a democracy be created where the person with the second-most votes is elected president?” – Central Iowa man…From the citizen commentary in the Sioux City Journal: “Instead of stealing another country’s natural resources, like oil, to pay for our war, maybe the cost of the war should be added to the price of fuel and gasoline. This would reflect the true cost of the war. Then we would become more frugal with oil consumption, and see true efforts at efficiency and conservation.” – Paul Campbell, Sioux City…Leftover from yesterday – two columns from Des Moines Sunday Register: Columnist David Yepsen – headline, “Hey, we all can get along!” – writes about efforts to resolve differences between Vilsack and legislative GOPs on several issues, adding, “Iraq isn’t the only place where big battles lie ahead.” Columnist Rekha Basu – headline, “Are we seeing the real war?” – writes that “wars are being waged on two fronts – combat and public opinion…To a large degree, how well it [the war] gets sold depends on how it is told.” She comments on war coverage and use of embedded reporters, concluding: “At the very time we’re trumpeting our freedoms to Iraq, it would be a sad irony if our own media’s independence is taking a beating.” 

SPORTS: 

Drake women’s basketball coach Lisa Stone is headed for a similar position at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Stone, a Wisconsin native who played college basketball at the University of Iowa, informed her Drake players of decision yesterday afternoon. She had a 64-27 record – 42-12 in the Missouri Valley Conference – during three years at Drake….Members of the NCAA Division III champion Wartburg College (Waverly) wrestling team are scheduled to be honored during visit to the Iowa Legislature this afternoon. All 10 of Wartburg’s wrestlers achieved all-America status this year…Iowa State basketball loyalists note that four of team’s 14 losses last season were to NCAA Final Four teams (and Big 12 Conference opponents) Kansas and Texas. The Cyclones lost three times – by a total of 55 points -- to the Jayhawks while Texas beat ISU by 20. Iowa State won 17 games. 

WEATHER:  

DSM 5 a.m. 36, mostly cloudy. High today 68, mostly cloudy. Low tonight, 48, partly cloudy. High Tuesday 80, mostly sunny...Temperature range: 21 in Iowa City to 37 in Carroll, Denison and Council Bluffs… From WHO-TV meteorologist Brandon Thomas: “Mostly sunny Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with highs in the low/mid seventies. Turning cooler on Friday, with highs in the low sixties.” 

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