Tuesday, March 4, 2003

GENERAL: It’s Fat Tuesday…Winter storm warning for much of Iowa today. Roads already mostly covered with snow in NW IA and Sioux City area, including I-29 down to Council Bluffs area. Interstate 35 north of Ames to MN border already wet to partly covered …Still nine Dem presidential candidates and holding -- Dodd out. Where are Hart, Clark and Biden – not to mention Hillary – to try to save the day and election?… Dominant story – outside of weather -- in IA this morning: Iowa State basketball assistant coach Randy Brown charged in child porn case; other state stories – including politics – ignored on most newscasts. (See more below)...Forecasters too conservative yesterday morning, saying "snow likely" today -- but not mentioning winter storm warnings or 4-10 inches of possible snow in some IA locations. Iowa – with warnings about possible driving challenges later today along Interstates 80 and 35 -- getting frequent mention on The Weather Channel this a.m. Snow expectations: 2-4 inches in western IA, 4-7 inches central, and 6-10 possible in eastern Iowa …All Dem wannabes escape mention on "The Ten Most Dishonorable Americans" list by Ben Johnson and John Perazzo – FrontPageMagazine.com. Two members of Congress – Dem Reps. James McDermott and Barbara Lee – named along with International Action Center (IAC) co-director Brian Becker, filmmaker Michael Moore, actor Danny Glover and "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh.

CANDIDATES/CAUCUS: QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times) reports on efforts by Michigan Democrats to advance caucus date. Ed Tibbetts report says proposal would put Michigan caucuses on same date as the New Hampshire primary. Says it could impact Iowa caucuses if the Michigan effort forces New Hampshire to move primary ahead since law requires the IA caucuses be held eight days before the N. H. primary …Connecticut will only have one senator in the Dem presidential derby – Lieberman -- with Dodd decision he will not run. He’s made trips to CA, FL and NC recently, but hadn’t surfaced in Iowa lately…In New York Post, Deborah Orin quoted Hillary Clinton’s spokesman (Philippe Reines) as saying: "Sen. Clinton fully supports the steps the president has taken to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction."

(RIDICULOUS) WEBSITE OF WEEK: DraftGore.com, according to the site, has been established by "grassroots Democrats from coast to coast who believe Al Gore is the only Democrat who can represent us – who must represent us – in what may be the most crucial election in American history…By forcefully speaking out against the policies of this administration, Al Gore has become the voice of patriotic dissent in America – a voice for the people, not the powerful; a voice against a senseless war; and a voice in defense of our Constitution!" www.draftgore.com

MORNING SUMMARY: Top headline on QCTimes.com: "North Korean jets ‘lock on’ to U. S. plane"…Top Chicago Tribune online headline: "Bush, Democrats Offer Dueling Drug Plans" Story on disagreements over senior health care, Medicare issues…Big story everywhere in Iowa – and over coffee in cafes and diners across state – this morning about allegations Randy Brown, six-figure assistant Iowa State men’s basketball coach, involved in underage porn ring. News reports: Brown tried to make contact with a 15-year-old girl via Internet and downloaded pictures of minor females. ISU head coach Eustachy says Brown has resigned. Making story more interesting: his brother Rick is a DSM Register sports writer currently covering Iowa Hawkeyes basketball and father Walt was a long-time, much-respected newspaper editor (The Messenger) in Fort Dodge…Omaha World-Herald online top story – "Jays bring it home one last time" -- about No. 19 Creighton’s win last night, finishing season 17-0 at home. Main national story: "Iraq situation coming to a head soon, Bush says"…Main Des Moines Register front page headline, "Budget forces speeders to pay up" Tom Alex report says tight budget for Iowa State Patrol forced it to get a federal grant that required increased emphasis on traffic enforcement.

WAR/TERRORISM: Morning newscast reports speculate Iraq war could begin in week to 10 days…Front page story in the DSM Register, "Harkin compares Vietnam to Iraq" Jane Norman of Washington Bureau report: Harkin says Bush administration officials should visit Vietnam before deciding to carry out war against Iraq. White House spokesman rejects Harkin’s comparison…Radio Iowa reports two northern Iowa women start "Midwest Moms" group – an effort to support military families…BBC News report: Iraqis say six killed and 15 wounded in Sunday overnight airstrikes by US-UK pilots. The BBC reports coalition military expanded the number of targets, primarily rocket launchers and weapons which could be used against Allied forces, that American and British planes patrolling the no-fly zones can attack. The strikes, accordingly to BBC, are being "described as part of an aggressive shift in policy."…Turkey still stalling about hosting U. S. forces.

FEDERAL ISSUES: U. S. ag exports to China are up…Iowa Corngrowers pushing hard to increase size of locks on the Mississippi River. IA Soybean Assn. "frustrated" the infrastructure study on the Mississippi has taken a decade, even if it starts now it will take 10-15 years to complete lock and dam upgrades. (See "The Iowa Scene" section on rivers for more info)…WHO Radio talk show host Jan Mickelson said yesterday he’s found "documentation" People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has helped fund the Animal Liberation Front (AFL), a group that has been linked to destructive acts in rural areas. Several such incidents have occurred in the state – especially at mink farms in northern Iowa – over recent years, which makes rural terrorism and possible bioterrorism key issues in Iowa. Mickelson questions how PETA can retain tax-exempt status when it has been caught supporting a "terrorist organization."

STATE ISSUES: WHO-TV reports a "growing number" of state’s college students racking up credit card and student loan debt – "Experts say rising cost of tuition at Iowa colleges is forcing students to rely more on loans and on credit cards." Reports indicate 62 percent of state’s public university grads last year had student loan debt, up from 55 percent in 1998…Budget woes hitting Iowa cities. Council Bluffs to cut five jobs from fire department through attrition, and vacancies in police department -- six full-time, one part-time – will not be filled.

OPINION: Daily Iowan (University of Iowa) editorial: "Vilsack was within his limits to question Bush’s Turkey policy" It says, "An increasingly outspoken Gov. Tom Vilsack criticized President Bush’s inattention to state problems last week as preparations for war against Iraq continue to mobilize…specifically regarding loans to Turkey in return for use of military bases in that country."…Chicago Tribune editorial: "A victory in the war on terror" re the apprehension of bin Laden lieutenant Khalid Sheik Mohammed. Trib editorial says, "American and Pakistani authorities deserve high praise for their diligence and courage in finally bringing Mohammed to ground. Uncounted lives will doubtless be saved as a result. The war on terrorism is a long way from being over, but this was a big step toward winning it." …In the Des Moines Register, columnist David Yepsen writes about proposals to revise state’s collective bargaining agreement…In Register’s letters to the editor, Patricia Baade Huepher of McGregor writes that the farm bill hurts organic farmers.

SPORTS: New University of Iowa President David Skorton, in first day on the job, takes on direct oversight of Hawkeye athletic programs. Relieves general counsel Mark Schantz of responsibilities for athletics… Iowa State to reduce men’s basketball ticket prices next season…Men’s basketball scores: Bradley tops Drake 77-67, Northern Iowa loses 52-51 to SW Missouri State in last two seconds. Missouri Valley Conference tournament in St. Louis next for Drake and UNI this weekend…In Des Moines, Grandview College women beat St. Ambrose of Davenport 86-71 to win conference crown, advance to NAIA national tournament.

WEATHER: DSM 5 a.m. 25, cloudy with fog and mist…Already snowing in northern Iowa, expected to start in DSM area mid-morning, get heavier during afternoon …Temperatures from 10 in Spencer and Sheldon to 32 in Fort Madison. Some below zero wind chills in NW Iowa.. High today 25 with temps falling to mid-teens during day. Low tonight near 6, but subzero in northern locations. High Wednesday 18... WHO-TV meteorologist Brandon Thomas reports temperatures should be "back to where they should be" this time of year later in the week, in the upper 30s and 40s.

IOWAISMS: Ames City Council tonight considers proposal to prohibit taking couches and other indoor furniture outside, primarily aimed at neighborhoods around ISU campus…One-third of Iowa state tax returns already have been filed – about 500K of the 1.5M expected. State officials say electronic filing up 12 percent…Mark your schedules and get your tickets for the opening game of the girls state basketball tournament at 10 a.m. next Monday (3/10). The Class 1-A contest – smallest of four tournament classes – will feature Newell-Fonda (23-2 record, enrollment 131, 280^th of 397 high school districts) vs. Keokuk Cardinal Stritch (24-0 record, enrollment 51, 390^th of 397 high school districts), but it’s not the records or teams that will be important. It’s the crowd – or lack of a crowd – that makes the first tournament game an Iowa classic. If both schools brought all their students and fans, they would hardly fill one side – or even a couple sections -- of Vets Auditorium in Des Moines. For the curious, the smallest district in the state, 397^th of 397 – Diagonal in southern Iowa, 28 high school enrollment. The largest – Davenport West: 1,846. Second largest? DSM Lincoln – 1,824. The crowds will grow through the week, especially as the bigger schools start arriving Monday night, and the tournament will conclude with the standard Saturday night sellout – and statewide TV coverage.

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