Sunday, March 9, 2003

GENERAL: OVERNIGHT – Brit media reports latest North Korean threats, saying U. S.  preemptive strikes on their nuclear facility would result in “nuclear war” and North Korea would set New York, Washington and Chicago “aflame.” Also, the U. N. has ordered civilian staff out of the region that would be affected by an Iraq war, but weapons inspectors still on duty in Iraq…Gephardt should have western Iowa political stage – and media coverage – to himself today.  He’s scheduled for four stops: Sioux City, Onawa, Harlan, Sioux City…Iowans don’t need weather forecasts this week to predict a blizzard. It’s girls state tournament time in Des Moines and that, for Iowa natives and long-term residents, means the traditional tournament storm should hit sometime during the week. It’s not unusual for visiting teams and fans to get stuck in the capital city due to a heavy snowfall. The tournament starts tomorrow at 10 a.m., continues through Saturday…Craziness from international war opponents continues: BBC News reports Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has warned the United States would be in violation of the United Nations charter if it attacked Iraq without a mandate from the U. N. Security Council. (One possible response: Iraq, North Korea, terrorists and other rogue nations would be in violation of U. S. murder and terrorism laws if they commit acts that kill and injure Americans. What’s the U. N. charter say about protecting innocent American citizens?)

CANDIDATES/CAUCUS: Top headline in Des Moines Sunday Register Metro & Iowa section: “Michigan aims to diminish caucuses’ role…Move could push Iowa date earlier” Another article about efforts by Michigan Democrats to advance caucus date. (See previous Pres Watch morning reports for earlier stories.)…Kerry in Des Moines. DSM Sunday Register headline: “Kerry: Bush should bend on Iraq…The senator says president has not allowed diplomacy to work while trying to build support from other nations.” More than 30 Iowa Republicans staged a protest where Kerry was scheduled to speak, supporting the Estrada judicial nomination…Although family patriarch Ted is supporting Kerry, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Rhode Island, was in Davenport yesterday to boost Gephardt’s candidacy. Quad-City Times report says Kennedy addressed group of 70, telling them he stands behind Gephardt’s plans on health care, education, jobs and the economy. He also said he supports the troops overseas and that U. S. must disarm Saddam before he can make nuclear weapons or supply international terrorists with weapons of mass destruction… After a couple days in Iowa, Dean leaves eastern Iowa for scheduled appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” this morning. Any bets on what Howard-one-issue will discuss? (Hint: First word “Iraq.” Second word “war.”)…Edwards still in D. C., delivered “official” Democrat response to skits at the annual Gridiron dinner last night. If he was serious about the Dem nomination, he’d been better off shaking hands at a bar in Dubuque, Iowa City or Burlington last night.

IOWA POLITICS: Commentary in Sioux City Journal online edition: “Someone should inform Rep. Steve King that being patriotic does not mean you have to be a rubber stamp.” – Loren Petersen of Cushing, referring to freshman GOP Congressman King from western Iowa…Copyright front-page story in today’s Des Moines Sunday Register: “Amid cuts, governor takes staff from other agencies…Some of those state departments have had to trim their own work forces recently.”

MORNING SUMMARY: Standard sparse Sunday morning media coverage in Iowa…Top front page headline, Des Moines Sunday Register: “Obstacles await U. S. troops…Marshes, bridges, desert mark path to capital”…Top story, QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times): “Bush drums support for resolution”…Top world story, Omaha World-Herald online: “Terrorists in Iraq plan to attack, CIA warns” CIA says terrorists in Iraq plan attacks on U. S. and allied forces after invasion…Headlines from Chicago Tribune online: “Official: Al-Qaida May Hit Allied Forces” and “Britain Says U. N. May Back Iraq Deadline”… State, county health officials continuing investigation of situation at Ankeny Baptist Church  – just north of Des Moines -- wedding reception that sent more than 50 of almost 500 guests to DSM-area hospitals yesterday. One emergency room doc told WHO-TV the punch could have been responsible, possibly causing a form of blood poisoning, but awaiting further tests…Atlanta media reports afternoon CNN show “Talk Back Live” is being cancelled after nine-year run. Will be replaced by hard news programming.

WAR/TERRORISM: Omaha World-Herald online headline: “Crowd cheers military, Bush’s efforts” Despite wind chill near zero, thousands gather at Heartland of America Park near downtown Omaha to sign “God Bless America” yesterday afternoon and show support for troops and GWB …Voice of America (VOA) reports U. S. Congress “divided” over timing of possible U. S.-led action against Iraq. Quotes GOP’s Orrin Hatch as saying, “If the United Nations wishes to become a spineless debating society, that is its right.” -- but Dem’s Ted Kennedy says, “It is time for the president and this White House to pause before pushing aside the rest of the world and ordering an invasion of Iraq.”…BBC News – under the headline “Saddam defiant as endgame nears” – reports Saddam Hussein has “called for the economic blockade of Iraq to be lifted following reports on the country’s disarmament by the chief United Nations weapons inspectors.” BBC adds: Saddam said the Friday report by inspectors to the U. N. Security Council “showed that Iraq met all its obligations.”

FEDERAL ISSUES: Question on the “Quick Poll” on the Sioux City Journal online edition, www.siouxcityjournal.com: “Sen. Tom Daschle plans to introduce legislation which would remove management responsibilities of the Missouri River from the U. S. Corps of Engineers. Do you support this effort?” The main issue here is management of river flow, creating disputes between downriver states – including Iowa – and the Dakotas. (For more info, see river issues in The Iowa Scene on this website.)…In “Potomac Fever” column in Des Moines Sunday Register, Jane Norman of Washington Bureau reports Grassley is “trying to pave the way for cameras in federal courtrooms.” Norman also reports that former Iowa Congressman Fred Grandy – “Gopher” on TV’s old Love Boat series – is back on TV and stage.

STATE ISSUES: Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has joined with counterparts in Illinois and Wisconsin – in a letter to Federal Trade Commission -- seeking an inquiry into the recent spike in Midwest gas pump prices, suggesting the possibility increases are being caused by concern over possible gas shortages if Iraq war materializes. Central Iowa prices have reached $1.70, a 40-cent increase since December. Pump price a year ago: $1.17. In addition, the Iowa Securities Commission is warning Iowans about possible gas and oil investment scams. Officials say that with stock market uncertainly, the Iraq war possibilities and increased gas prices, rip-off artists are pitching possible investors with promises of quick returns for gas and oil exploration schemes…With announcements of tuition/room-board increases at Iowa’s three state universities, the increased costs – tuition, room, board -- for attending a state university next year could be hundreds of dollars more: Northern Iowa $1,077, Iowa $1,240, ISU $1,638.

OPINION: Des Moines Sunday Register editorial on state tax reforms and revisions: “Follow the Farm Bureau framework…But TIF should be retained as a redevelopment tool”…In “Roses & Thistle” column, the Register awards a rose to Harkin for including money in farm bill to give away fruits and vegetables to students at 100 schools in four states, including Iowa…Headline on letter-to-the-editor on Sioux City Journal online from Paul Jackson of Sioux City – “Ashamed of Americans protesting war with Iraq”…Register columnists: David Yepsen writes about tough budget-cutting choices facing Vilsack and legislators. Headline on Rekha Basu column: “Build culture, not walls, to prosper”… From letter to editor in Sunday Register: “They should draft loudmouths who are writing editorials in support of sending other people off to war.” – Jay Miller of Hills.

SPORTS: Wartburg College, Waverly, wins NCAA Division III wrestling championship, breaking all-time scoring record and first team to have 10 all-Americans…Hawkeyes fell behind by 16 and win by 16 – 77-61—in regular season finale vs. Northwestern. Next stop: Big Ten Tournament at 11 a.m. Thursday in Chicago vs. Ohio State…Iowa State men fall behind by 20 and don’t recover, losing to K-State 74-63. They face Texas A&M at noon Thursday in opening round of the Big 12 Tournament…Women’s basketball yesterday: Northern Iowa (63-55 over Creighton) and Drake (68-63 over Bradley) close out regular season with wins. All four teams head for Missouri Valley Conference women’s tournament next… Iowa in semi-finals at Big Ten women’s basketball tournament in Indianapolis this afternoon – tipoff 5 p.m. vs. Purdue. Winner faces Penn State or Ohio State in championship game at 6 p.m. tomorrow night…Memorial service noon today at Hilton Coliseum in Ames for Iowa State sports broadcaster Pete Taylor.

WEATHER: Arctic punch hits Iowa. DSM 5 a.m. 3 degrees with a few clouds, wind chill –12…Weather reporting stations across Iowa all in single digits with exception of Keokuk (10 above). Decorah and Mason City 4 below. Wind chills ALL below zero – 20 below or colder in Estherville, Marshalltown, Mason City (-26), Cedar Rapids …High today: 20. Low tonight 10, chance of snow. High Monday 28, possible snow…. Although he’s probably been wrong before, WHO-TV meteorologist Brandon Thomas says warmer conditions ahead – “We head into the upper forties to mid fifties Friday and Saturday of next week.”

IOWAISMS: The Cedar Rapids Gazette has a special report today marking 10^th anniversary of the last 6-player high school girls basketball game in Iowa. For over seven decades, the 6-player game was a treasured Iowa tradition and attracted big crowds to gyms across the state and state tournaments. This year’s girls tournament – four classes, all 5-player games – starts tomorrow. In a related story, the Des Moines Sunday Register has article on the front of today’s Metro & Iowa section about DSM traffic challenges awaiting tournament fans. Register devotes most of a page to traffic and parking info around Vets Auditorium. Basic rule: Park downtown and use skywalk system to Vets…Speaking of Des Moines traffic congestion, Des Moines Sunday Register in metro area today includes the “2003 I-235 Travel Planner” outlining summer construction plans, detours, etc., for the freeway that cuts through heart of DSM…Most Iowans probably don’t give a second thought to the Rock Island Arsenal – a military facility dating back to pre-Civil War era that served as a prison camp for Confederate soldiers located on a Mississippi River island in the Quad Cities – most of the time, but as war preparations advance the arsenal gets increased attention, including a front page story in yesterday’s DSM Register saying it is a “hub” of Iraqi preparations. Protestors were arrested for trying to block an arsenal viaduct on Friday, but it appears another group of visitors may be more welcome – tourists. Also in yesterday’s Register: A two-page spread promoting tourism in the Quad Cities, including an ad for the Rock Island Arsenal Museum  -- featuring, among other things, a firearms collection. Other sites on the island include the Confederate & National Cemeteries. It’s free and open seven days a week 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 309.782.5021 or 309.782.5182 for more info. No word about whether the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant – a sprawling 20,000-acre facility in Middleton, near Burlington, will be placing tourism ads, but it’s doubtful. News reports indicate the plant, which started production just before the Pearl Harbor attack and until 1975 produced nuclear weapons (it now produces conventional weapons, primarily warheads, tank ammo, mines and mortars), has been under tighter security restrictions since 9/11.

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