Wednesday, May 28,  2003

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“The Democrats’ biggest challenge in 2004: Convince independent and swing voters that their party can protect the United States. That’s going to be a hard, if not impossible, sell.”
 – Columnist and Washington Times political reporter Donald Lambro,
quoted in Chuck Muth’s News & Views online report. 

GENERAL NEWS:  

 Among the offerings in this morning’s update: 

... Story County community – Nevada – serves as centerpiece of Oliphant column about Edwards’ ability to “talk the small-town talk” 

... Washington Times reports that Gephardt leads early endorsement efforts

... Countdown continues toward IA legislative special session tomorrow. House Speaker Rants says the session “offers Republicans an opportunity to tear down those barriers” to economic development caused by high income taxes, property taxes and restrictive regulations

... In New Hampshire, Dean speaks out against parental notification bill

... Kerry attempts to counter GWB fundraising effort with e-mail response, claiming Bush fundraising group dominated by “special interests and Republican fat cats”

... Grassley predicts Medicare reimbursement reforms will be adopted by end of June. Related item: Headline from New Hampshire’s The Union Leader – “Lieberman pledges Medicare reform”

... Graham – again – discounts Veep talk, says he’s going only for presidential gold

... Green Party considers backing Dem prez candidate in ’04, but leader says Gephardt and Lieberman would be unacceptable

... DRUDGE REPORT: Hillary needed three writers for “Living History” autobiography

... Delaware update: Biden still considering presidential bid, no decision expected until September

... Lieberman continues push for probe into possible federal role in hunt for renegade Texas Dem legislators earlier this month

... Graham and Lieberman – wannabes with three decades combined experience in the Senate – named to headline event next month to unveil “New Democrat” agenda

... Iowaism: Steam engine 1355 rolls past Milwaukee line roundhouse again – in McKewon painting

... In DSM Register today, Graham continues one-man effort to get media attention – and political traction – on charges Bush administration stalling on 9/11 report

... Omaha World-Herald this morning: Three Omahans to watch GWB sign tax-cut package at White House today

All these stories below and more.

Early returns – about 200 responses – in Sioux City Journal “Quick Poll” on the question: “Do you feel the tax cut plan Congress has sent to President Bush is enough to stimulate the economy?” Yes – 30.9%, No – 69.1% 

 CANDIDATES & CAUCUSES: 

... The Washington Times yesterday reported that Gephardt dominates while Graham and Kucinich lag in endorsement battle. Headline: “Gephardt takes early lead in ‘endorsement primary’” Coverage by Times’ Charles Hunt says Gephardt “leads the pack of presidential hopefuls in the so-called ‘endorsement primary.’ Earlier this month, Mr. Gephardt announced endorsements from 30 House colleagues, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, and Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat…Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut Democrat, has the second-highest number of endorsements from congressional colleagues – 12 – from eight states, including fellow Connecticut Democratic Sen. Christopher J. Dodd.” The Times report continues to note that Edwards has “rounded up support from six congressmen from his state and one more from Texas,” Kerry has is supported by Sen. Edward Kennedy and three other members of Congress, Dean has endorsements from both Vermont senators and two House members, Moseley Braun has two congressional endorsements, and Sharpton announced last week that “he had the support of Rep. Jose E. Serrano, New York Democrat.” Graham and Kucinich haven’t listed any endorsements yet, but the Times noted “Mr. Graham’s office said he has not yet sought endorsements from fellow legislators.” The significance of the endorsement battle – outside of generating media coverage and showing a support base – is that members of Congress are voting super-delegates to the Democratic national convention. 

... Headline on Thomas Oliphant column, Boston Globe online: “Edwards can talk the small-town talk” Excerpts from yesterday’s Oliphant column: “In an accident at least of politics if not history, the rural town of Nevada, Iowa, has become a metaphor for the most neglected element of a stagnant economy – small town America. It was two years ago last week that green-behind-the-ears President Bush stopped here on the day he unveiled his production-fixated new energy bill, freshly fashioned from Vice President Cheney’s still-secret meetings with big shot producing interests. And it was two years and three days later that one of Bush’s Democratic challengers, Senator John Edwards, had the basic horse sense to go there, too, to throw the president’s unfulfilled promises back at him and become the first in his field to address a set of issues that normally don’t get attention in the country’s major media centers…What made his approach more interesting, however, was the extent to which he broadened his message into an attack on all the interests (the administration being only one) that threaten a way of life toward which all Americans feel an emotional tug…Let’s face it, Joe Lieberman or John Kerry cannot credibly say of Bush as Edwards did: ‘Just because you have yourself a new ranch and wear a big belt buckle doesn’t make you a friend of rural America.’ Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean would have trouble calling administration policies ‘all hat and no cattle.’…Unlike most of small town America, Nevada is still growing (6,600 people in the last census, with more than 600,000 within 50 miles). It is not very far from a fabulous university (Iowa State in Ames), and it has a deep commitment to economic planning. The conservatives have an obvious cultural connection and advantage, but Bush has blown the opportunity to cement the ties with good, attentive policies. If nothing else Edwards deserves credit for stepping into this void with a message his rivals would do well to emulate.”   

... The Union Leader online yesterday headlined Lieberman’s visit to eastern Iowa earlier this week: “Lieberman pledges Medicare reform” AP’s Iowa caucus guy Mike Glover wrote that the Connecticut senator “signed a pledge committing to push for revamping the Medicare system which has Iowa getting the lowest reimbursement in the nation. ‘There’s a good case made here,” Lieberman said. ‘I think there’s a good claim here.’ Lieberman signed a formal pledge offered by Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell to all nine candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. In that pledge, candidates are asked to acknowledge that disparities exist in the Medicare reimbursement system and they agree to push for changes.” 

... More from Lieberman’s Cedar Rapids visit: The Register’s Thomas Beaumont reported that “Lieberman, a strong supporter of the war in Iraq, said Monday he was troubled by the failure to find weapons of mass destruction, and he called the Bush administration’s handling of postwar reconstruction ‘remarkably unprepared.’ The absence of proof of biological or chemical weapons in Iraq doesn’t undermine the purpose of the war or the credibility of officials who supported it,’ Lieberman said.” 

... Headline from Sacramento Bee on new AP report from DC last night – “John Kerry cites Bush campaign goals in donor appeal” The report by Associated Press’ Sharon Theimer said Kerry is “using President Bush’s fund raising to motivate his donors, urging them to help counter the $200,000 or more each member of Bush’s new ‘rangers’ fund-raising group will raise. ‘I think I have an agenda that can change our nation’s direction for the better – and it starts by getting the Democratic Party thinking big again,’ the Massachusetts senator wrote Tuesday in an e-mail appeal. ‘To make that happen, we must first beat the Bush money machine – but that won’t happen by magic.’…Kerry said the [Bush] rangers will be ‘dominated by special interests and Republican fat cats…Bush’s fund raising is ‘putting the Democratic nominee at a distinct financial disadvantage,” Kerry wrote.”

... A headline from Washington Post online yesterday: “Greens Consider Standing Behind Democrats in ’04…Party Still Mulling Its Own Ticket.” Brian Faler’s coverage said: “The lesser of two evils doesn’t seem like such a bad choice these days to some Greens. As the Green Party hashes out its plans for next year’s presidential election, some of its activists are urging the party to forgo the race and, instead, throw its support behind one of the Democratic candidates – all in the hopes of unseating President Bush. It isn’t an especially popular idea, but it is being seriously considered. ‘At the moment, everything is on the table and everything is being discussed,’ said John Strawn, co-chairman of the group’s presidential exploratory committee…It is unclear under what circumstances the party could agree to support a Democrat. Many of its officials adamantly oppose supporting any of the more centrist Democratic candidates. ‘There is no possible way that we would ever support someone like a [Connecticut Sen. Joseph I.] Lieberman or a [Missouri Rep. Richard A.] Gephardt,’ said Anita Rios, one of the party’s five national co-chairs. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio), one of the most liberal Democratic candidates, appears to have gained the most traction among the Greens. But he is considered one of his party’s longest long shots – and it is uncertain whether the Green Party would pass on its own presidential race to support someone with such a slim chance of winning.” The Post story added the Greens “won’t formally choose a candidate – if it does – until the 2004 nominating convention, slated to be held in Minneapolis, Milwaukee or San Francisco. Until then Rios said, ‘none of us knows what’s going to happen.’”

... The DRUDGE REPORT said last night that Hillary needed three professional writers to finish her “Living History” autobiography about her White House years. Under the headline “IT TAKES A VILLAGE: HILLARY HAD THREE WRITERS FOR AUTOBIOGRAPHY,” Drudge wrote: “In her new book, LIVING HISTORY, Hillary Rodham Clinton acknowledges – in opening pages – three women for their assistance and contributions to the project…LIVING HISTORY is being held in strict embargo by publishers SIMON AND SCHUSTER for a June 9 release.”

... It sounds like an impossible – and ridiculous – dream, but the Wilmington New Journal reports that Biden is still weighing a possible presidential bid. Excerpt: “Joe Biden may not be able to wait much longer. Biden believes his place right now is on the Senate floor, battling proposals by President Bush to build new nuclear weapons. But if Biden wants to be president, political experts say, his place is on the campaign trail. The Delaware senator said this week he will wait until at least September to reveal whether he will join nine Democratic presidential contenders.” 

... During a weekend visit to New Hampshire, Dean “criticized the state Senate vote requiring that parents be told if their minor daughter seeks an abortion.” Under The Union Leader Monday headline “Dean says he disagrees with parental notification bill,” he was quoted as saying, “I don’t think it’s the government’s business to interfere in the relationship between the doctor and the patient. The vast majority of minors bring their parents with them…For the small percentage that don’t there’s usually a good reason.” The report continued: “Dean, a doctor, said every conscientious health care practitioner will try to convince a minor who is considering an abortion to involve their parents.”   

... In his “Inside the Beltway” column in yesterday’s Washington Times, John McCaslin – subhead: “Democrats are coming” – wrote: “About the only body in Washington that Democrats are in control of these days is the Democratic National Committee. So rather than convening a summit on the South Lawn of the White House or in the majority wing of the Congress to unveil what is being called the ‘New Democrat’ agenda, pow-wow co-hosts Sen. Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana and Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico are summoning Florida Sen. Bob Graham and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman – both presidential candidates – and Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln and a number of other influential Democrats to the Capitol Hyatt Hotel on June 17. Inside the Beltway is told that the topics of discussion will include developing a ‘winning message’ to retake a majority in Washington, terrorism and the role of U.S. leadership, the “stagnant” economy, and federal and state budget deficits.” 

... It’s becoming the toss-up question of the campaign – whether Graham will ever be a viable contender or if he’s just in it for the No. 2 spot? He, however, keeps issuing denials that he’s a vice-presidential aspirant. The Miami Herald reported yesterday that Graham “has appeared on C-SPAN’s Road to the White House, is meeting with voters in New Hampshire living rooms and is raising cash in California for his presidential campaign. But many people think he is actually eyeing another job…Graham tries to shoot down the question of the vice presidency every time it is raised…Others say there are good reasons to believe him. ‘It’s so arduous to run for president,’ said Don Fowler, a South Carolinian who was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1994-96. ‘It takes away from so many things.’ In a recent interview, Graham said he is ‘bemused’ by the vice presidency question, especially since Republican operatives are among those peddling the theory. ‘The main reason the Republican National Committee is saying this is they want to diminish our campaign,’ Graham said. ‘I take that as a form of flattery.’ To be sure, Graham is a leading candidate to be the Democratic nominee for vice president if his presidential campaign falls short.” 

... Hardheaded Graham keeps trying to generate interest – probably for the 2,000th time during the last month – to get media, public interested in claim the White House is intentionally delaying 9/11 report. Headline in today’s DSM Register: “Graham leads charge against Bush in inquiry…Others shy from saying president covered up evidence” Register’s Beaumont does roundup on wannabes’ views about Graham’s contentions. Excerpt: Graham “says the Bush administration’s failure to release documents regarding the 2001 terrorist attacks is tantamount to a cover-up, but his Democratic presidential rivals aren’t so sure…Only former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean suggested Graham might be right, but stopped short of echoing his position. ‘He knows what the facts are, and he knows what was covered up,’ Dean said in Des Moines last week. ‘If Bob Graham’s saying that, it’s probably true, but I don’t know.’” (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Four words of advice for Graham – Give it up, Bob. Graham has been babbling about the alleged White House cover-up since he announced his candidacy last month and outside of an occasional story – like Beaumont’s – during a slow news period it doesn’t get much coverage or have much credibility.) 

... Under the subhead “Clark’s sequel,” Paul Bedard – in his “Washington Whispers” column in U.S. News & World Report – wrote that “Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, still teasing Democrats with a possible 2004 presidential bid, seems to be more interested in replacing Karl von Clausewitz as the great war strategist. What started with Waging Modern War: Bosnia, Kosovo and the Future of Combat, describing the Kosovo war while he was NATO’s supreme commander, continues later this year with Winning Modern Wars: Iraq, Terrorism and the American Empire. Publishing insiders say it’s due out in September, right about the time when the Democratic presidential primary season begins to heat up.   

... Lieberman again – emphasis on the word “again” – attempts to raise questions about fed involvement in tracking down Texas Dem legislators. The Washington Post reported “Lieberman plans to call on the White House today [Tuesday] to release a list of any efforts to help Texas authorities round up Democratic lawmakers who slipped out to Oklahoma to block action on a redistricting bill earlier this month. Several prominent Democratic officials and consultants plan to try to make an issue in coming days of any federal resources used to aid backers of the redistricting plan, which was championed by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. These Democrats assert that what they call ‘Texasgate’ would have provoked a furor if it had involved officials of the Clinton administration. Lieberman, a presidential candidate and the ranking Democrat on the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, says in a letter to White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. that he considers it “completely unacceptable that any government official would think it appropriate to use federal taxpayer dollars to help one political party settle an intra-state partisan feud.”    

... Chuck Muth’s News & View’s reported – under the subhead, “Stumble & Fumble Expert” – that columnist/commentator Oliver North wrote: “From the campaign trail where the cheapest of political cheap shots emanate, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut (D) decries the {Bush} administration’s efforts to rebuild Iraq as ‘shock and awe giving way to stumble and fumble.’ Mr. Lieberman’s expertise in stumble and fumble presumably derives from serving as an apprentice to the failed presidential aspirant, Al Gore.”  

 IOWA POLITICS: 

... Despite a campaign against the Iowa Values Fund economic development proposal by Iowa GOP state chairman (and State Sen.) Chuck Larson, the Republican speaker of the Iowa House – Christopher Rants of Sioux City – sent out an e-mail yesterday that said: “Iowa’s economic future is at stake in the upcoming special session. For years Iowa has suffered from flat population growth, flat business growth, and ranks at the bottom of most economic categories. Similarly, much is at stake for Iowa Republicans. For years we have said our high income tax rate, confusing property tax system, and burdensome regulatory climate hinder Iowa’s economic well-being. This special session offers Republicans an opportunity to tear down those barriers…For a state economy in dire need of an adrenaline shot, these actions are just what the doctor ordered…The fundamental question for Republicans as we prepare for the special session is: do we pass legislation we’ve been advocating for years, or toss them all overboard because we oppose bonding for the Iowa Values Fund?…This special session gives us the unique chance to grab hold of this opportunity and leap confidently into the future.” More: WHO Radio (Des Moines) reports this morning that lobbyists may outnumber legislators by the time the special session convenes tomorrow. The report says at least 150 lobbyists are registered on the Iowa Values Fund and related proposals.  

... The copyrighted Iowa Poll in yesterday’s Des Moines Register indicated that nearly six in 10 Iowans support the job Guv Vilsack is doing, while nearly half approve of the GOP-controlled legislature’s performance. The numbers: Vilsack – 59% approve, 31% disapprove, 10% not sure. The legislature – 48% approve, 28% disapprove, 24% not sure. 

... This isn’t a “pure” Iowa political story, but since GWB is going to win IA in 2004 it qualifies. In the U.S. News and World Report’s “Washington Whispers” column, Paul Bedard wrote that “Labor Day is the deadline for Bush officials to quit or pledge to stay through the re-election campaign, insiders say. ‘The summer – and Labor Day, being the end of summer – would be the drop-dead date,’ says a top Bushie. The reason so many top aides are leaving now, adds the insider: ‘The president wants time to replace them before the campaign begins.’”

MORNING SUMMARY:    

This morning’s headlines:

... Des Moines Register, top front-page headlines: “2 soldiers killed in ambush…Recent attacks spark fears of unrest in Iraq” & “Prison guard beaten, sent to hospital…Union says Clarinda site understaffed” Report says a correctional officer at the Clarinda state prison was knocked unconscious and beaten by an inmate Saturday night, an incident union leaders say underscores serious understaffing at the prison.”  

... Quad-City Times, top stories online: Local – “Report offers roadmap to city diversity” Report: “While noting some progress, officials and members of a committee said Davenport has a long way to go as a long list of steps aimed at making the city, its government and its workforce more racially and ethnically diverse was unveiled Tuesday.”

... Online headline, Sioux City Journal: “Palestinians, Israelis disagree about date for second summit”

... Omaha World-Herald, nation/world online headlines: “Omahans to see Bush sign tax-cut bill” Report excerpt: “Wes and Laurie Butler and Jenny Theisen all say meeting President Bush on his whirlwind trip to Omaha two weeks ago was the thrill of a lifetime. That being the case what do they think now about the chance to see Bush again, this time at the White House? That’s what the three Omahans will be doing today. All were invited to Washington for the East Room ceremony where Bush will sign the tax-cut bill he stumped for in Omaha May 12” & “Man suspected in serial killings arrested in Atlanta”  

... Chicago Tribune, top online headlines: “Serial Killings Suspect Caught in Atlanta” & “Arafat Move Clouds Mideast Peace Summit” 

... New York Times online, top stories: “Justices, 6-3, Rule Workers Can Sue States Over Leave” & “SARS Makes Beijing Combat an Old but Unsanitary Habit” Report: “In its battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome, China is tackling a unique challenge: spitting.” 

... From yesterday’s Quad-City Times: Top online headline – “Services honor Q-C’s Korthaus, other veterans” Excerpt – “Steve and Marilyn Korthaus wept and comforted each other Monday as an Army major general paid tribute to their son, the latest Quad-City military serviceman to die while on active duty. The annual Memorial Day services at National Cemetery on Arsenal Island came seven weeks to the day after Marine Sgt. Bradley Korthaus, 28, was buried there with full military honors. He drowned in an Iraqi canal March 24 while trying to set up armed cover for a water-purification unit.” 

 ... Top front-page headline in yesterday’s DSM Register – “U.S. looks at Iowa Guard’s spending…High-tech program’s funds misused, memo alleges” A copyright story in the Register yesterday said a federal memorandum alleges overcharges of $8.7 million for the Consolidated Interactive Virtual Information Center (CIVIC). Documents allege the federal money was used for Christmas parties, an office in Arizona, marketing and payments to individual retirement accounts. 

Iowa Briefs/Updates:

... Report on WHO Radio (Des Moines) yesterday indicated that “basically most of the corn is in the ground” around Iowa and some re-planting has started in areas hit by heavy rains and field flooding. Iowa State University crop specialists also believe about 80% of soybeans have been planted

... Multiple news outlets report that an estimated 1,100 employees at the Meskwaki casino near Tama – closed by court order because of a tribal dispute – have started applying for unemployment benefits. Local retailers, restaurants and hotels also are being hurt by the casino’s closing, especially during one of the busiest weekends of the year.  

WAR & TERRORISM: 

... From the Korean Front: VOANews (Voice of America) reports that “a top international aid agency says North Korea is in a precarious situation, with starvation looming unless food supplies continue. The comments come the same day the South Korean government says it will slow down food shipments to the North if relations with Pyongyang worsen over its nuclear programs. International aid agency Caritas is appealing for more than $2.5 million to help get food and medical aide to North Korea.” 

... Brit commentary and speculation from BBC’s Kirsty Wark: “Is Tehran the next target? What are George Bush’s intentions towards Iran which, according to the President, is a member country in the axis of evil? Following intelligence suggesting that al-Qaeda members in Iran had a role in the 12 May suicide bombings, the US has suspended contacts with Iran and arguments are intensifying over how best to deal with the regime. Can the US finger Iran for a clandestine nuclear weapons programme, or for sheltering al-Qaeda? There may be little appetite in Britain and Europe for any kind of attack, but, after Iraq, is the US sufficiently emboldened for a unilateral attack, even with the presidential campaign kicking off on 1 September?” Meanwhile, VOANews reported that “Iran says it has arrested some members of the al-Qaeda terrorist network who have slipped into the country, but it insists none are ranked high in the organization…[Iran’s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi] argued that Iran has been fighting al-Qaeda longer than the United States, and considers the organization dangerous.”  

... Item from yesterday’s Washington Times “Inside the Beltway” column – subhead, “Change the Locks” – said: “The year in which Detroit presented ousted Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein with a key to the city: 1980 – Harper’s Index, June 2003” 

FEDERAL ISSUES:  

... WHO Radio (Des Moines) reports that Grassley – who lost the battle to insert Medicare reimbursement payment provisions in the tax cut legislation last week – predicted yesterday that the reimbursement reforms would be approved by the end of next month. The WHO report said Grassley is “feeling somewhat confident” about eventual passage of the proposal to equalize the Medicare reimbursements. Grassley said he expects the legislation to come out of his Senate Finance Committee the second week of June and then be considered by the full body later in the month. He noted that President Bush and the Senate support the legislation and that rural legislators must convince their urban counterparts that revisions in the reimbursement formula are necessary. 

IOWA ISSUES:

... Countdown continues toward legislative special session – scheduled to convene tomorrow morning in Des Moines – to consider Iowa Values economic fund development package and other issues. The Quad-City Times reported Guv Vilsack said differences between the factions were narrowed during a meeting Monday and the governor held out the possibility he would veto portions of the budget bill that’s been sent to him to force action on his priorities. Meanwhile, the Times reported that the police chiefs in six of Iowa’s largest cities warned that the state’s budget crunch could jeopardize community policing projects statewide. The chiefs warned that cutbacks could jeopardize school resource officers, anti-drug programs and domestic abuse teams. 

OPINIONS: 

Today’s editorials:

... Today’s editorial, Des Moines Register: “Imagine Iowa – if lawmakers fail…The Iowa Values Fund can make a difference. Don’t let it slip away…Rural Iowa stands to benefit the most.”

... Citizen commentary from Sioux City Journal online: “The streets of Washington are laid out in circles, just right for politicians who talk in circles. Maybe it was planned that way to make them feel at home.” – Phillip A. Severson, Sioux City

... Yesterday’s editorial, Des Moines Register: “Mad-cow disease: Ames lab can help…It’s important to keep modernizing the Animal Disease Center.” Excerpt: “Iowans obviously benefit from the presence of the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, but they aren’t alone. It’s fair to say that the safety of the world’s food supply is at risk. Congress should keep the Animal Disease Center’s reconstruction on schedule.”

 IOWA SPORTS: 

... Sportscasts this morning report that Iowa State basketball player Jackson Vroman has been suspended indefinitely after being arrested on drug charges in Spirit Lake over the Memorial Day weekend. The Bountiful, Utah native was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

... Register’s Dan McCool reports that this year’s prep baseball season is off to a quieter start than last year when two Iowans – Marshalltown’s Jeff Clement and Winterset’s James Peterson – battled for national career home run title. Clement finished with a national high school record of 75 homers – and a state team championship – while Peterson ended up with 73, second on the national career list. The top ranked teams going into this year’s season are Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Knoxville, Beckman of Dyersville and Kee of Lansing. Knoxville won the 3-A championship last year. 

... The Sioux City Journal reports that longtime Iowa State broadcaster Pete Taylor  – “the radio voice of Cyclone football and basketball for 33 years” – will be honored in Sioux City next month. ISU football coach Dan McCarney will headline the 2003 Siouxland Cyclone Club golf outing and banquet on 6/16. 

IOWA WEATHER: 

...… DSM 7 a.m.63, partly cloudy. Several IA locations join Des Moines in reporting 63-degree temp reading at 7 a.m. – ranges from 59 in Harlan and Sioux City to 66 in Oelwein and Muscatine…Today’s high 82, scattered T-storms. Tonight’s low 52, partly cloudy. Thursday’s high 82, partly sunny. Thursday night’s low 62, chance T-storms. WHO-TV’s Steve Templeton reports: “More rain by late Thursday into Friday morning, but the weekend is looking dry and sunny.” 

IOWAISMS: 

... The Sioux City Journal reports that the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association is “hoping a picture is worth a thousand words – and dollars” after the group and Sioux City artist Ron McKewon announced a fundraising project. Part of the proceeds from the sale of limited prints of McKewon’s 52-by-40-inch acrylic painting – titled, “Reflections of the Past” – will go to the railroad association. The Journal reported that the printing, set in the fall months, depicts “steam engine 1355 with passenger cars as it rolls past the Milwaukee Roundhouse in Sioux City, causing a few pheasants to take flight.” The Journal said McKewon spent nearly a year researching, drawing and painting the artwork.   

                                                                                                              click here  to read past Iowa Morning Reports