Looking in at Iowa

From today’s Chicago Sun-Times:

[Youth minister Albert L.] White, who also coaches a team [Pierre] Pierce plays on, believes Iowa bears responsibility for the second sexual assault.

”We’ve said prayers for the victim, as well,” White said. ”If the first [assault] had been taken care of properly, the second wouldn’t have happened. The college has just as much of the blame. They gave him a slap on the wrist when he deserved a harsher penalty. People protested when he was allowed to come back [to the team] after the first incident, and they should have protested.”

Pierce remains close to Alford, who’s now at New Mexico and who received national criticism for standing by Pierce after the first assault.

”He’s my No. 1, and I’m his,” Pierce said. ”Our relationship has been established since he recruited me.” …

From MSNBC:

[Leonard Boswell] added, “This challenger (Fallon) is very much far left.”

“That characterization is purely polemic,” responded Fallon. “I’m the one in this campaign that’s calling for earmark reform, I’m the one calling for an end to the abuse of eminent domain, I’m the one calling for getting money out of politics. Those are all issues that resonate with independents and with Republican voters.”

But Fallon’s fidelity as a Democrat can be questioned given his disdain for Al Gore and his endorsement of Nader in 2000.  …

From USA Today:

This year, Congress, which meets in a Capitol built partly by slaves, will consider issuing its own apology.

“We’ve seen states step forward on this,” says Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, citing the resolutions of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Alabama and New Jersey. “I’m really shocked, just shocked” that the federal government hasn’t apologized. “It’s time to do so.”

Harkin says he and Sen. Sam Brownback R-Kan., will propose as early as March an apology not only for slavery but for subsequent “Jim Crow” laws that furthered racial segregation.  …

Harkin says his proposal does not address reparations.

“We’re just apologizing,” he says. “You can’t undo the past, but you can recognize a wrong was done.”

From Associated Press via Guardian (UK):

- Walker’s Food Products Co. is recalling 16-ounce, 5-pound and 10-pound containers of four-bean salad with expiration dates of Dec. 23, 2007, through April 5, 2008, because they could be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. This can produce a toxin that causes botulism. Symptoms may include double or blurred vision, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, distention of the abdomen, constipation, muscle weakness and paralysis of breathing muscles, possibly resulting in death. No illnesses have been reported.

The 16-ounce containers were sold under the brand name Kay’s Gourmet. The 5- and 10-pound containers were sold under the Walker’s Food Products Co. brand name. The salads were sold through distributors in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. Details: by phone at 800-725-2372 extensions 14 or 18.

From Iowa Judicial Branch release:

Connie Alt, Cedar Rapids, Age 47

Attorney—Shuttleworth & Ingersoll P.C.

J.D., 1985, University of Iowa

David Baker, Cedar Rapids, Age 55

Court of Appeals Judge (appointed 2006)

J.D., 1979, University of Iowa

Michael R. Mullins, Washington, Age 55

District Judge (appointed 2002)—Eighth Judicial District

J.D., 1982, Drake University

From MyFox Tampa Bay:

Tampa Bay’s 10 reports that chief meteorologist Dick Fletcher died Tuesday morning at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.  He had been hospitalized since he suffered a massive stroke last week, and had not been responding to treatment, the station’s website reports. …

In 2003, Fletcher had suffered a stroke, but quickly recovered and return to his on-air position.  He had been a fixture at WTSP since 1980, and he was a native of Omaha, Nebraska.  He was a graduate of the University of Omaha, and also worked in Cedar Rapids, Denver, Corpus Christi, and Omaha before coming to the Bay Area.

According to Gazette archives, Dick Fletcher was at KCRG in 1967 (in his mid-twenties), and shared broadcast duties with Bob Brooks at that time:

KCRG TV 9 

5:45–News on 9 with Dick Fletcher
The full story behind today’s area and State happenings; weather forecast; Bob Brooks’ sports report.

From WTSP-TV:

He had an early ambition to be a television news broadcaster and started his career in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, working as a news anchor and occasionally doing the weather. …

Fletcher was born in Omaha, Nebraska and started his television career in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In the early 70’s he began working as a full time meteorologist in Denver Colorado, before moving to Tampa and joining the staff at Tampa Bay’s 10 News in 1980. …

From Iowa Lottery releases:

Janis Skow, 61, of Cedar Rapids won $15,000 playing the “Fire & Dice” instant-scratch game. She purchased the winning ticket at Hy-Vee, 1843 Johnson Ave. N.W. in Cedar Rapids …

Lyndsey Essary, 21, of Cedar Rapids won $11,000 playing the “One-Eyed Jacks” instant-scratch game. She purchased the winning ticket at Hy-Vee, 20 Wilson Ave. S.W. in Cedar Rapids …

Daniel Begley, 54, won $30,000 playing the “Crossword” (purple newsprint) instant-scratch game. He purchased the winning ticket at Williams Blvd. Amoco, 2601 Williams Blvd. in Cedar Rapids  …

Ashton Kutcher is an Eastern Iowa native. This is from the New York Daily News:

The City Health Department Friday urged a shot of vaccine for anyone who stopped by a trendy West Village watering hole two weeks ago when a hepatitis A-infected bartender was serving drinks.

As many as 800 patrons of Socialista on West St. - including a bevy of A-list celebrities - might need the vaccine as a precaution against the liver-damaging disease, officials said. …

Scores of celebs, including Demi Moore and Madonna, were at the club on Feb. 7 for actor Ashton Kutcher’s 30th birthday bash.

From news release of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers:

Harding Middle School of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, won the IEEE-USA Best Communications System Award during the National Engineers Week Future City Competition National Finals on Wednesday. The award was presented to Harding at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill for the most “efficient and accurate communications system.”

The team included students Emily O’Brien, 13; Courtney Strait, 13; and Stephanie Wenclawski, 14; engineer-mentor Gary Bishop; and teacher-sponsor Jean Oberbroeckling. Bishop is an IEEE member who works for Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids. …

New information from the Iowa Data Center (PDF). Excerpt here of Iowa and surrounding states:

Business Bankruptcies by State: 2000-2005

Area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Illinois 1,270 1,547 1,240 991 912 1,042

Iowa 214 289 354 323 360 455

Minnesota 1,492 1,887 1,729 1,379 1,374 1,721

Missouri 369 505 394 378 354 438

Nebraska 115 144 152 238 207 296

South Dakota 133 164 119 110 108 196

Wisconsin 685 734 856 722 742 820