A three-year-old West Des Moines girl is the centerpiece of a movement forcampaign finance reform. In August at the Republican Straw Poll, AlexandraCook announced her candidacy for President in the year 2032. The IowaCitizens Action Network is sponsoring Cook’s Presidential bid to illustratehow long it takes to raise money for a campaign. Spokesperson MichelleKenyon says it’s staggering the amount of money needed to compete.Cook was featured in an add in the New York Times Wednesday. Kenyon says themessage is getting through.Kenyon says the group has five goals for cleaning up the campaign financeproblem in the United States.Kenyon says they favor a public financing plan that gives money tocandidates who don’t raise private funds and abide by campaign spendinglimits. Cook was chosen for the campaign because he mother is a member ofthe Iowa Citizens Action Network.
Dole lines up support in all 99 Iowa counties
Elizabeth Dole’s presidential campaign has lined up campaign chairs in eachof Iowa’s 99 counties — and the list of 130 supporters has more women thenmen, but there are almost 50 men who’ve signed on to help lead the Doleeffort. Monte Shaw is Dole’s Iowa campaign manager says Dole’s campaign hasreached an important milestone.Dole finished third in the Iowa Republican Party Straw Poll last month.
Harkin says more money needed for veterans
Senator Tom Harkin says the Veterans Administration budget plan making itsway through Congress doesn’t provide enough money for patient care. Theplan was approved by the House last week. A Senate subcommittee dealt withthe V-A budget this week, but Harkin says more money’s needed to ensureveterans get the kind of medical care they deserve.However, Harkin isn’t optimistic, saying the president didn’t put enoughmoney in the budget for V-A medical funds.Harkin says there are real management problems within the VeteransAdministration.Iowa has three Veterans Administration hospitals in Des Moines, Knoxvilleand Iowa City. A recent report from the V-A Medical Inspector identifiedstaffing shortages and other problems in the Iowa units.
Latham on committee deciding farm compromise
Congressman Tom Latham has been named to the group which will review theemergency farm aid package and strike a compromise. Latham, a member of theso-called “conference committee,” says a number of details are still up inthe air.Latham says his main goal is to get the deal struck quickly, so farmers knowhow much they’ll get — and when they’ll get it.However, Senator Tom Harkin is among those who favor a new system ofdistributing the money to ensure it goes to small and medium-sized farmers. Harkin says the money is distributed based on ag production over 10 years –which means farmers who didn’t even plant a crop this year could get apayment.Latham says there ARE limits on how much an individual farmer may receive.The Senate-passed plan called for seven-and-a-half Billion dollars inemergency aid for farmers. Latham believes the package may total up to nineBillion dollars when work’s completed.Latham, a republican from Alexander, will attend a farm crisis hearing thisweekend at the Kansas State Fair. U-S Ag Secretary Dan Glickman, a formerKansas Congressman, will be there.
Another county jail turns to stripes for prison garb
Mason City residents are doing a “double-take” as they see the new uniformsworn by prisoners in the Cerro Gordo County Jail. Sheriff Larry Mason saysthe orange clothing for jailbirds is gone.Mason says they needed to replace about one-hundred-50 new uniforms, anddecided now was the time to make the fashion switch to black-and-whiteprison stripes.Mason says no taxpayer money was spent buying the new, old-style uniforms asthe money comes from the prison comissary which is funded by prisoners.Several Iowa counties have switched to the striped uniforms.
Drake moves ahead without top QB
Faced with not having their all-conference quarterback for the remainder ofthe season the Drake Bulldogs get set to host Wisconsin-Stevens Point innon-conference action on Saturday. Senior quarterback Solon Bell suffered atorn knee ligament in last week’s victory over St.Ambrose and junior ChrisMakris is set to take the reigns.Drake coach Rob Ash who says a Stevens Point team that tied for theWisconsin Conference title a year ago will provide a stern test.Ash says one thing is for sure, the Bulldogs will be outsized as theoffensive line averages around 300 pounds.
Weather could mute fall leaf colors
Iowa’s mix of wet weather and draught this spring and summer could have animpact on the fall leaf colors. Iowa State University extension forrestor Mark Vitosh (vit-tosh) says clearand cool days with just a little moisture usually produce the most vibrantreds, yellows and oranges in fall leaves. Vitosh says the clear and coolelements are in place, but it’s been a little too dry lately. Vitosh says theflooding in some parts of the state earlier this year may also have aninfluence on leaf color, as the stress cause by flooding can impact treesfor several years.He says it’s hard to tell the impact of any of the weather factors just yet.Vitosh says the timing of the color change in trees can be an indication ofstress. If trees turn color early, it could indicate they’re stressed.Vitosh says you could see a wide variety of colors depending on what areaof the state you’re in.
