Over 300 organizations are backing a patients’ bill of rights advanced byCongressman Greg Gankse, a republican from Des Moines.Ganske’s bill would limit Health Maintenance Organizations power to denymedical care for economic rather than health reasons. Ganske says consumergroups have joined to lobby for the bill, as have medical professionalsthemselves.Ganske says the groups represent millions of Americans.A vote in the U-S House on managed care reform is scheduled for the firstweek in October.
Student wins prize for invention
September 24, 1999 By
A Fairfield student has won five-thousand dollars in a national inventorscontest. Austin Stacy is a winner in the third- to fifth-grade division of the National Science Teachers Association young inventors program. Austininvented “Bale Buddy” — a three-wheeled contraption which helps move haybales. Nearly three-thousand inventions were entered in the contest andAustin was one of 11 winners chosen.
President gets okay to expand
September 24, 1999 By
“The President” Riverboat Casino in Davenport is adding two-hundred-75 slotmachines — a move managers say is necessary to remain competitive in theQuad Cities gambling market. The operators of “The President” got the go-ahead yesterday from Iowa gamingregulators. Most of the new machines will be nickle slots. Once theexpansion’s completed, “The President” will have 12-hundred slot machines –the same as on the “Lady Luck” in Bettendorf. The “Lady Luck” recentlyexpanded and officials with “The President” say the “Lady Luck” is seeingmore business as a result, while revenues on “The President” are flat. It’sexpected the “Casino Rock Island” on the Illinois side of the Quad Citieswill expand to 12-hundred slot machines in the wake of approval of dock-sidegambling in that state.
Legislator has a plan for increasing bean sales
September 24, 1999 By
A state legislator from Grinnell plans to press for a three-year, statewideban on a certain type of genetically-modified soybean. Representative DannyCarroll wants to ban the use of genetically-modified “clear hilum” (hy’-lum)soybeans.Clear Hilum (hy’-lum) soybeans are used for soy flour, tofu and other foodsfit for human consumption. It’s a variety which accounts for a smallfraction of the soybeans planted in Iowa each year. Carroll believes hisban could help some Iowa farmers get a better price for that variety ofsoybeans in foreign markets.Republicans like Carroll have resisted other efforts to establish staterules for farmers as most farm policy is set at the national level, butCarroll says this is a special case.Iowa Soybean Association executive director Kirk Leeds says growers havemixed feelings about Carroll’s proposal as they support research to improvesoybean varieties, but also believe the change could help the small numberof farmers who raise “clear hilum” (hy’-lum) beans.
Earthquake in Taiwan could help Iowa farmers
September 24, 1999 By
Governor Vilsack says Iowa farmers may find a silver-lining in theearthquake which struct Taiwan earlier this week. Vilsack, who is leading anIowa trade delegation in the Far East, says Taiwan may be too busyrebuilding its computer semi-conductor industry, giving Iowa farmers anopening to provide more food to the Taiwanese.Governor Vilsack says import restrictions in Hong Kong and China — andChina’s insistence on self-sufficiency — mean it’ll be difficult to sellmore Iowa-grown pork and beef in China. Vilsack says there’s a betterpossibility of joint ventures between Iowa farmers and China to help theChinese raise more hogs.Vilsack hosted a “Taste of Iowa” banquet last night in Shanghai. As you mayrecall, Vilsack and the Iowa delegation were in Taiwan for this week’searthquake but were not injured.
Rated matchups highlight week four of high school football
September 24, 1999 By
Week four of the high school football season is highlighted by several ratedmatchups. In class 1A, fourth ranked Postville visits number-five Sumner.Postville coach Chris Evers.Sumner coach Kevin Frisch says the Postville ground game is their topconcern.In class 2A, ninth ranked Osage plays host to Union Laporte City. Osage isninth ranked and 3-0 and coach Lon Lawler is pleased with the start.District four could be the toughest in the state. It includes two otherrated teams, Dike-New Hartford and Denver along with traditional powerAplington-Parkersburg. Lawler says it will be a scramble to make theplayoffs.In class 4A, 7th ranked Sioux City Heelan hosts number-10 Ankeny. Heelancoach Joe Malsam says his team may be over ranked.Malsam says slowing down a powerful Ankeny offense is the key.
Iowa computer wizards on rich list
September 24, 1999 By
The latest Fortune magazine “rich list” includes lots of computer wizards whohave made a fortune, including an Iowan. Gateway computer founder Ted Waitt is ranked at number 26 on the list ofrichest Americans. Fortune magazine estimates Waitt is worth six-point-twoBillion dollars. Waitt, who’s now 36 years old, founded Gateway in SiouxCity, then moved it across the border to South Dakota, where there’s a lowerstate tax burden. Many of the company’s corporate functions have been movedto La Jolla, California. Ted Waitt’s brother, Norman, has a one-and-a-halfBillion dollar Gateway-gained fortune, and he’s number one-hundred-59 on themagazine list. Microsoft founder Bill Gates sits atop the rankings with 85Billion dollars in net worth.
