An intensive study of the potential health hazards from large hog operationswill soon be launched by the Iowa Department of Public Health and severalother agencies. Ken Choquette, the department’s bureau chief ofenvironmental health, explains the goals of the hog lot study.Choquette says about ten Iowa hog operations will be chosen that’ll berepresentative of lots across the state. He says in-depth studies will beperformed on the field application of manure and chemicals and how groundwater and nearby waterways may be effected.He says the probe will be getting underway this fall.He says they should have all the data collected by mid May.Other entities taking part in the study include: the U-S E-P-A, the IowaD-N-R, the Centers for Disease Control, the U-S Geological Survey, and bothIowa and Iowa State Universities.
Attorney General rules against ethanol mandate
“Ethanol-Only” won’t be the rule at Iowa gas stations anytime soon. Iowa’s Attorney General says the state’s top ag official does NOT have theauthority to issue a statewide “ethanol-only” mandate for gas stations. A group of Iowans, including Senator Charles Grassley, petitioned Secretaryof Agriculture Patty Judge to consider whether she could mandate ethanol usein the state. Judge says she hopes the legislature will move to improve thesale of ethanol.In his opinion, Attorney General Tom Miller says the Secretary ofAgriculture has the authority to “regulate” but not “prescribe” the contentof gasoline.Last spring, Legislators balked at the idea of a statewide ethanol mandate. Senator Grassley, calls the decision on ethanol use disappointing. Grassley,a republican who is also a farmer, says mandating ethanol would be one ofthe few good things required in gasoline.Grassley says he won’t give up on trying to find a way to increase the useof corn-based ethanol in Iowa.
Des Moines police say officer lucky to be alive after shooting
Des Moines police say one of the two officers shot Monday evening in DesMoines is “lucky to be alive.” Officer Jeffrey Gowen and Officer Gary Bryanwere shot by a 16-year old after stopping the car the teen was riding in.Police spokesman Sergeant Bruce Elrod says the two policemen returned fire,wounding the suspect who police say is an habitual troublemaker. Elrod saysthe bullet hit officer Gowen just below his badge, hit a rib and angled up.Officer Gowen was NOT wearing a bullet-proof vest. He remains hospitalizedin stable condition. Officer Bryan was released. The suspect, SantosRodriguez, was critically wounded. Three other people in the car were alsoarrested. Elrod says the four people had been just committed a robbery andthat is apparently why they resisted. Elrod says officers were feeling a mixof emotions after hearing about the shooting.This is the fourth shooting involving Des Moines police this year. Elrodsays there is not necessarily more crime in Des Moines than anywhere else,as these type of shootings are happening all over the United States.The three suspects that were not involved in the shooting are being held onburglary and drug charges. Elrod says charges will be filed in connectionwith the shooting after the investigation is completed.
Lawmaker questions legislator’s ability to mandate ethanol
A top legislator says lawmakers may not have the authority to enact an”ethanol-only” rule for Iowa gas stations. Yesterday, the state attorneygeneral ruled the state ag secretary does not have the authority to forcegas stations to sell only ethanol-blended fuels. Senate Republican LeaderStewart Iverson says one sentence in the Attorney General’s ruling raises abig question: Does the “commerce clause” in the state constitution prohibitthe state legislature from forcing all motor fuel sold in Iowa to be blendedwith ethanol?Iverson prefers other ways of promoting the use of ethanol. One idea is toend the one-cent per gallon tax advantage ethanol enjoys and turn it into atax credit for gas stations which sell ethanol for less than other fuels.While Iverson is reluctant to pursue a statewide ethanol mandate, AttorneyGeneral Tom Miller is offering to work with Iverson and other legislators todraft something that would be legal.
Iowa kids share stage with music superstar
Some two-dozen singing central Iowa kids will share a Nebraska stage tonightwith one of pop music’s biggest-selling Grammy winners. Twenty-five membersof the Des Moines Childrens Choruses will perform with Celine Dion, bestknown for singing the love theme from “Titanic,” the top-grossing movie ofall time. Chorus director Eugene Wilson says the young singers are verypsyched up for their small part in tonight’s show.The kids will sing part of the chorus to “Let’s Talk About Love” with thediva Dion at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Wilson says this will be a bigmoment for the young singers, even though they’ll only be performingon-stage with Dion for perhaps two minutes.Wilson says the young singers will head home after their seconds in thespotlight without staying for the whole show — as the promoter who got themonto the stage couldn’t scrounge 25 extra tickets. For production purposes,an excerpt from Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from the “Titanic” soundtrack:Tonight’s performance is scheduled for eight o’clock. The kids range in agefrom ten to 12 and represent 12 central Iowa communities.
Morningside looks for second victory
Morningside returns to North Central Conference action this weekend with avisit to South Dakota State. The Mustangs are 1-3 overall after nearlyupseting Nebraska-Omaha last week. Morningside coach Dave Elliott says whiledisappointed with the loss, the team gained some confidence from the game.Elliott says the key against South Dakota State is to slow down sophomorerunning back Josh Ranek .Elliott says the Morningside defense must do a good job of pursuing to tryand slow him down.
