Governor Tom Vilsack says the millions of dollars Iowa will get from thefederal tobacco settlement provide a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Iowa toinvest in its health care system. Speaking to Iowa Rural Health Associationmembers, Vilsack said he wants to use the money to build a world-classhealth care system.Vilsack says lower-than-expected tax collections for the state will lead toa big fight in the state legislature this year over how to spend the tobaccomoney.Vilsack says it would be a tragic mistake to put the tobacco money in thestate’s budget, rather than identify specific ways to spend it.Iowa’s first tobacco settlement payment of 75-million dollars is expected toarrive at the end of the summer.
Association releases teacher political survey
October 29, 1999 By
A conservative association representing Iowa teachers, administrators andsupport staff has released a survey of members on current political topics. The survey of members of the Professional Educators of Iowa shows educatorswant to improve the way kids act in public schools.P-E-I State Director Jim Hawkins says members overwhelmingly said they facetoo much paperwork and aren’t in favor of making the school day or schoolyear longer. Hawkins says members also believe the schools that trainteachers should face increased standards for the teachers they turn out. Hawkins says a majority of those surveyed believe the U-S Department ofEducation isn’t doing the job it should.On another controversial topic, 75-percent said they favored displaying theTen Commandments in schools. Hawkins says 311 of the association’s 14-hundredmemnbers responded to the survey. Hawkins says P-E-I was formed as a bipartisanalternative to the Iowa State Education Association, which is the largeststate teacher’s union.
Mason City residents upset over air pollution
October 29, 1999 By
A Mason City business owner is threatening to file a lawsuit against twocement plants for pollution she suspects is dangerous to her health. The IowaDepartment of Natural Resources is investigating high emissions from twocement plants on the north side of Mason City. Kathy Frank says she wantssomething done. She says they don’t want to sue, but have tried everythingelse without results.Frank says the health of the neighborhood is at stake.She says city officials need to worry about health issues rather losing taxmoney from shutting down the cement plants.Frank says she doesn’t want to see either company shut down. A meeting willbe held November 11th to discuss whether legal action can be taken.
Event seeks to educate Iowans about Korea
October 29, 1999 By
The only thing many Iowans know about Korea is what they see on re-runs ofthe T-V show “M*A*S*H.” A dual event underway in Iowa City aims to showIowans some of the real thing through the Korean Culture and Film Festival.Lois Gray is spokeswoman for International Programs at the University ofIowa. She says the U-of-I Korean Students Association and a Koreancommunication studies group have organized this series of events which runtoday through Sunday.Gray says many people have misperceptions about what Korea is like. She saysthis event may give them a taste of a more accurate picture.She says many customs, costumes and other things shown in “M*A*S*H” aren’teven Korean, but are Japanese, Chinese or just plain Hollywood.
Pheasant hunting season opens Saturday
October 29, 1999 By
Thousands of hunters are expected to spread out across Iowa Saturday for theopening day of pheasant season in Iowa. Iowa Department of Natural Resourcesspokesman Todd Boegenshoots says there are no major changes in theregulations this year.Boegenshoots advises hunters to pick up a copy of the regulations beforeheading out.Boegenshoots says hunters should stress safety and always get permissionbefore hunting on anyone’s land.
U-of-I commodities market mirrors presidential poll
October 29, 1999 By
A University of Iowa futures market that tracks the fate of the presidentialcandidates is thus far mirroring the traditional voter polls. The “IowaElectronic Market” lets investors buy a share of their favorite candidatesimilar to buying commodity futures on the Chicago Board of Trade. ProfessorForrest Nelson says the price of those shares indicates the popularity of thecandidate. Like the poll results, Democrat Bill Bradley has gained some onfront runner Al Gore.Bradley has made a steady gain in price since August. Vice President Gorestill leads Bradley with a 60 cent to 35 cent share price. Nelson saysGeorge W. Bush holds the lead in the Republican trading.Bush is at 70 cents a share and the rest of the republicans are groupedtogether are at 24 cents a share. He says shares for Steve Forbes haveremained flat at five cents. Nelson says the field of challengers hasfailed to make any noticeable challenge to Bush.The I-E-M forecast was first developed in 1988 as a way to teach studentsabout the commodities markets. Nelson says the results have proved to bequite accurate. He says they are always within one-percent of the actualvote totals.Detailed trading information on the I-E-M is available at the I-E-M websiteat www.biz.uiowa.edu/iem.
Truck/train crash leaves one dead
October 29, 1999 By
An semi collided with an Amtrack passenger train near Osceola this morning.The driver of the semi was seriously injured and later died at the ClarkeCounty Hospital. None of the 250 passengers on board the train were hurt. Arailroad employee on the train did suffer minor injuries..
