A shipment of corn from the U-S has been turned down by Japan because tracesof a genetically modified corn variety were found. The corn has been tracedback to a Minnesota cooperative but it’s unclear if any of the corn camefrom Iowa. The shipment refused by the Japanese contained traces of Starlinkcorn, a bio-tech variety that was approved for animal but not humanconsumption when it was widely grown a couple of years ago. The shipment hasbeen traced back to cargo that originated with twin cities-based CHSCooperatives. Officials with the co-op say they don’t know how theshipment was contaminated. Two years ago the corn market was racked by theStarlink controversy. This time. many market observors says they don’texpect the latest findings to have a lasting effect in the market.
New airport security in place
Four airports in Iowa are starting new security procedures this morningwhich may slow the already-tedious passenger check-in process to a crawl.Des Moines travel agent Kay Johnson says people need to arrive at theairport even earlier than they normally would to compensate.The new guidelines take effect today at airports in: Des Moines, Fort Dodge,Mason City and Waterloo. She recommends people get to the airport two hoursbefore the flight. As part of the new safety measures, Johnson says allchecked bags need to be left unlocked, so security screeners have easyaccess. Johnson says people with concerns about their possessions fallingout might consider buying luggage straps that buckle, but don’t lock. Shesays packages should -not- be wrapped if they’re to be checked and don’t putundeveloped film in the bags. Johnson says people are being urged not topack any food or beverages in checked luggage. Things that may set offwarnings include: cheese, chocolate and jars of peanut butter.
Grading Iowa Hospitals
Hospitals in Iowa and across the nation are going to be graded next month onhow well they implement 11 patient safety standards to reduce medicalerrors. Officials say the standards shouldn’t cost a lot to implement andwill save lives. For example, hospitals will be required to confirm apatient’s identify not once but twice before dispensing medication orperforming surgery. Hospitals risk losing their accredidation if thestandards are not in place. Rhonda Kirkegaard of Finley Hospital in Dubuqueis administrative director of quality, and she says most hospitalsimplemented these standards years ago. Kirkegaard says there will be six”goals” to start with, dealing with the most critical patient safety issues.Kirkegaard says another rule deals with communication among care givers. Thenew rule requires the “read back” of a telephoned order and a list ofabbreviations so written orders are precise. Another rule calls fordifferent ways to handle “high-alert” medications.Another rule deals withthe ways hospitals try to prevent mistakes in surgery. Kirkegaard says herhospital already puts a big “NO” on a leg or arm that’s not to be operatedon.
Solving the Casino-Tax dilemma
The leading Republican at the statehouse is threatening new taxes for Iowa’sland-based casinos if they press their court case with the state. Thissummer, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the state could no longer tax theracetracks in Altoona, Council Bluffs and Dubuque at a higher rate than theriverboats. Now, the tracks are suing for the extra taxes they paid since1997. House Speaker-elect Christopher Rants of Sioux City says if thecasinos win, he’ll look for a way to collect that money in new taxes. Rantssays legislators can be “pretty creative” and might consider taxing squarefootage or even the number of machines in the casinos. Rants is from SiouxCity, a river town with a riverboat casino. Rants says he has nothingagainst the racetrack/casinos, but he insists he won’t let the state sufferin order to pay some casinos back taxes.Rants says education or humanservice programs shouldn’t have to “feel the pinch” if the casinos insist onbeing paid back. Rants says he’s angry the casinos are asking for $100MILLION when the state should be spending that money on other priorities.Rants says the racetrack casinos agreed to the higher taxes years ago inreturn for the legislature’s approval of slot machines at the tracks. Rantsaccuses the tracks of “being greedy” and he says the legislature willretaliate with more taxes on the tracks if the tracks win their latestgo-round in court…………
Iowa State falls in Humanitarian Bowl
Iowa State led Boise State 10-7 at the halftime of Tuesday’s Humanitarian Bowl but like the season as a whole the second half fell apart. The 15th-ranked Broncos scored 27 second half points in a 34-16 win. After being 6-1 at one point, the Cyclones finish 7-7. The good news is that a majority of the two-deep return, including junior safety Lane Danielsen. Danielsen says he’s going to work as hard as he can to play winning Big 12 football next season. Danielsen says Iowa State, with one of its biggest senior classes ever, will have a “pretty good shot” next year. Boise State grabbed the momentum by scoring on its first two possessions of the second half. McCarney says Boise State played with a lot of confidence on their home field, where they’ve won 26 of their last 27 games. McCarney says Iowa State just couldn’t capitalize on mistakes, and Boise State did. McCarney says the lack of a running game was the Cyclones’ downfall. McCarney says he wants 62 players to put on weight between now and the start of spring football in March. “That’s not just sitting around eating Hostess Twinkies and eating mashed potatoes. We’ve got to get bigger and stronger.” McCarney says Iowa State’s “under-sized” at some positions and some guys should gain 30 pounds in the off-season.
Busting their tails
Iowa State coach Dan McCarney says the Cyclones have had spirited workouts as they prepare for the December 31st Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho against Boise State. McCarney says practices have been like spring football with lots of repetitions — getting the young kids lots of opportunities and the older kids ready for a bowl game. McCarney says his coaching staff has “busted their tails” by recruiting and preparing for a bowl game at the same time. McCarney says the two-a-day practices have been intense, and the players are working hard. McCarney says his team is preparing to win, not just make an appearance in a bowl game. McCarney says he’s discovered the people in Boise support the Hanitarian Bowl in much the same way the residents of Shreveport, Louisiana support the Independece Bowl where Iowa State played last year.
Barnes hits season high in Cyclone win over UNI
Tim Barnes had a season high 19-points as Iowa State downed Northern Iowa71-64 last night in the UNI-Dome, giving the Cyclones a sweep of theirthree, in-state foes. Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy waspleased with the victory even though the Cyclones had trouble slowing downthe Panthers inside game.Eustachy says UNI was the best team they’ve played this year. Iowa Statejumped out to a big early lead then held off a couple of UNI rallies in thesecond half. Eustachy says he likes the composure of his team. UNI coachGreg McDermott says the Panthers could not overcome a slow start.
