The new mayor of Creston, who fired the former police chief last week, has named a new one. Mayor Mike Tamerius announced today that sergeant Tom Hartsock has been appointed interim chief. Hartsock joined the Creston police department in 1990 and is working as a narcotics officer, in a federally-funded multi-department drug task force. Hartsock says he will not seek permanent appointment. Creston’s been without a police chief since January 5, when Mayor Tamerius decided not to reappoint Bill Heatherington to the post. Then last Thursday, Heatherington returned to the force as a captain. The city’s taking applications for a permanent chief.
Gas prices jump up again
January 15, 2004 By
Gasoline prices have risen up to 15-cents a gallon in the past month at many Iowa service stations. Dawn Duffy, spokeswoman for Triple-A Motor Club of Iowa, says two factors are to blame. Duffy says the colder weather is forcing refineries to make more home heating oil and less gasoline. Also, crude oil prices are way up. She says the significant price hikes seen in Iowa during the past month were -not- entirely expected. She says it did catch them by surprise, but it’s typical that prices go up when there’s a cold snap. Duffy says it’s hard to look into the crystal ball and predict where gas prices will go from here. She says they’ll watch weather and the price of crude oil. She says the OPEC nations will meet in February after saying they won’t cut back supply. The statewide average for a gallon of self-serve unleaded is a dollar-54. A month ago, it was a dollar-41. The national average is a dollar-58, up from a dollar-47 a month ago.
Governor heads on on tax increase tour
January 15, 2004 By
Governor Tom Vilsack’s been traveling the state the past two days, trying to build support for his call to increase the cigarette tax and charge sales tax on more service in order to raise money to meet state spending priorities. During a stop this morning in Dubuque, Vilsack said if you get your hair cut or your car fixed, you pay sales tax. But Vilsack said services most often used by businesses — things like accounting, engineering, consulting, or management — are not subject to the state sales tax. He said that means consumers end up paying more because businesses pay less in sales taxes. Democratic legislators were less than enthusiastic about Vilsack’s proposed tax hikes. Senate Democrat Leader Michael Gronstal of Council Bluffs went so far as to say Democrats in the legislature have a “fairly high resistance to increasing taxes.” Vilsack’s holding out hope he can change minds. Vilsack said he’ll be working with legislators of both parties to encourage them to have an open mind. He will be providing the detailed outline of his tax and spending plans to legislators tomorrow. Vilsack said now’s not the time for ideology or partisanship. He said now’s the time for leadership.
State Board turns down tougher standard for athletes
January 15, 2004 By
The State Board of Education today voted down another attempt to raise the eligibility standard for high school athletes. A review showed about half the schools in Iowa had set their eligibility standards above the state minimum requiring students to pass at least four classes to continue playing. The board today passed a motion requiring schools to make an annual report on their standards and what they do to help kids who don’t meet the standard. Board chair Gene Vincent suggested the move saying he wanted to send a message to the districts they should adopt a standard higher than the minimum. He says he wants the Department to be able to see that the school districts do have a standard in place that’s higher than the minimum that’s been in place since 1992. But, Vincent said he didn’t want to force an increase in the standard, because school administrators have said they want to be able to set standards based on their individual needs. He says the board is not satisfied with the minimum standard, but says the minimum is set to give school districts the flexibility to set standards. Vincent says this action does send a message, even though it doesn’t raise the standard.Boardmember Gregory McClain offered an amendment that would require students to pass all their classes, saying that was the way to really send a message. His amendment failed on a 5-4 vote. McClain says the Board is afraid to offer tougher standards because of the politics involved, he says it’s not the best for students, and it doesn’t send a message of excellence or high expectations. He says it sends the message that failing is fine, and that athletics are more important than reading, writing and arithmetic. McClain led an attempt to increase the standard back in November of 2002, but it failed then too. He says “it’s a sad day for education in Iowa.” McClain says requiring schools to make another report won’t send any message. He says his speculation is that all it will do is once a year schools will have to put in writing what they’re doing, but he says kids will still be allowed to participate if they have failing grades. He says there’s nothing that encourages kids to do better. The measure will require schools to start filing reports with the state on their eligibility requirements in the fall of 2004.
Democratic Caucus race pulls into dead heat
January 15, 2004 By
New polls show the democratic presidential race in Iowa is a dead heat. The latest Reuters poll shows a virtual four-way tie in the race for support in Iowa’s Caucuses. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt and North Carolina Senator John Edwards are each campaigning furiously to try to turn the tide their way. Kerry’s traveling around western Iowa today, in a helicopter, on his last minute campaign blitz. Former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley Braun quit the race today and threw her endorsement to Dean Braun said she wanted to thank everybody for their kindnesses and for allowing her to participate as a candidate for the democratic party’s presidential nomination. Braun called the campaign a “wonderful learning experience” and said it restored her faith in the political process. Gephardt has seven stops on his schedule today, including a union rally tonight in Marshalltown with Teamsters president James P. Hoffa. Edwards climbed aboard a bus after a rally in Des Moines.Edwards told his supporters they have “five days to change this country” and Edwards said there’s “energy and excitement” everywhere he goes. Edwards said the attacks his competitors have unleashed on him are evidence he’s begun to climb in the polls. Edwards said Americans are tired of “this negative politics” and are “looking for a President they can be proud of.” Edwards said “cynics didn’t build America; optimists built America and optimists are going to make the changes” he’s outlined.
Democratic leader says Caucus fraud is unlikely
January 15, 2004 By
Iowa Democratic Party chairman Gordon Fischer says there’s little chance non-Iowans will end up attending the Caucuses on Monday night.Fischer says precinct chairs can ask for proof of residency if they have doubts someone lives permanently within their neighborhood. Fischer says “it’s about impossible” for outsiders to infiltrate the Caucuses. He says the Caucuses are very, very difuse, and he says they’re awarding delegates, so it’s not one person one vote.Rival campaigns have charged the legions of Howard Dean backers who’ve come into the state to help organize for the Caucuses, as well as out-of-state union organizers who’re working on Dick Gephardt’s behalf will try to participate in the Iowa Caucuses on Monday night. You need not be a registered democrat to attend a party caucuses, but if you aren’t a registered Iowa democrat, you must register as one on Monday night before you can participate. Fischer says Iowa’s had a history of open caucuses, and he says it’s important to keep them as open as possible. Folks who register at their precinct Caucus must sign a document pledging they do indeed live in the precinct. Those who fib can be charged with perjury, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a maximum fine of 75-hundred dollars. Fischer and Secretary of State Chet Culver will hold a news conference at the statehouse this afternoon to ask the national media not to report entrance polls before the Caucuses start. Iowa Democratic party officials say reporting that data early could influence those who hear it and then walk into a caucus.
State looks to get more people to speak two languages
January 15, 2004 By
The Iowa Division of Latino Affairs wants more Iowans to speak two languages. Latino Affairs Administrator John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas says one barrier to newcomers is a lack of qualified interpreters to give them work instructions, legal counsel and other important information.One major initiative they’re working on this year is a system that would certify qualified interpreters. He points out any professional working with clients, from a mental-health counselor to a teacher or cop, needs one main tool — the ability to communicate effectively with people. But not just anyone has the skills in multiple languages to work as an interpreter, especially in specialized fields. Cardenas hopes lawmakers will pass a measure to set up state certification for the interpreters. He says it would NOT mean the state has to hire or pay translators. The group hopes to see a “market-based” interpreter system set up, where certified professionals would sell their services, a better system than having the state handle it, he says. The mission of the Division of Latino Affairs is to improve services to support both newcomers and long-established Latino communities, and ensure that Iowans know how many Hispanic and Spanish-speaking people are in the state and what they contribute.
