Governor Tom Vilsack now says his way isn’t the only way to boost funding for the state’s schools. Vilsack has proposed expanding the state sales tax to more services in order to find more tax revenue to send to schools. Vilsack says he’s “willing to work with legislators” and if “they’ve got a better idea,” Vilsack says he’s open to it. Vilsack says it’s still fairly early in the 2004 legislative session. Vilsack says he’s sure he and lawmakers will reach consensus by spring. Vilsack’s tax ideas were revealed two weeks ago, and were met with resistance from republicans and even democrats in his own party.Vilsack says he doesn’t know whether he can win over any legislator, but he says engaged parents, school administrators, teachers and business leaders can and Vilsack says he believes they will.
Governor to endorse Kerry in Democrat Presidential race
Governor Tom Vilsack is flying to St. Louis today to publicly endorse John Kerry’s presidential bid. Vilsack’s wife endorsed Kerry the week before Iowa’s Caucuses. Last night, at 5:30, a reporter asked Vilsack if he, too, would endorse a candidate in the race. As Vilsack walked away, Vilsack told the five reporters in the room he’d let us know when he made his decision. Well, he didn’t. After the New Hampshire results were in last night, and it was clear Kerry had won, Vilsack told a Des Moines Register reporter he’s backing Kerry now. Vilsack’s endorsement at this point probably doesn’t mean much. The state’s Caucuses are over, and Senator Tom Harkin’s endorsement of Howard Dean the week before the Caucuses shows endorsements, by themselves, may yield more news stories than votes.
Drug dog honored in Davenport
There’s a funeral today for a dog in Davenport and a lot of people plan to attend. Drug-sniffing canine officer “Hershey” had worked with the police department since 1993 according to officer Don Gano.He says “that dog had a nose,” and loved to find dope — as proven by the fact that he was responsible for 7-Million dollars in drug seizures during his career on the force. Early on, Hershey worked with Officer Dale Sievert, who considered him a full partner. Sievert says the dog had the run of the office, “just like one of the guys,” and rode in his patrol car, always eager to go to work because finding dope was a game to him, and he loved what he did. Hershey was the department’s first dog trained for sniffing drugs, and he didn’t have any other duty. The dog did have a good bark, he admits, and if a suspect was unruly Sievert would tell him to bark and sometimes it helped keep them in line…though he said all Hershey would have done was “lick them to death.” The dog will be laid to rest in a new section of Davenport’s Oakdale cemetery, the first to be buried in a section devoted to police dogs.
ISU students to test experiments in weightless flight
Four Iowa State University students plan to get really high during their spring break with the full support of the faculty and a government agency. The four I-S-U engineering students will go to Houston in March where they’ll fly on NASA’s famous “Vomit Comet” — a K-C-135 jet that allows them to be weightless for a short time. Project leader David Shoemaker, a senior from West Des Moines, says they were one of 69 projects chosen in a nationwide competition. He says there’s an on-line guideline for things they needed to address and there’s also an outreach portion of the contest. He says they plan to go out to schools to talk about their project and NASA. Their project involves a satellite called “Cycadet” that would take pictures of earth.He says they’re building a “pico satellite” that’s really small, 10 centimeters on a side and weighing less than one kilogram. He says they’ll use the weightless flight to test spin controls on a mini satellite they’re designed to stop it from spinning once it’s released into orbit. Shoemaker says they’re using their spring break for the tests, and will begin with NASA training for the flight.He says they’ll spend one week in Houston training for the weightless flight before actually taking off. Another group of I-S-U students was also chosen to test their project in July. Shoemaker says it’s an exciting time to be involved in space projects, especially after the President’s call for a manned mission to Mars Shoemaker says I-S-U’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Iowa Space Grant Consortium are helping fund the construction of the satellite and the costs of the trip to Houston. NASA pays for the weightless flight. It’ll be the second and third time a group of I-S-U students have taken part in the program.
Teachers’ union rallies for more money at chilly Statehouse
Despite frigid temperatures, over a thousand people gathered on the steps of the statehouse last night to call for more state aid for public schools. Brad Hudson of the Iowa State Education Association — the teachers’ union — says Iowa’s world class education system is on the decline because of budget cuts.Hudson says “it’s a cold day in Iowa when we have to come to this building and say to our elected leaders: “Shame on you.’” He says they remember the campaign literature and ads that said education is the top priority.Governor Tom Vilsack urged the teachers, school board members, parents and students in the crowd to talk with legislators who’re reluctant to raise taxes in order to spend more on schools. He says this is the beginning of a great campaign to reengage people in their democracy and their government so that their voice, and not the voice of special interests are heard. Vilsack told the crowd state economic development efforts would stall if the quality of Iowa’s education system declines. Vilsack said “if we underfund education, force additional layoffs, larger class sizes, fewer supplies, and less technology, shame on us.” Sharon Miller of Waterloo was there. Miller says they want fair funding for education as she says “there’s nothing left to cut” and without adequate funding, schools will be “doing less with less.” Elizabeth Curl, a member of the school board for the MidPrairie district, says education should be the state’s number one priority. Curl says without a more significant boost in state aid, her district may have to “get rid of some teachers” and that’ll mean larger class sizes. Nancy Brown of Oskaloosa works at the Southern Prairie A-E-A in Ottumwa, and she hopes the size of the crowd sends a message to legislators. She says they hope the legislators will take not that the public really cares.Barb Mullahey, a principal in Des Moines, braved the cold to stand and chant for more state tax money for schools. Mullahey says she’s afraid the quality of Iowa schools “will go down the tubes” if more money isn’t found. The crowd repeatedly chanted “six percent” — referring to the six percent increase in general state aid groups like the Iowa State Education Association and the Iowa Association of Schools Boards are seeking from lawmakers.
Retailers lobby against hiding cold medications
Iowa retailers are lobbying against the idea of keeping cold meds behind the counter as a way to combat the bulk purchases being made by those who’re making meth. Pseudoephedrine is the prime ingredient in many decongestants sold over-the-counter and meth-makers buy cold meds to get pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth. Iowa’s Drug Czar has suggested it’s time to put new restrictions on the sale of over-the-counter cold medications, but Iowa Retail Federation president Jim Henter says forcing retailers to put cold meds behind the counter could force expensive remodeling. Henter says requiring I.D. and a signature to purchase cold meds would also cause problems.Henter says convenience stores and small town groceries don’t have the manpower to deal with I.D. and logs for cold medicines. Henter says clerks are being told to call authorities when someone makes a huge purchase of cold medication. But Todd Jones, a state drug agent, says some retailers let things slide.Jones says in the interest of public safety, there need to be limits placed on the sale of cold meds that contain pseudoephedrine. Jones would like to see those cold medicines sold by a pharmacist, like cough syrup with codene. But Representative Bob Osterhaus, a democrat from Maquoketa who is also a pharmacist, says that’s not politically possible. Osterhaus would support limiting the number of boxes of cold meds a customer can buy at one time. Osterhaus says an adult with a cold doesn’t need 20 tablets of over-the-counter medicine per day, and the limit could work.
Nationwide manhunt underway for Johnston teen after double murder
Johnston police have issued a nationwide alert for a teen wanted for questioning in a double murder Tuesday at his father’s home. Police Chief Bruce Gaddis says they’re still looking for one of the residents of the home, 16-year-old Tyler Pirtle, for questioning. He says their investigation gives them reason to believe that Pirtle may attempt to harm himself and others and should be considered armed and dangerous. Gaddis says Pirtle may be driving a red 1995 Mercury Mystique with Iowa plates 1-3-4-L-P-K. Gaddis also identified the two victims. He says the victims are 21-year-old Sara Dahlke (Doll-kee) of Marshalltown, and 41-year-old Greg Gaul of Des Moines. Pirtle lived with his father, 47-year-old Matthew Pirtle and a woman who are now on vacation. Gaddis says that’s Dahlke’s connection to the family. He says she is a house sitter who was babysitting the house while the owners were in the Cayman Islands. Gaddis was asked why Gaul was at the home, but gave this response.He said, “that’s all we have at this point.” Gaddis did say the owners of the house have been contacted, but would not give any other details about the crime. He says a nationwide alert has been issued for Pirtle.
