White people who might wonder what they’d look like if they were black, Hispanic, Asian or Native American can find out this week in Cedar Falls. The University of Northern Iowa is hosting what’s known as the Human Race Machine. Mike Bobeldyk is program coordinator at U-N-I’s Maucker Union, the temporary home to the device. Bobeldyk says “It’s an opportunity to reflect upon yourself through a view that you may not otherwise see.” The machine takes a digital picture of you, then, maintaining your basic facial features, shows you new pictures of what you’d look like as a member of a different race — or age. The unusual computerized machine is part of a series of events as part of the campus’ Diversity Week.Other events at U-N-I this week range from ethnic films, foods and music to a list of speakers who aim to raise awareness about diversity and address the ignorance on college campuses nationwide.
Governor calls for fewer superintendents and small schools
Governor Tom Vilsack is preparing to wage a political battle over what he concedes is “tough” ground — the state’s smallest high schools. Vilsack spoke to a room full of Iowa superintendents this morning, and told the group there need to be fewer superintendents in Iowa and fewer small high schools. Vilsack says teachers in smaller schools are often less-experienced, but expected to teach twice as many classes as teachers in bigger schools. And Vilsack says the A-C-T scores of students in small Iowa high schools are — on average — two points worse than kids who go to medium- or large-sized high schools. Vilsack says “when 78 percent of our youngsters are in high schools that the research shows don’t provide them as many (learning) opportunities,” then the state needs to figure out ways to encourage development of “regional academies” as well as more whole-grade sharing and school consolidation. Vilsack says the great thing about small schools is the students get more personal attention because of the small class sizes, but he says there need to be more advanced science and math classes available, so when those small-town students go to college, “they aren’t befuddled.” The closure of a high school is seen by many as a small town’s death knell, and Vilsack expects a fight. Vilsack expects many small town residents to react defensively to his proposal, but the governor says “this is not about criticizing, this is about making things better.” Vilsack says he knows people will be able to show him the kid who graduated from a class of 12 and went to Harvard. But Vilsack says he’s worried about the other 11 students in that small class, and wants to make sure they can succeed in college, too. “This is a challenge,” Vilsack says. “This isn’t about being popular. It’s about getting things done.” Vilsack says Iowa’s education system has always been a major selling-point for the state, but if improvements aren’t made, the state will fall behind and never be able to catch up.
Vice President campaigns in Ottumwa
While he made news during his last trip to Iowa, Vice President Dick Cheney stuck to the basics this time with a stop today in Ottumwa. The trip to Ottumwa was considered unique since Wappello County is predominately democratic. Cheney talked about the economy, terrorism and agriculture. Cheney called for a repeal of the inheritance tax — commonly called the “death tax.”Cheney says repeal of the “Death Tax” is absolutely essential so that people can pass on their farm, ranch or small business without getting taxed on it after already getting taxed on it once during your lifetime. A 19-year-old Ottumwa man Brandon Zahle, a member of the U-S Army who served in Iraq, told Cheyney he supports the administration’s effort in Iraq. He says after being there he supports them even more. He says he saw what the people had to go through and did missions to bring food and water and says having the people hug him and be there with them for six months was “amazing.” Zahle says. “I thank you for doing what you did.”
Kerry daughter talks health care in Iowa
One of democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s daughters is campaigning in Iowa today and tomorrow. Vanessa Kerry’s first stop was in Des Moines at a senior center, where she spoke with about 50 retired Iowans. Vanessa Kerry says as a medical student, rising prescription drug costs, Medicare and health care reform are “incredibly important” issues to her. She criticizes President Bush for proposing a 17 percent increase in the premium Medicare recipients — the elderly — have to pay. Vanessa Kerry says that means seniors will pay, on average, $140 more per year. She says “while George Bush may not be raising your taxes, he’s going to raise your cost of living.” Vanessa Kerry says this election presents Iowans and Americans a chance to say “no, we’re not going to take this anymore.” Kerry reviewed her father’s health care reform plan for the crowd, which would shift the cost of caring for severely-ill or injured Americans to the government, which Kerry hopes will keep private insurance premiums lower. It also would allow Americans to buy-in to a government-run health care plan. Vanessa Kerry says “there’s a health care crisis across the board, and President Bush hasn’t even talked about until recently, as the election draws near.” Vanessa Kerry discussed the same issue over the noon-hour at a church in Ames. She’s due in Fort Dodge at 4:30 this afternoon and will appear in Mason City’s public library at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning to talk about rising health care costs for seniors.
Firefighters meet in Manchester
Over two-thousand active and retired firefighters attended the annual Iowa State Firemans’ Convention this weekend in Manchester. This was the 45th convention for Walter Cook of Walker, who says the equipment has changed dramatically in that time. He says if you had a truck that would haul 250 to 500 gallons of water and pump 500-gallons-a-minute, you had a good piece of equipment. Now he says they now have trucks that pump 12-hundred-50 gallons-a-minute and might haul 15-hundred to two-thousand gallons of water with them. He says things have changed mostly for the better. Cook, who is now retired, says being a firefighter is an important way to help your community. He says if you’re going to live in a community you got to be part of it. He says it’s community service whether you belong to the fire department or the Lions Club. Rusty Hockman just retired after serving as chief of the Jewel fire department for 13 years. He says firefighters are a close group. He says it’s one great brotherhood, a big family that cares about each other. He says it’s a dangerous job, but a rewarding one. The convention wrapped up Sunday.
AARP pushes healthcare issues in Presidential campaign
A spokesman for A-A-R-P says some key senior issues are starting to get more attention in the 2004 presidential campaign. One of the hallmarks of the 2000 presidential election was a debate about the future of Social Security and that “lock box” Al Gore promised. John McCalley , the public affairs director for A-A-R-P’s Iowa chapter, admits this year’s campaign debate so far has focused mainly on Iraq and the economy. McCalley says there are “a lot of divisive issues out there in the electoral ether right now,” but he says as the election’s gotten closer, health care has become a more prominent campaign topic, and that’s something A-A-R-P is focused on. McCalley also points to democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s trip to Iowa last week and his focus on both health care reform and Medicare changes. McCaley says “the closer we get to the election, the more (the candidates) are paying attention to who’s going to turn out, and seniors are a big voting block.” McCalley predicts “we’re going to hear more about Social Security and Medicare come October.” McCalley says A-A-R-P has a variety of information for voters on its website. McCalley says A-A-R-P asked President Bush and Senator Kerry to tell them in writing how they stand on Social Security, Medicare, long-term care and health care reform, and the responses from the candidates are on-line at www.aarp.org. A-A-R-P parked an R-V outside a Des Moines mall (Merle Hay Mall) on Saturday to hand out voters guides to shoppers.
Search continues for Fremont County bank robber
Authorities in southwest Iowa are searching for the man who held up a rural Fremont County bank late Saturday morning. Sheriff Steve MacDonald says the robbery happened at the Randolph State Bank.A white male, about 30 years old, long brown hair, 5-foot-8 and a medium build walked in, showed the teller a note, opened his shirt and showed a weapon, then asked for money. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and left the area in an unidentified vehicle. MacDonald praised the bank employees for calmly handling the situation. He says they did everything they were trained to do and “lost a little money but no one was hurt.” The suspect was captured — on videotape — which MacDonald says may be key in tracking the suspect. The F-B-I is also investigating the holdup. MacDonald says residents in Randolph and other surrounding communities are being asked to be on the lookout for the suspect and be wary of similar events in the future. The suspect wore rubber fingertip covers, apparently in an effort to hide his fingerprints. He was wearing a blue baseball cap, a blue denim shirt and jeans.
