The University of Iowa men’s basketball player who’s being investigated for an altercation with a female friend in West Des Moines is now off the team, for good. In a prepared statement issued by the University, Hawkeye head coach Steve Alford said Pierre Pierce had “betrayed the trust (the university) placed in him when he was given a second chance two years ago.” As you may recall, Pierce pled guilty to assaulting a woman in Iowa City. He sat out of competition for a year, but kept his scholarship. Now, he’s off the team for good, but there’s no mention in the university’s statement of Pierce’s scholarship status. Pierce, who is 21 years old and a junior, was Iowa’s leading scorer this season. In the prepared statement, Alford called Pierce an “excellent basketball player who will be missed…but given the circumstances,” Alford said he felt kicking him off the team was the only appropriate response. Alford is declining all interview requests.
Governor signs bill to give more money to schools
Governor Tom Vilsack has signed into law that bill that provides about 100 million more in general state aid to Iowa’s K-through-12 schools for the school year that begins in the fall of 2006.Legislators from both political parties stood behind Vilsack on the statehouse steps as he signed the bill in an outdoor ceremony. Vilsack called the spending plan a “bipartisan commitment to our children and to quality education in our state.” Vilsack says he hopes it’s a first step of many that he and lawmakers will take this year to reaffirm their commitment to children and their potential. Vilsack thanked legislators from both parties for their willingness to advance the school funding issue as a first item on the legislature’s 2005 agenda. “It sent a strong message about the importance and the power of bipartisanship,” Vilsack says. “And I hope that’s a message that resonates throughout the rest of this legislative session.”
Feds send more money for low income heating assistance
The “Emergency Contingency Fund” contained 300-million dollars, he says and half was released at the beginning of the winter and the second half released this week, Iowa’s share has been two allotments each one-point-seven-million dollars. McKim says this will help meet a bigger need for help. McKim says it won’t increase anyone’s benefit — the program has higher participation this year, so he says getting this second appropriation gives him some peace of mind because everyone who signed up will at least get one benefit payment. The program gives just one payment per year to those enrolled, sometimes enough to pay one month’s heating bill. Energy prices are higher this winter, which McKim says also will take some of the benefit out of this payment. He calls it a “good news bad news” situation, because the program can give folks a slightly higher benefit check, but it’ll cover a smaller portion of their bill, leaving them still behind. While this isn’t a record cold winter, McKim says he sees signs that fuel consumption will be a bit higher than last winter. The 70-percent of households that heat using natural gas will see about a ten-percent increase in its cost, and he says that’ll be a 20-percent increase for those who heat with propane. McKim says one warning sign is already apparent, a big jump in the number of ratepayers who are behind on their current heating bill, whether they’re in an assistance program or not.
UNI looks to break slump
The UNI men look to break out of their slump when they host Evansville tonight at the UNI-Dome. Northern Iowa has dropped four out of their last six games. Panthers coach Greg McDermott feels his team needs to focus better on their execution. He says they aren’t good enough to not do the little things well and be successful. McDermott says the Panther’s problems have been caused by errors throughout the team. He says some of the mistakes are made by younger players and that’s understandable. He says when the veteran players make the mistakes, those are things that have to be corrected in a hurry.UNI is currently 14-5 and 5-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Evansville is 4-7 in the Valley and won the first matchup of the season 92-73 on a night it seemed coach Steve Merfeld’s team could not miss. Merfeld says it was one of those nights where everyone was playing well, and he says you can count on that happing maybe two or three times a year. Merfeld says while the Panthers have gone through a tough stretch they remain one of the Valley’s top teams. He says UNI got off to a great start and have had a difficult combination of games. He says going into the UNI-Dome is difficult and they’re going to have to play great to compete there.
ISU pounds Baylor for second straight win
Iowa State used a 19-0 run late in the opening half as the Cyclones pounded Baylor 77-51 last night in Big-12 action, their second straight league win. Center Jared Homan on the post-game show on the Cyclone Network says it took a few minutes to get going, and once they did, they really got going. He finished with ten points, one of five Cyclones in double figures as ISU improved to 2-5 in the Big-12. He says the defense was “tremendous” again and he says it feels great to win two games in a row again.Rashon Clark had 19-points, Curtis Stinson added 15 and the Cyclones outscored Baylor 50-14 in the paint.
Drake falls on second chance shot
Neil Plank tapped in a missed shot with three seconds remaining as Illinois State scored the final eight points of the game to edge the Drake Bulldogs 59-58 in Missouri Valley Conference action in Des Moines. The Bulldogs led the game 58-51 with a minute-10 remaining. Drake coach Tom Davis on his post-game show on KRNT in Des Moines says getting beaten on a second chance shot is one of the toughest things. But he says they had plenty of opportunities to shut them down and couldn’t get it done. Back-to-back turnovers led to consecutive three pointers by Illinois State and Dave Bancroft missed the front end of a one and one which allowed the Redbirds the chance to take the lead. Davis says Illinois State has been finding a way to win games with their experienced guards.Drake falls to 3-8 in the Valley and 7-12 overall.
Two teens charged with unplugging Independence buses, delaying school
Independence police have charged two teenagers who allegedly slowed the start of school by unplugging school buses. 18-year-old Mitchell Faust and 16-year-old Scott Brown, both of Independence, were each charged with trespass and tampering with vehicles. The two are accused of entering a locked area of the Independence schools January 14th and unplugging the engine block heaters of the school buses. The buses were unable to start in the sub-zero temperatures, and school was delayed for two hours. A second incident occurred last week, but officials discovered it and plugged the buses back in.
