A former anthropologist, Mary Doria Russell says that career informed her writing when she turned to novels, from science fiction’s "The Sparrow" to historical fiction and a brand-new book she previews here.
U-of-I professor one of Time’s "most influential"
May 3, 2007 By
Someone who works at the University of Iowa has been put on a list alongside such megastars as Oprah and George Clooney.
Time Magazine has named University of Iowa finance professor Erik Lie as one of the world’s most influential people.
Lie is on the magazine’s list of "Builders and Titans" for his research on the shady practice of stock option "backdating." It’s research that has sent ripples through corporate America. The Wall Street Journal wrote a series of stories based on Lie’s research and won the Pulitzer Prize.
The University of Iowa professor’s name is listed in the latest issue of Time magazine alongside the CEOs of companies like Apple, Toyota and Virgin Airways.
It’s the fourth consecutive year the magazine has compiled a list of people its editors consider influential in the fields of business, politics, government, education, sports, the arts and entertainment.
Other people on the magazine’s "most influential" list include media magnate Oprah Winfrey, Secretary of State Condolezza Rice and the pope.
Ombudsman questions secrecy in search for U-of-I president
May 3, 2007 By
The Iowa Citizens’ Aide Ombudsman is speaking out about what he calls the "cloak of secrecy" surrounding the process of selecting a new president for the University of Iowa.
Ombudsman William Angrick says secrecy in government creates "suspicion." He’s asking the state’s attorney general to ensure the "intent and spirit" of Iowa’s Open Meetings and Public Records law are followed as the Board of Regents searches for a new U-of-I president.
According to Angrick, the selection process may only be closed when there would be "needless and irreparable injury" to the job applicant’s "reputation" — and the job-seeker requests that interview sessions be closed to the public.
In a letter to the attorney general, Angrick goes on to say that "individual preference, mere inconvenience or even potential embarassment" are not enough to base the decision to — in his words — "hide" behind closed doors.
The ombudsman also points out that university presidents are in "public positions of authority and trust" and therefore the search for someone to fill that post should be as open as possible.
Effort continues to cut the deaths of kids during summer
May 3, 2007 By
A report on summer safely by "Safe Kids Worldwide" ranks Iowa 37th nationally for the number of unintentional injury deaths for kids from birth to age 14. The report says Iowa averages nearly four unintentional deaths to kids in that age group from May through June.
Connie Hauskins, the coordinator of the Linn County Safe Kids chapter, says there are several categories of unintentional deaths. She says drowning, biking injuries, falls, motor vehicle and pedestrian. The national study shows motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages three to 14 in the U.S. and child passenger fatalities increase 20 percent above the monthly average in the summer.
Hauskins Iowa has worked to address that problem. Hauskins says the state upgraded it’s child passenger restraint law to try and get more kids buckled up. Hauskins says the law has helped, but there’s a need to continue working with parents. Hauskins says parents are trying to have kids properly buckled up, but some don’t have the resources. She says Safe Kids works with families to try and help them purchase the proper carseats and booster seats.
Hauskins says just having a carseat or booster seat doesn’t do any good if it’s not properly used.
Hauskins says the children need to be fit well for the system to work, otherwise the child could be injured in an accident. Hauskins says there are several Safe Kids chapters across the state, and you can check with your local chapter to find information on how to properly secure your child in a car. Hauskins says there is also a lot of good information on the Safe Kids website and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.
Ground broken for VeraSun ethanol plant
May 3, 2007 By
VeraSun Energy Corporation is breaking ground today on Iowa’s latest ethanol plant in Hartley. VeraSun Chairman and CEO Don Endres says the Hartley plant will produce about 110-Million gallons of ethanol a year. It’ll also produce about 50,000 tons of a co-product, distiller’s grain.
Endres says an oil-extraction system at the distillery will take the corn oil out of that leftover grain, and use it to make bio-diesel. VeraSun has six ethanol facilities, including Iowa plants in Fort Dodge and Charles City. Endres says this plant will be online in about one year.
Monte Shaw, Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, says the project’s first impact on the economy of Hartley will be all the people hired to work on the construction of the plant. He says close to 200-Million dollars will mean a one-time "shot in the arm," but after that the plant is expected to generate employment and purchases of goods and services, including corn, will put tens of millions of dollars into the economy in the years to come.
The VeraSun biorefinery will likely employ more than 60 skilled workers. Shaw says this newest biorefinery adds to Iowa’s dominance in the renewable fuels industry. Twenty-seven plants are up and running, Shaw says, and with the Hartley plant the state will have 19 projects that are either new facilities or additions to existing bio-refineries.
VeraSun is the nation’s second-largest ethanol producer. The public groundbreaking program today on the southwest side of Hartley included a performance by Nashville recording artist and northwest Iowa native Shannon Brown.
Bankers encouraged to address needs of younger customers
May 3, 2007 By
Ever seen the TV commercial with a bunch of stodgy old bankers being herded behind the velvet rope, refusing to accept new ways? One technology expert says many rural Iowa bankers are really that way and they need to adapt — or they’re history. Trevor Hendrickson, CEO of "T-8 Design" in Cedar Falls, is addressing a bankers’ conference in central Iowa today about the importance of addressing younger customers, especially Generation Y.
Hendrickson says: "They spend an average of 16-point-seven hours per week online, excluding e-mail. They are pragmatic, they’re worldly, they are materialistic and they’re driven by technology. Technology probably plays a more influential role with Generation-Y than any other generation previously."
He says Gen-Y was born between 1977 and ’92, they’re better educated and goal-oriented than previous generations. For community banks in Iowa to survive, Hendrickson says they have to start catering to potential customers beyond the Baby Boomers, their loyal clients the past 30 years.
Hendrickson says: "Each generation that comes up, they’re looking for convenience. They’re looking to be targeted through personalization. They’re looking to be communicated with through media that is of interest to them, and that is something that community banks have traditionally had a hard time grasping." He says the recent WaMu advertising campaign has been an incredible success, which demonstrates his point.
Hendrickson says, "In 2005, 42-percent of all new on-line banking sign-ups were through Washington Mutual. In a very short period of time, they’re the sixth largest bank in the United States, and they’re that way because they’re focusing on these younger generations, they’re building their base, they’re focusing on brand development." Hendrickson is one of the lecturers at today’s Iowa Bankers’ Association Marketing Conference in West Des Moines.
Democrat lagging in polls vows to win Iowa’s Caucuses
May 3, 2007 By
Democratic presidential candidate Christopher Dodd today declared that he would win Iowa’s 2008 Caucuses. The Connecticut Senator also lobbed criticism at Democratic rival John Edwards, as well as Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
Dodd was the speaker at a luncheon in Des Moines hosted by a group of young Democrats. "I appreciate immensely there’s a place called Iowa, that you give someone like me a chance to be heard, to make my case. I believe the door is still open in this state," Dodd said. "I don’t believe this race is decided in April or May…and so I intend to be your nominee. I plan on winning the Caucuses in Iowa."
Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards is the leader in most polls of likely Iowa Caucus-goers, but Dodd said Edwards is offering "a lot of rhetoric" rather than "solutions" when it comes to Iraq.
Specifically, Dodd argues all Democrats should back a bill that would establish March 31, 2008 as the date for ending the war in Iraq. "I can’t tell you how far along and further along the American public is on this issue than the political leadership in the country," Dodd said. "I realize it’s not easy to meld disparate elements of a party or a congress on this, but I think the clearer the voice on this the better."
Edwards has said congress should vote to cut off funding for the war now. "He has a right to talk about the issues, but I think talking about what the Senate ought to be doing, in a sense, and not embracing a particular point of view on it — seems to me you’ve got to fill that gap in," Dodd told reporters.
Dodd also criticized Arizona Senator John McCain for "backing away" from being a lead Republican cosponsor of immigration reform because of "demagogues" who are railing against amnesty for illegal immigrants. "If you ask me who’s on the other side today, I couldn’t name anybody at this point. Maybe there is, but not of the stature that McCain brought to the debate, so it’s been dealt a blow in that regard," Dodd said. "While the issue I think is going to be brought up in the Senate in the next couple of weeks, there’s some real concern about whether or not you can actually get it done."
Dodd also said as president, he would seek to require that all cars sold in the U.S. get at least 50 miles per gallon and he would impose a new "carbon tax" on businesses, based on the amount of carbon the business consumes.
