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Obama talks about veterans in Davenport stop

May 29, 2007 By

After spending most of Memorial Day in New Hampshire, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama flew to the Quad Cities on Monday night to attend a reception for veterans. Obama, a U.S. Senator from Illinois, told some two-hundred invited veterans and their families at the Davenport event that America best honors its war dead by providing for veterans.

Obama says, "If we cannot bring back the fallen, then we have a solemn obligation to treat those who do come back, who have put themselves at risk and yet still have a life to be led, that we are embracing them." Obama’s 20-minute speech didn’t mention his campaign until the very last lines.

Obama says: "I promise you that should I have the great privilege of being the next commander in chief, that I will understand that solemn obligation to make sure that I send young men and women into battle only after it is clear that we have done everything we need to prepare them for war and just as importantly, that we’ve done everything we need to prepare them for peace."

Then, moving among the round banquet tables, Obama vowed to shake hands with everyone there. He’s expected to detail his health care plans today  in Iowa City.

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With:

Waterloo woman accused of torching her own home

May 29, 2007 By

A Waterloo woman is facing multiple charges for allegedly setting fire to her home. Thirty-five-year-old Lora Gamblin-Deering is charged with second-degree arson, insurance fraud and perjury in connection with a fire at a Waterloo home last month.

Investigators have determined the April 3rd fire was deliberately set. They say ignitable liquids were used to start the fire at several locations throughout the home, and traces of ignitable liquids were also found on the clothes that Gamblin-Deering was wearing at the time of the fire.

The charges of insurance fraud and perjury stem from notarized statements Gamblin-Deering gave to her insurance company that were found to be false. Officials say after intentionally setting the fire, Gamblin-Deering filed a statement with her insurance company claiming property losses of $25,000.

Audio: Elwin Huffman reports. :40 MP3

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Governor plans to visit Iowa attractions this summer

May 29, 2007 By

Iowa’s governor plans to take his wife and two young children to several attractions around the state this summer to promote Iowa’s tourism industry. Governor Culver started with a Memorial Day weekend stop at the “Ice Cream Capitol of the World” Visitor Center in Le Mars.

“In every part of the state wonderful things are happening with Vision Iowa grants and Community Attraction and Tourism grants, so I’m trying to do what I can this summer with my family to promote some of those,” Culver says. In-state travel may be more attractive to many Iowans this summer with gas prices so high.

“Obviously the price will have an impact on Iowans. I’m concerned about that. As governor, I’ve asked the congress and the president to try to figure this thing out. It doesn’t make any sense to me that we’re paying these exorbitant prices at the pump,” Culver says. “But number two we also have great tourism opportunities across this state.” In two weeks, Culver and his family will visit Storm Lake.

Filed Under: Politics & Government, Recreation & Entertainment Tagged With:

Swift meatpacking plants sold

May 29, 2007 By

A major meatpacker with six plants in Iowa is being sold. Colorado-based Swift and Company announced this morning it’s been sold in a one-point-four billion dollar deal. The buyers are H-and-M Capital Partners LLC of Dallas, Texas, and JBSSA of Brazil, Latin America’s largest beef processor.

The transaction is for 225-million dollars in cash for Swift stock while the buyers assume one-point-two billion in Swift debt. It will create the world’s largest pork and beef producer. Swift has 20,000 workers worldwide.

Audio: Lance Renaud report. :47 MP3

Filed Under: Agriculture, Business

All-Star game at ISU a fundraiser in memory of Barry Stevens

May 29, 2007 By

Former Iowa State basketball stars will gather in Ames this July to honor one of their own and raise money for a charity that bears his name. The “ISU Hilton Magic All-Star Celebrity Game” will cap a weekend celebration in memory of Barry Stevens, who passed away in February after a heart attack.

Jim Hallihan was an assistant to Johnny Orr when Stevens joined the Cyclone program and helped turn it around. Hallihan says Stevens was the start of “Hilton Magic” as things really got going in Stevens’ sophomore year. He scored 30 points in a win over Minnesota and then 40 against Missouri, including a last-second shot in overtime.

Hallihan says Stevens also opened a recruiting pipeline to Michigan that was crucial in helping to turn around the ISU program. He says Jeff Grayer would never have come to ISU if it hadn’t been for Stevens. Hallihan says players form Michigan saw how Stevens was treated and decided to come there too. Hallihan says Stevens came to a school that wasn’t very good in basketball and made it good.

The game is July 21st and all the proceeds raised from the weekend will go to the Barry W. Stevens Educvation and Health Foundation and the Heart Association. 

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Mount Pleasant to host Gus Macker Tournament

May 29, 2007 By

The streets of Mount Pleasant will become a hotbed of basketball again this August for the second annual Avenue of the Saints Championship. Sponsored by Gus Macker basketball the tournament will feature three-on-three competition for all ages.

Eric Rawson with the Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau says they have teams from all over Iowa and many teams from across the Midwest. He says they hope to double the number of teams this year as many teams travel around looking for tournaments.

Rawson says the tournament has almost a "cult" following, as teams work their schedules around the tournaments throughout the summer as they get ready for winter basketball.

Rawson says interested teams have plenty of time to register. You can go to http://www.macker.com%20 and click on the state of Iowa icon. The tournament is August 11th and 12th. 

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Republican leader expects 50,000 at Straw Poll

May 29, 2007 By

The executive director of the Iowa GOP expects 50,000 to attend the party’s big event this August in Ames. The Iowa Republican Party’s Straw Poll will be the opening test for the field of candidates vying for the GOP’s 2008 presidential nomination.

Chuck Laudner, the executive director of the Iowa GOP, says because of the huge crowd that’s expected he considered moving the event to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, but it didn’t work out. He also tried to book the 55,000 thousand seat Jack Trice Stadium, but the Cyclone football team is using it then for two-a-day drills. That means the event will be held in Hilton Coliseum, where it’s been held in the past.

According to Laudner, the Straw Poll will be the biggest political event, ever, for Republicans — bigger than any national convention. It started as a fundraiser, and still is, but Laudner says it’s now a first test of the strength of candidates. He says all the state bunching up behind the Iowa Caucuses have helped the straw poll.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani hasn’t decided yet whether he’ll participate, but Laudner believes he’ll be there. Laudner says he’s confident that all the candidates will be there. With tents and food and music, it will be quite the spectacle — similar in size and scope to an Iowa/Iowa State football game day. That’ll include tents outside wired for sound as not everyone will fit inside.

The candidates will each be given a chance to speak on a stage inside the arena, but Laudner says with that staging and all the TV cameras and media stationed on the floor of the arena, there’ll be room for just 12,500 people inside Hilton Coliseum.

Audio: Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports on Straw Poll. :64 MP3

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