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1st Round Playoffs

October 31, 2007 By

CLASS 4A
Ankeny 55, Waukee 7
Davenport Assumption 34, Muscatine 14
Bettendorf 35, Iowa City High 28
Cedar Rapids Washington 34, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 28
Newton 42, Marshalltown 28
Southeast Polk 35, Des Moines East 0
WDM Valley 24, Sioux City North 0
Cedar Falls 21,Cedar Rapids Xavier 17

CLASS 3A
Harlan 48, Le Mars 7
Sioux City Heelan 45, Carroll 7
South Tama 21, Clear Lake 19
Pella 29, Boone 27
Waverly-Shell Rock 10, Benton Community 7
Central DeWitt 69, Fairfield 41
Carlisle 31, Dallas Center-Grimes 13
Keokuk 37, Marion 25

CLASS 2A
North Fayette 39, Sigourney-Keota 6
Hampton-Dumont 14, JSPC 0
Estherville-Lincoln Central 35, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 7
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 11, Eagle Grove 7
Carroll Kuemper 21, Roland-Story 14
Solon 41, Mediapolis 0
CMB 28, Waterloo Columbus 7
Tipton 21, Wilton 20

CLASS 1A
Northeast 7, Pekin 6
West Lyon 14, Logan-Magnolia 13
Mason City Newman 38, Aplington-Parkersburg 13
Southern Cal 17, Pleasantville 14
Starmont 20, Saint Ansgar 15
Iowa City Regina 45, Bellevue 7
South Hamilton 28, North Polk 14
Council Bluffs St. Albert 44, Hinton 18 

CLASS A
Lawton-Bronson 18, Manning 13
Wapsie Valley 47, North Tama 0
Madrid 49, HLV 7
WACO 41, North Mahaska 14
Algona Garrigan 40, Newell-Fonda 13
AHST,Avoca 48, Woodbury Central 8
West Hancock, Britt 21, Alta 20 OT
Wapsie Valley 47, North Tama, Traer 0
Lisbon 19, Kee, Lansing 0

8-PLAYER
Games played Tuesday, October 30th

Ar-We-Va 41, Harris-Lake Park 27
Glidden-Ralston 56, Aurelia 6
Armstrong-Ringsted 55, Ventura 20
Northeast Hamilton 28, North Kossuth 21
Walnut 52, Essex 50 (OT)
Stanton 66, Sidney 20
Lenox 26, Tri-County 12
Grandview Park Baptist 28, Melcher-Dallas 6

SATURDAY Quarterfinals
Glidden-Ralston @ Ar-We-Va
Northeast Hamilton @ Armstrong-Ringsted
Stanton @ Walnut
Grandview Park Baptist @ Lenox

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Romney raps Clinton, Thompson over immigration policy

October 31, 2007 By

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is chiding two other White House aspirants for their views on illegal immigration. During an interview with Radio Iowa late Wednesday afternoon, Romney criticized Democrat Hillary Clinton for failing to say in Tuesday’s debate with other Democratic presidential hopefuls whether she backs a move in New York State to give illegal immigrants driver’s licenses.

"I watched her dancing around the issue. I thought I’d tuned to ‘Dancing with the Stars,’" Romney said. "I still don’t know where she was coming out. It was clear by her choice of language that she’s in favor of driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, but she somehow was unwilling to say it and I rarely agree with John Edwards, but he pointed out that she had changed positions within two minutes and I don’t know that she changed so much as she just wanted to have it both ways."

Romney is also feuding with Republican rival Fred Thompson over the topic of illegal immigration. Thompson’s campaign charges that as governor, Romney had allowed three so-called "sanctuary cities" in Massachusetts where illegal immigrants wouldn’t be turned over to federal authorities if caught by local cops.

"Well, he’s wrong, very simply. I’ve made very clear my position and I’ve also got the record of being governor for four years," Romney said. "You know he was senator and during the time he was senator, so far as I can tell — and I’m open to his correction, he didn’t do anything to secure the borders or end illegal immigration."

Romney maintains that as governor of Massachusetts, he had an "aggressive" and "clear" stance against illegal immigration. "I vetoed a bill that would have given tuition breaks to illegal aliens. I insisted that we not give driver’s licenses to illegal aliens," Romney said, "and I authorized our state police to enforce federal immigration laws."

A spokesman for rival Fred Thompson says as recently as 2006 Romney had called President Bush’s approach to illegal immigrants "reasonable." That policy proposal, which critics labeled amnesty, went down in flames in the senate this past summer. During his conversation with Radio Iowa on Wednesday afternoon, Romney shot back at Thompson, questioning whether the former Tennessee senator had any original ideas for dealing with the problem of illegal immigration.

"When it comes to the right course going forward I’ve laid out the things that I would do, including among them reigning in federal funding to cities that would call themselves sanctuary cities," Romney said. "That’s something I proposed, I don’t know, six months ago or so. (Thompson) just came out a week or two ago with the same idea, heralding it as a new insight. It frankly, was something that I came out with a long time ago and I think (Colorado Congressman) Tom Tancredo had it before I did."

Romney tacked on a final barb directed at Thompson. "I don’t want to suggest that he doesn’t have a sound policy. It’s too much like mine to be wrong," Romney said, with a laugh. "But his record in the senate was not one of having fought to enforce our borders or to end illegal immigration and my record as a governor was to do exactly those things."

The Thompson camp, in contrast, cites Thompson’s vote for a bill back in 1996 that increased penalties for those caught smuggling illegal immigrants into the country or providing false documents. Thompson’s staff also points to his 2001 vote for a bill that added 400 staffers to what was then called the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

 

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Regents approve new naming policy for buildings

October 31, 2007 By

The State Board of Regents approved a building-naming policy Tuesday that was result of a controversy over a multi-million dollar gift. The University of Iowa considering naming its College of Public Health after Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield after the insurance provider offered the school a 15-million-dollar gift.

 The board unanimously approved the new policy that does not place additional restrictions on corporate names. Regents president Michael Gartner said that’s what he favored. Gartner says he believes the three presidents should have as much flexibility as possible in naming of anything at a university. " I have now problem with the policy as it existed, it got all caught up in the Wellmark situation, which was certainly unique," Gartner said.

The new policy would require the schools to carefully scrutinize potential donors, whether they are corporations, foundations or people. Gartner says the policy gives the three presidents of the schools the flexibility they need. Gartner says he’s a big believer that the presidents should have all the leeway possible and then come to the board at the end.

U-I president Sally Mason said she is pleased with the policy and it gives the right amount of direction and flexibility. The board waived a second reading of the policy, so it will go into effect immediately. 

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: ,

Senator Grassley expresses frustration with President over insurance program

October 31, 2007 By

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is growing more frustrated with the Bush administration over legislation that would expand a program providing insurance to children. Grassley, who is a ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, says he’s been working to reach a deal with President Bush on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP).

Grassley says he felt like negotiations were going good until he learned Bush said he will not allow a cigarette tax increase to fund S-CHIP. Grassley says it’s the first time he’s aware of that the tax increase is an issue with the White House. Grassley says he felt like the two sides were making progress on the S-CHIP battle.

"And then he comes up with another item," Grassley said, "when you keep moving the goal post, I can’t negotiate under those circumstances. It’s a whole new cold water in the face as far as I’m concerned." Republicans who voted against the S-CHIP expansion, including western Iowa Congressman Steve King, have said the measure would extend benefits to children of illegal immigrants.

Grassley says, while the bill may not be perfect, supporters of the measure have done everything possible to address opponents’ concerns. "Our intent is that only citizens should be able to get S-CHIP," Grassley told Iowa reporters in a conference call Wednesday. 

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Poll asks hunters, anglers about campaign conservation issues

October 31, 2007 By

Results of a statewide poll of 600 Iowans with either a hunting or fishing license by the National Wildlife Federation shows global warming is their top concern among conservation issues. Rick Ridder is a consultant who analyzed the results of the poll for the federation.

Ridder says, "Three-quarters of the Iowa sportsman say we have a strong moral responsibility to act now to curb the world’s effect of global warming and to protect our children’s future." Ridder says a 75% response gives a "fair degree" of salience to the numbers. While the group is focusing on global warming, it was not the top issue of concern among those in the poll.

The poll shows that 45% listed the war in Iraq as the issue they were most concerned with, 41% said stopping illegal immigration, 25% fighting terrorism, 25% strengthening the economy and creating jobs, and 15% global warming and energy. When it comes to conservation issues, global warming was the top issue for 28%, clean water for 22%, public lands and wetlands for 18% and clear air for 17%.

While the poll shows a strong feeling, Ridder says those feelings don’t seem to have translated to the Iowa presidential campaign. He says only nine percent have decided who to support in the upcoming caucuses, "so this is a group that is both undecided, and concerned about the global warming issue." Ridder says the poll indicates that sportsmen and women in Iowa believe global warming is a problem.

Ridder says 69% believe that global warming is occurring, 58% indicate that human activity is at least a contributing factor, and 52% believe the U.S. is doing too little to address global warming. When the poll numbers are broken down by party, Ridder says Republicans are less worried overall about global warming.

Ridder says a majority of 51% believe global warming is occurring, while among Democrats, 91-percent believe global warming is occurring. He says 85% of Democrats believe human activity is a factor in global warming, and 82% believe the U.S. is doing too little to address the issue.

Ridder says 57% of all those in the survey believe global warming is a problem that requires immediate action. He says 84% agree we can improve the environment and strengthen the economy by investing in renewable energies that create jobs while reducing global warming, and 75% agree the U.S. should be a world leader in addressing global warming. Gun rights have long been a major concern of sportsmen, but Ridder says this poll shows the environment has caught up.

"Sixty-six-percent of hunters and anglers now say conservation is just as important, if not more important to them…as gun rights issues," Ridder says. Ridder says the concerns over global warming  hit close to home with the group. Ridder says 61% of the sportsman are concerned that the wildlife or fish population in the areas where they hunt or fish will decrease significantly or disappear.

The National Wildlife Federation says the nonpartisan survey was conducted between September sixth and 11to with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1% percent. You can see the entire results of the poll at the National Wildlife Federation’s website.   

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Iowa students get tuition cut at Nebraska school

October 31, 2007 By

Students from three western Iowa counties will be able to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha next year at much lower tuition rates. UNO Chancellor John Christensen says the program is called MAP. Christensen says, "I believe the Metropolitan Advantage Program is a significant step toward making available a convenient and affordable high-quality education to the residents of Pottawattamie, Mills and Harrison counties or in other words, our metro Iowa neighbors."

Christensen says the resident tuition rate is about $155 per credit hour and the non-resident rate is $456. This new program offers tuition at $232 per credit hour. He says, "Our metropolitan neighbors will be able to drive across the bridge and attend UNO at a substantially reduced tuition rate." Christensen says they are also offering another perk to some students who qualify.

"Undergraduate students from these counties with an ACT score of 23 or higher or who rank in the top 25-percent of their class, will be eligible for a new Maverick Advantage Scholarship which will bring tuition rates to at or near residential costs," Christenson says. The new program starts in the fall of 2008.  

Filed Under: Education

Regents vote to arm campus police at Iowa, ISU, UNI

October 31, 2007 By

UNI patrol car The state Board of Regents today approved a new security plan that allows campus police officers to carry guns at Iowa’s three public universities. The Regents’ 6-2 vote reverses a 40-year-old policy that prohibited officers from carrying weapons.

Regent Bob Downer says he reluctantly supports the plan after reviewing statistics on campus crime. "As we are living in a more violent society today, we have those conditions carrying over to the campuses," Downer says. "We simply need to have our officers in a position where they’re able to appropriately response to these incidents."

Regent President Michael Gartner voted against the proposal. Gartner says the larger problem on Iowa campuses can’t be fixed by arming officers. "Eighty percent of the crime on the University of Iowa campus, for instance, is alcohol and drug-related and this board is doing nothing about this and arming campus police is not going to deal with that problem," Gartner says.

Regent Rose Vasquez also voted against the proposal. Public safety directors at Iowa, Iowa State and UNI say no timetable has been set for implementing the plan. 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Education Tagged With: , ,
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