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Legislator wants a "free" option for handicapped parking

March 17, 2009 By

Representative Steve Lukan wants free parking in metered spaces as an option for the handicapped. Representative Steve Lukan wants to give handicapped drivers a "free" option if they cannot find a parking space designated for the handicapped.

Lukan’s proposal would let drivers with a handicapped permit park at a metered parking space for free.

"There are some instances where people don’t have designated disabled parking nearby some locations or possibly those locations are filled," Lukan says. "This would help a lot of those people, give them access to that metered spot, without a charge."

Lukan, a Republican from New Vienna, says he’s visited with a few handicapped Iowans who’ve had difficulty finding adequate parking in cities. Lukan tried, but failed to get the Iowa House to attach his proposal to another bill Monday.

Lukan vows to try again to keep his idea alive, but the bill he proposed on this subject failed to pass a deadline last week so his only option now is to try to piggyback his proposal on another bill and it’s doubtful he’ll succeed. 

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Cedar Rapids police use new electric vehicle

March 17, 2009 By

Cedar Rapids Police are putting their newest vehicle on display in today’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The T-3 electric vehicle has lights and sirens, but unlike any other traveling device. It has three wheels, runs on a battery and will help officers patrol trails and public events.

Jeff Walter is with the California company that markets the vehicle exclusively to police departments, the government or security companies. "The nice thing about the way it’s designed – it will go through a 36-inch doorway," Walter said. "In Minneapolis, they actually ride these inside of skyways and commercial buildings as well as out on the streets and sidewalks."

Cedar Rapids Police bought the $12,000 vehicle with a grant. Captain Bernie Walther, who will oversee the T-3, said using such scooters during public events will give officers more speed in getting through large crowds where they can’t drive a squad car. And, because it’s a raised platform, it provides better visibility when a lot of people are around.

"We’ve had this here for a couple of weeks now and we’re getting used to it," Walther said. "The officers are kind of playing with it and everybody who’s gotten on this thing so far likes it." Walther is still working on when and where Cedar Rapids Police will use the T-3, but it’s likely that citizens will see it out on trails or perhaps on downtown sidewalks.

The T-3 can go up to 20 miles an hour and operates all day on about 10 cents worth of electricity. Police departments in Minneapolis and Chicago are using the T-3, but the vehicle in Cedar Rapids is the first of it’s kind in Iowa. 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Des Moines man possible victim of NE Iowa hit and run

March 17, 2009 By

A Des Moines man may be the victim of a deadly hit and run in northeast Iowa. The body of 40-year-old Jeffrey Drahn was found in a ditch near Calmar in Winneshiek County.

His body was found along a road at about 7:30 A.M. Monday by a school bus driver. According to the state patrol, Drahn may have been the victim of a hit and run driver.

The time of the accident was not determined. Drahn was last seen alive walking along a road late Sunday night. He was also recorded by a surveillance camera at a Calmar convenience store that same night.  

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Poignant St. Patrick’s Day tribute to former legislator

March 17, 2009 By

John Connors The Iowa House this morning offered a poignant farewell to an Irishman who served as a state representative for 32 years.

The funeral for former Representative John Connors of Des Moines was last Wednesday. Representative Dolores Mertz reminded her colleagues that Connors loved St. Patrick’s Day.

"We just lost a great friend…and a great Irishman this past week. John was a dedicated servant…He was a statesman, so today we’re kind of dedicating St. Patrick’s Day to John Connors," Mertz said. "Amanda Hynek, (Representative) Todd Taylor’s clerk, will play and sing ‘Danny Boy’ but will reference ‘Oh, Johnny Boy’ for all of us."

Hynek sang the song’s closing phrase "and I shall sleep in peace until you come to me" acapella, then wound the song down with a few more chords on the guitar. The members of the House then stood and applauded.

On St. Patrick’s Days of the past, Connors would lead a parade down the center aisle of the House, waving an Irish flag at the front of the procession of legislators who claim Irish ancestry. For the first 17 years Representative Mertz was in the legislature she danced the jig in the House on St. Patrick’s Day, with Connors at her side, leading the clapping. "And I won’t be doing the Irish jig this year. I wanted to but my doctor said, ‘No, wait ’til next year,’" Mertz said. "So I’ll have to hold off ’til next year."

Mertz is 80 years old and marking her 21st year in the Iowa House. "Holding the distinction of being the oldest legislator, I now name all of you honorary Irishmen for the day," Mertz said this morning at the statehouse, before telling her colleagues she hopes they enjoy the luck of the Irish today.

Click on the audio link below to listen to what Mertz said and Hynek sang this morning.

AUDIO: Tribute to John Connors. 5:30 MP3

Filed Under: Human Interest, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Northwest Iowa farmer charged with animal cruelty

March 17, 2009 By

A northwest Iowa farmer has been charged in an animal neglect case after several dead cattle were found on two farms near Remsen. Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo says his office began investigating farms managed by Andrew Vaske after receiving complaints last week.

He says they got the help of a veterinarian who went out and examined the livestock and issued a report that the animals were being neglected, and some immediate attention needed to be taken. Van Otterloo says so far there is just one charge against Vaske.

Van Otterloo says he faces one charge of animal neglect, and they are talking with the county attorney and looking at other charges. The sheriff says some additional charges "are likely."

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, Crime & Courts

Grassley says AIG execs should resign or kill themselves

March 17, 2009 By

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the heads of embattled insurance giant A.I.G. ought to follow the honorable example of the Japanese and either resign or kill themselves. That follows news the company gave $165-million  in bonuses to its executives after taking $170-billion in government bailout money.

"What I’m expressing here obviously is not that I want people to commit suicide, that’s not my notion," Grassley says. "I do feel very strongly that we have not had statements of apology, statements of remorse, statements of contrition on the part of CEOs."

Grassley says the Japanese business leaders who don’t commit suicide in disgrace, "come before the public, bow very, very deeply and express regret" and accept full responsibility for their errors. He says American leaders in manufacturing, insurance and financial services industries have no similar conscience.

Grassley says the U.S. taxpayers can’t understand why they should continue "shoveling money out the door" to corporate leaders who "show no appreciation." "They are responsible for running their corporation into the ground," Grassley says. "Now they’re coming to the taxpayers for help, and have been coming to the taxpayers for help for the last six months. It’s very difficult for the American people to understand the justification for it."

President Obama is searching for options that would allow the government to cut off or recall the millions in bonuses A.I.G. is giving its top brass. Grassley, a Republican, says he agrees with Obama’s efforts and says he’d do the same thing if he were president.

"I’m not a lawyer and I know there’s some contractual arrangements in the constitution that may obligate this money to be paid, but I would let the courts decide that," Grassley says. "I would go after the money. I’d take the money back and let the people sue me to get it back if they thought they had a justification for having it."

Two hearings in Congress this week will zero in on the insurance industry where it’s expected A.I.G. will be the target of much wrath. 

Filed Under: Business, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Iowa, Iowa State women learn tourney opponents

March 17, 2009 By

The Iowa State and Iowa women each learned their seeds and opponents for the NCAA Tournament in the selection show Monday night. The Cyclones won a number four seed in the Berkley Region and will face East Tennessee State in the opening round of the tournament Sunday at 6 p.m. in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

If the Cyclones win, they could face two-time defending national champion Tennessee. The Lady Vols are the fifth seed and will face tournament newcomer Ball State in Sunday’s other game at Bowling Green. The Iowa women earned an 8 seed and will take on the number nine seed Georgia Tech.

The Hawkeye women are hosts for the first and second round games, so they would play at home at 8:30 p.m. If Iowa wins the first round game, they would likely face top-seeded Oklahoma.

Oklahoma faces 16th seed Prairie View A&M in Sunday’s other game in Iowa City. The winners will play Tuesday night in the tournament’s second round at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. 

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