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Robbery suspect wearing hat with Christian symbol

April 3, 2009 By

Surveillance photo from Greater Iowa CU robbery. Police in Des Moines have some unusually clear pictures of a man they say robbed a credit union Friday afternoon.

The suspect, a young white male, is shown looking almost directly into the camera as he demanded money and then left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Des Moines Police Sergeant Vince Valdez says surveillance videos are much sharper today than just a few years ago.

 ”It seem like the technology is getting a lot better in recording still photographs and video too,” Valdez said. “Those are the kinds of things we need…to get a quick identification from the public who knows who this person is.”

Friday’s robbery at the Greater Iowa Credit Union in Des Moines was reported just before 1:30 p.m. The suspect, who did not display a weapon, was wearing a hooded, zip-up style sweatshirt. The robber was also sporting a rather distinctive blue and white ball cap. The hat features a symbol of the Christian fish.

“That would be pretty recognizable if he’s still wearing that hat,” Valdez said. The religious symbol is believed to have first surfaced at the end of the first century. “The symbol and the act of the robbery really don’t work together really well,” Valdez said of the suspect’s hat. “I don’t know what that person’s religious background or belief is, but the (robbery) and what he’s displaying are not going together very well.”

Anyone that recognizes the suspect is asked to call the Des Moines Police Department at (515) 283-4811.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Quick action prevents problems with manure spill

April 3, 2009 By

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says quick action taken by the crew of a livestock producer in western Iowa’s Audubon County, likely prevented an environmental disaster in a nearby creek.

D.N.R. spokesperson Kevin Baskins says Thursday’s accident happened in the pits of a confinement building owned by Lawrence Handlos. The pits were being emptied of manure when a line from one of the pumps ruptured, spilling about 2,000 gallons of liquid manure into Indian Creek.

Baskins says excavators noticed the broken line and took action to minimize the damage. "The excavators, who were doing some work on the site, were able to get there almost immediately and get a dam across the stream that prevented the manuare from moving (downstream)," Baskins said. "Once they got the manure water contained, they were able to pump it our and land apply it to the nearby crop fields."

Baskins says the incident should serve as a reminder to livestock confinement operators about the importance of regular equipment inspections, especially lines that pump liquid manure. "One of those lines ruptures and sometimes people aren’t around to notice that it ruptured," Baskins said. "So, that’s certainly one thing that people want to keep in mind…keep an eye on those lines, so if something does go wrong, you can get the pumps shut off quickly."

The spill in Indian Creek did not result in a fish kill and Baskins says the D.N.R. is not expected to issue any fines. 

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters Tagged With:

Natual gas prices buck forecasts, fall

April 3, 2009 By

Confounding all forecasts, the cost of natural gas has dropped more than 50% since last fall. Most energy companies tried to lock in what they thought were low prices last summer to even out possible price spikes. Mark Reinders,  spokesman for MidAmerican Energy, says Iowa’s largest utility had a hard time trying to out-guess the market.

"After the winter season got underway, the price of natural gas continued to go down and it’s very low now, compared to what it was several years ago," Reinders says. "It’s ultimately good for our customers but in terms of it actually showing up on a customer’s bill tomorrow or the next day, it will be a longer process than that." It’ll pay off in the long run, he says.

"If it all stays like it is, our customers will probably be feeling the benefit of the prices now in the next winter cycle rather than the existing winter cycle," he says. "I guess the good news is, hopefully, we’re about out of this winter cycle now." Reinders says the drops in prices this winter helped moderate overall energy costs for the Des Moines-based utility’s customers.

"At the same time, for the winter season we’re just moving out of, the prices that we did buy natural gas and are passing on to our customers, we feel it was very reflective of the existing market conditions," he says. MidAmerican serves about 700-thousand natural gas customers and 723,000 electric customers, mostly in Iowa, but also in parts of Illinois, South Dakota and Nebraska.

Filed Under: Business

"Doggie Bag" wine bill on the way to Governor

April 3, 2009 By

"The Doggie Bag Bill for Wine" is headed to Governor Culver for his consideration. The Iowa House gave final legislative approval to a bill that outlines how restaurants can bag and seal an opened but not empty bottle of wine for customers so they can cart it home — without fear they’ll be pulled over and accused of driving around with an open container of alcohol in their car.

Representative Doug Struyk, a Republican from Council Bluffs, told his colleagues the bill promotes the idea of drinking in moderation.

"This is a good bill. It seems to promote the policy of go out and enjoy the wine of your choice, not to be limited to just the wine by the glass and be able to take it home instead of forcing yourself to over consume — or allowing yourself to commit alcohol abuse by leaving it behind," Struyk said during House debate.

His comment drew a few chuckles. Representative Vicki Lensing, a Democrat from Iowa City, is the lawmaker who dubbed it the "doggie bag for wine" bill. "Often people might finish a bottle of wine, even though they feel they’re reached their capacity," Lensing said, "so encouraging people not to over-consume is behind this."

The bill cleared the House on a vote of 93-2. It  cleared the Senate on March 19. It now goes to Governor Culver for his approval or veto. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Legislators react to gay marriage ruling

April 3, 2009 By

Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs Republican lawmakers are pressing for an amendment to the state constitution that would ban gay marriage in Iowa, but Democrats who control the legislature’s debate agenda have made it clear they’re not interested. 

“As long as I’m the leader, it’s not going to be debated in the legislature,” Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal told reporters Friday morning.

Gronstal, who’s from Council Bluffs, applauds today’s Iowa Supreme Court decision which paves the way for gay marriage in Iowa. 

“I think today’s civil rights ruling continues a long, proud history in Iowa,” Gronstal said. “Twenty-five years before Lincoln freed the slaves, our territorial supreme court said you couldn’t put people into slavery in this state.”

Gronstal points to other landmarks, such Iowa being the first state to allow women to work as lawyers and the first state to say “separate but equal” schools weren’t constitutional.

 ”Iowa’s just got a very long, proud history of being a champion of civil rights,” Gronstal said. “I think the supreme court decision — their seven-to-nothing, unanimous decision — upholding the rights of gay and lesbian people to marry, I think that’s cause for celebration.”

Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton accuses Gronstal of doing an about-face on the issue. Back in 1998, Gronstal voted for the “Defense of Marriage Act” which declared the only legally-recognized marriages in Iowa were between a man and a woman.

“Mike Gronstal, Tom Vilsack, even Matt McCoy voted for that,” McKinley says. Tom Vilsack is the former Iowa governor. Matt McCoy is the only openly gay member of the Iowa legislature.

In an interview with Radio Iowa, Gronstal confirmed he voted for that bill which declared the only legal marriages in Iowa were those between a man and a woman. 

“Community attitudes have changed on this subject. I also think people have been educated as to the rights that are denied gay couples, so I think society’s moved forward on this issue,” Gronstal said. “Iowa’s got a long, proud history of civil rights legislation and this is one more step in that direction of giving all people equal rights under the law.”

But McKinley, the Republican leader in the Senate, charges that Gronstal and other Democrats “implied” a vote would be allowed on a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. “Well, the time has come,” McKinley says. “The legislature’s weighed in that (marriage) is between a man and a woman. Seven supreme court justices have weighed in that it’s between a man and a man or a woman and a woman. It’s time for the people to decide.”

House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen on Thursday said the 2009 legislature needed to do just two things: pass a balanced budget and create jobs for Iowans — and he was comfortable with delaying a debate on gay marriage. After the court ruling, Paulsen changed his mind.

“The legislature needs to weigh in on this,” Paulsen says. “I don’t think the ruling reflects the values of Iowans and my hope is that we’ll address it before we adjourn. I don’t think it has to take up much debate time or energy and then Iowans can resolve this split between what the legislature decided in a bipartisan fashion several years ago and now what the judicial branch has decided.”

Governor Chet Culver, a Democrat, issued a cautious statement that gives few hints of his views, saying only that the decision “addresses a complicated and emotional issue, one on which Iowans have strong views and opinions on both sides.”

Culver went on to say the “next responsible step is to thoroughly review this decision…with (his) legal counsel and the Attorney General, before reacting to what it means for Iowa.”

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , , ,

Proponents of gay marriage celebrate Supreme Court ruling

April 3, 2009 By

Sean Fritz and Tim McQuillan discuss the Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage. The six couples who brought the lawsuit challenging the gay marriage ban were not told the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling until they had all been brought to a Des Moines hotel ballroom for a news conference.

Camilla Taylor of Lambda Legal, which supported the couples’ case, announced the outcome behind an array of radio and television microphones.

"We won," she told the couples and the news media. "Not only that, it is unanimous, and you are getting married." The couples applauded and embraced. "Oh my God," one woman said.

Taylor continued: "In fact, you’re getting married very soon. The decision becomes effective in 21 days." Some of the gay couples kissed and photographers snapped pictures.

"Today dreams become reality, families are protected, and the Iowa Constitution’s promise of equality and fairness has been fulfilled," she said. "We are thrilled for the courageous families we represent and for all Iowans." Taylor is an attorney who had been involved in the case since it was filed in 2005.

"Family and fair treatment by government and taking care of our communities — all of these Iowa values were vindicated today and when we filed this case, these families told us that they would be treated with dignity and respect by their communities and they were right. They had faith in their state and they were absolutely right," Taylor said. "It is fitting that Iowa is one of the first states to recognize that all families should be treated equally and that same-sex couples have the right to marry."

Tim McQuillan and Sean Fritz were the only gay couple to get married before a Polk County ruling legalizing gay marriage was put on hold for the Supreme Court to hear the issue.

McQuillan spoke about the High Court ruling, with Fritz standing at his side. "I don’t know where to start. I’m just so happy," McQuillen said, emotion choking his voice. "All of these couples here, it seems like they’ve been together longer than we’ve been alive. No offense." The room erupted in laughter. "And they started families and it’s families like them who really feel the impact of what happened today," McQuillen said.

McQuillan and Fritz’s ceremony took place on August 31 of 2007 and they have waited since then for today’s ruling. "I’m just so happy that you all finally get what Sean and I have had a sense of for the last year and half," McQuillen said, turning to his partner. Fritz added: "Welcome to married life."

The crowd applauded. Iowa will become the third state to issue same-sex marriage licenses. The dozens of gay and lesbian couples who stood in line back at the Polk County Recorder’s office on August 31, 2007 and got a marriage license must re-apply.

AUDIO: Gay marriage supporters reaction. 21:18 MP3

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With:

Opponents to gay marriage vow to push for Consitutional amendment

April 3, 2009 By

Opponents of gay marriage pray outside the Supreme Court building today prior to the release of the Supreme Court decision. Opponents of gay marriage say their plan is to pressure legislators to act.

Reverend Keith Ratliff, a Baptist minister from Des Moines who is head of the Iowa/Nebraska chapter of the NAACP, is pushing for an amendment to Iowa’s constitution that would ban gay marriage.

"First of all, bottom line, we respectfully disagree with the Iowa Supreme Court ruling," Ratliff told reporters. "The bottom line is that we are going to continue on the same position that we firmly believe on, based on the word of God, that marriage is between one man and one woman and so we want to move this on."

If Iowa legislators, yet this year, were to pass a resolution endorsing an anti-gay marriage amendment to the state’s constitution, the issue still couldn’t be placed on the ballot until 2012.

"This is just one step of many," Ratliff said. "We certainly are not discouraged today even though the ruling did not go the way we feel it should go based on the word of God. We are going to continue to fight this thing because it is very important to the people of Iowa. It’s very important to all of us who are like-minded on this position that the things that have happened today do not stop us from believing what God has already ordained in dealing with marriage and dealing with man and woman, so we just move forward."

Danny Carroll, a former Republican legislator who is chairman of the Iowa Family Policy Center’s "Action Board," spoke with reporters on the steps of the Iowa Judicial Building. "We were told in 2005 that the law was on the books, that there was no need for a proposed amendment and now, today, we find that indeed there is a need for that amendment," Carroll said.

"A handful of people who were not elected to office — they were appointed — have rendered a decision, a decision that is contrary to the will of the people, it’s contrary to God’s law and it is time for the people through their elected officials and their elected representatives to decide what the law is going to be in this state."

Carroll drew a round of applause from the group which had gathered. "Courts do not determine law. The people determine law. This is government of the people, by the people and for the people," Carroll said, as Reverend Ratliff added an "Amen," and the crowd clapped. "It is the people. We are self-governed. We are not governed by courts and this should be before the legislature. They should act quickly and have it on the ballot so that people can vote on it in 2012."

Iowa Family Policy Center director Chuck Hurley spoke with reporters moments after reading the ruling. "I would cite specifically my greatest concern is that by force of law now every school child in every state school in Iowa, by force of law, will be forced to be taught that homosexual behavior is the equivalent of heterosexual behavior," Hurley said. "Every school child in Iowa will not be told that it’s not a mother and a father. It’s a significant-other or a spouse." 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Politics & Government, Religion Tagged With: ,
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