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Court ruling orders pharmacy board to review marijuana classification

April 24, 2009 By

A ruling from a judge in Polk County could clear the way for Iowa lawmakers to potentially approve marijuana use for medical purposes. The ruling forces the Iowa Pharmacy Board to examine whether marijuana should continue to be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under Iowa law. Attorney Randall Wilson argued the case for the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa. "What it does is it reopens the official discussion about marijuana policy in Iowa," Wilson said of the ruling. 

Four petitioners asked the Iowa Pharmacy Board to review the drug’s classification last year. The board ruled that the petitioners had to prove that the drug lacked a high potential for abuse before it would be reclassified. The ACLU of Iowa appealed the decision. Wilson says the judge’s ruling only "unfreezes" the debate and does not legalize medicinal marijuana use in the state. "Only the legislature can make that decision ultimately," Wilson said. "The (pharmacy) board can’t move marijuana from Schedule One, but the legislature told the board…when a substance no longer meets the criteria for being in Schedule I, you will recommend to us that it will be placed somewhere else."

Currently, under Iowa law, narcotic drugs like opiates and cocaine can be prescribed for medical use. Wilson believes Iowa should join other states that have added marijuana to the list of drugs available for medical purposes. There are currently 13 states in the U.S. that allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes under a doctor’s supervision. Wilson says the drug can help people that are battling such diseases as cancer and AIDS. "There are a lot of people out there who have very debilitating conditions that seem to be only served or helped by using marijuana," Wilson said. "In view of that fact, medical marijuana use is going to go on underground…it would be better to get it out in the open and have it supervised by doctors and established criteria for who really needs to be using marijuana and who shouldn’t."

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King downplays idea he’ll run for governor

April 24, 2009 By

Congressman Steve King, R-Kiron Earlier this month, Republican Congressman Steve King suggested the Iowa Supreme Court ruling which legalizes gay marriage made him think more seriously about running for governor.

But Friday morning during taping of the Iowa Public Television program, "Iowa Press," King seemed to downplay the idea he’s seriously considering leaving congress.

"You know, honestly, I’ve never brought the subject up about running for governor, but I have answered a lot of questions and I answered a question…I believe it was April 3, the day that this Supreme Court opinion came out — and the quesiton was, directly, ‘Does this make it more likely that you run for governor?’ The answer is just an analytical answer, ‘Yes, by degree,’" King said.

"But the question then becomes ‘How much of a degree?’ And I’ll just say that which has unfolded in the last three weeks makes me neither less or more likely to run for governor."

According to King, his "personal ambitions" have been satisfied "long ago" with his election to the state Senate, then to Congress. King, who represents the western third of Iowa, suggests he wants to "mobilize Iowans" on the issue of traditional marriage and that’s why he’s paying for polling in eastern Iowa.

King discusses the idea his statewide activities are a prelude to a bid for governor. "I don’t go to bed at night thinking about it, nor getting up in the morning thinking about it," King said.

Tonight’s edition of "Iowa Press" featuring Congressman King airs at 7:30 and is rebroadcast Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

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

Education Secretary visits UNI

April 24, 2009 By

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said during an appearance at the University of Northern Iowa Friday that the country is in "a perfect storm for reform" of education. Duncan challenged educators to look in the mirror at how they behave and how they relate to the classroom.

"Our school have to become community centers, open not five days a week six hours a day, nine months a year, but six, seven days a week, thirteen, fourteen hours a day, twelve to thirteen months a year with a variety of after school programs," Duncan says.

He says those programs like drama, chess, sports and debate. Duncan says Iowa’s share of the economic stimulus bill is 411-million dollars, and he had some suggestions for how to use it.

"We can bring technology into the classroom, and train teachers to use it more effectively, we can modernize science labs and other key facilities critical to producing a new generation of scientists and mathematicians," Duncan says.

He says we can train teams of teachers to use real time assessments instead of looking at how kids did on a quiz last spring. Duncan is traveling around the country gathering input prior to Congressional debate on whether the "No Child Left Behind" legislation should be renewed.

 

Filed Under: Education, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Iowa Lottery teams up with Tourism for promotion

April 24, 2009 By

Lottery CEO Terry Rich, Nancy Landess Iowa Tourism office. The Iowa Lottery is teaming up with state tourism officials to promote some of Iowa’s entertainment hot spots.

Lottery CEO Terry Rich says anyone that buys a Powerball ticket through May and June can use that ticket as a coupon to a venue that will be identified on the Iowa Lottery website.

The lottery introduced eight businesses Friday that will be featured in the promotion. They are Honey Creek Resort State Park near Moravia, King’s Poite Resort in Storm Lake, the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Adventureland in Altoona, Fun City in Burlington, Marriott Hotels across Iowa, Riverboat Twilight in Le Claire and the Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque.

"The whole concept is Iowans helping Iowans, rather than worry about the federal government or anything else," Rich said. "It’s businesses and attractions helping fellow Iowans to save money, stay in Iowa and spend their money in Iowa." The slogan of the campaign is "Keep Your Powerball Ticket Handy."

Rich says interns with the Iowa Lottery will spend time at festivals, fairs and events this summer handing out prizes and coupons to Iowans that can display a current Powerball ticket. The promotion is only scheduled to last through June, but Rich expects that’ll change.

"When we put together the promotion, we put it together for May and June as a phase one. We didn’t how many people would sign up and give discounts," Rich said. "But the way it’s going now, we probably will extend it into July and August. We’ll make that decision by mid-May."

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

House approves changes in sex offender laws

April 24, 2009 By

The Iowa House has given final approval to a bill that will forbid convicted sex offenders from working, volunteering or even loitering in schools, day cares, libraries, public swimming pools and other places where kids congregate.

Representative Clel Baudler, a Republican from Greenfield, was among the group that worked behind-the-scenes to develop the legislation. “It will give law enforcement a tool that they can really use to protect our children,” Baudler said this afternoon to open House debate.

Baudler, a retired state trooper, vowed to stand with any legislator who gets grief for their “yes” vote. “Because of the emotion surrounding this issue some of you have had some concerns about the politics of this during the next election. I will give you my word here today that if that happens…you just call me, and I will be there,” Baudlder said. “And I can almost guarantee you that the law enforcement community will be with me.”

Police and sheriffs complain the current law isn’t working and they have no authority to arrest sex offenders who, for example, go to a park to watch children play. Under this bill, the sex offender could be arrested for loitering in that newly-declared “exclusionary zone” where convicted sex offenders are barred.

House Speaker Pat Murphy, a Democrat from Dubuque, made an emotional plea for votes. “I ask everyone to please support Senate File 340. We’re going it for our children. We’re doing it for our families. We’re doing it for our schools,” Murphy said.

“And that’s the most important thing we can do, when we adjourn hopefully in the next day or two, that we can walk away and say that we’ve done something to improve our communities and made ‘em safe, especially from those that are the biggest threat to our children.”

Once the bill is law, the restriction that bars sex offenders from living within 2000 feet will not apply to all, but just the most dangerous criminals. Representative Christopher Rants, a Republican from Sioux City, objects to that.

“You’ve made a decision that somebody gets to move in between my house and my daughter’s school and that’s why I’m a ‘no’ vote on the bill,” Rants said.

But Representative Lance Horbach, a Republican from Tama who helped author the original restriction that prohibits sex offenders from living within 2000 feet of a school, urged legislators to support the changes.

“I consider myself rudely, rudely and arrogantly tough on sex offenders…but I played a role in creating a piece of legislation called the 2000 foot rule that only protected my constituents and their children and grandchild when the sex offender is asleep,” Horbach said.

The bill, which forces sex offenders to report more information about themselves, like their internet user names, now goes to Governor Culver who has indicated he’ll sign it into law.

Click on the audio link below to listen to the nearly hour-long debate. 

AUDIO: House debate…MP3 58 min

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

High school records fall at Drake Relays

April 24, 2009 By

Atlantic’s Jordan Mullen set a Drake Relays record in the 110 hurdles in the prelims then lowered it in the finals with a winning time of 14.05 seconds. Mullen says the coach tells him to stay in the blocks in the prelims and then give it 100 percent in the finals, and that’s what he did.

Mullen says he enjoys the competition and the atmosphere, as he says it’s the best track meet in his eyes. He says you get to run against the best high schoolers in the state and see some of the best college and Olympic performers.

Mullen was surprised he lowered the record in the final, he says he thought the time was slower as he hit a couple of hurdles.

Dike-New Hartford junior Hannah Willms set a record in winning the girls high jump title at 5-11. She edged out West Fork freshman Taylor Twedt. Willms says she was not even thinking about the record and was only thinking of winning the competition.

She says she forgot about the record and was just trying to do her best. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Brackins returning to ISU

April 24, 2009 By

The Iowa State basketball program received a much needed boost after standout forward Craig Brackins announced he will return for his junior season. Brackins averaged better than 20 points and more than nine rebounds this past season and was widely considered as a likely first round pick if he opted for the NBA draft.

Brackins says it has been a hard situation and he has thought a lot about it. Brackins thanked the coaching staff, teammates and family for helping him make the decision.

Brackins feels he has something to accomplish at ISU before he enters the draft. "I had a lot of time to think about this and felt there was something empty inside. Something was missing," Brackins said. "I feel like I have not accomplished everything I wanted to achieve at Iowa State. It was a tough decision, but I am excited about returning and equally determined to make sure we are successful next season."

Brackins had been weighing his options since the end of this past season, and says he thought about it every day. He says the people he talked to told him it would be his decision.

Iowa State coach Greg McDermott, says it’s a huge decision and he is impressed with the way Brackins has navigated his way through the information.

It is a boost for a program that has endured three consecutive losing seasons with McDermott as coach. McDermott says the pieces are gradually falling together as the team looks to make improvement and Brackins will be a big piece of the puzzle.

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