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Democrat hopes to face Grassley in ’10

August 14, 2009 By

An eastern Iowa attorney who served two years in the Iowa Senate hopes to challenge Republican Chuck Grassley’s bid for reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2010. Tom Fiegen of Clarence is a bankruptcy attorney.

"I really got in because of economic issues," Fiegen says. "I think we need to keep the congress focused on stimulating the economy, monitoring the economy and if it doesn’t improve by the end 2010 or the beginning of 2011, we’ve got to look at a second stimulus package."

Fiegen will face Bob Krause of Fairfield and perennial candidate Sal Mohamed of Sioux City in a Democratic primary. Fiegen admits if he wins his party’s nomination, it would be sort of a "David-versus-Goliath" battle given Grassley’s ability to raise campaign cash.

"I’ve talked to people that are very wise and they say Senator Grassley is going to have $15 to $16 million but they think I can get my message out and compete effectively at three million," Fiegen says. "My goal is to raise something north of $3 million."

Fiegen made stops in Davenport, Tipton, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines today to formally announce his candidacy. Nine years ago Fiegen ran against a legislator who’d been the leader of Republicans in the state senate and won. Fiegen then served two years in the legislature before redistricting tossed him into a 2002 contest against another incumbent Republican — Fiegan lost that race.

Grassley is seeking his sixth term in the U.S. Senate.

 

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

Radio transmissions released from dragging of DM police officer

August 14, 2009 By

Officer Larina Blad Des Moines Police have released the radio transmission from a cop who tried to stop a suspect in an S-U-V last night, but wound up being dragged down the street.

Sergeant Larina Blad radioed: "I’ve been run over." Blad gave the dispatcher her location and a description of the fleeing vehicle.

"What happened?" the dispatcher asked. "I’ve been run over," Blad replied. "I’ve been run over." The dispatcher sent "all units" to the scene. "I’ve got medics rolling already," the dispatcher told a policeman who had arrived at Blad’s side. "Is it a hit and run?" the officer asked.

The dispatcher replied: "It definitely sounds that way, yes." The suspect, 24-year-old Irving Cartagena, was allegedly driving drunk and his license had been revoked. Cops caught up with the suspect who was driving a white Chevy Tahoe. "Subject in custody?" the dispatcher asked.

"The subject is in custody," the cop said, telling the dispatcher the man had been arrested in an alley. The dispatcher asked the cop on the scene of the drive-over for a condition report on Sergeant Blad. "She’s alert, conscious, breathing," the policeman replied. Sergeant Blad was battered and taken to the hospital, but she suffered no broken bones.  

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Beach Boy becomes "energy czar" of Fairfield

August 14, 2009 By

Mike Love One of the men who founded the iconic band the Beach Boys in 1961 is being named the “energy czar” of a southeast Iowa town.

Singer-songwriter Mike Love says the band’s show in Fairfield on Labor Day will be one of the first-ever “green” rock concerts.

There’ll be clean energy demonstrations, educational booths on sustainable energy projects and Love says their sound system will be powered by Iowa soybeans. “We’re arranging to have a generator that runs on biofuels,” Love says.

“Iowa and the whole middle of the United States should be all in favor of something like that.” He says the event will feature a “bike to the concert” initiative to cut car usage. “We’re asking people to walk, to bike and to carpool and there’s transportation arranged where it’s not just everybody coming in their own car,” Love says.

“We’re trying to make it a community plan to stimulate awareness on that.” Fairfield’s Mayor Ed Malloy was named in April as one of the nation’s greenest mayors. The 68-year-old Love says The Beach Boys’ concert on September 7th will benefit community initiatives as Fairfield works to become America’s Model Sustainable City.

“You can make ethanol out of the various crops and all kinds of sustainable, renewable resources,” Love says. “Rather than sending all the money to the Middle East, how ’bout having some of it staying in America? I’m very much in favor of anything sustainable, anything that’s better for the environment.”

The original Beach Boys featured Love, his cousins Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, and friend Al Jardine. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and received the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. The Beach Boys recorded eleven Top 10 singles between 1963 and 1968.  

AUDIO: Matt Kelley interview of Mike Love. 6:02 MP3

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, Recreation & Entertainment

Governor gives out 22 Lifesaving awards

August 14, 2009 By

State Fair Queen Ashley Quade of Manson, Dan Davis, Governor Culver, Commissioner Gene Meyer, Colonel Patrick Hoye of the Iowa State Patrol. Governor Chet Culver presented 22 people with one of the state’s highest honors today.

The Governor’s Lifesaving awards are given to those who saved, or tried to save, lives.

"Being an Iowan means many things to many people. But there’s one common bond that unites everyone that lives in our great state, a never ending commitment to serve our fellow citizens. And this spirit of service is alive and well here this morning, " Culver said.

Governor Culver presented the awards this morning at the Iowa State Fair. Culver says, "It is my privilege to recognize your efforts. This is one of the highest honors our state can give. And each and every one of you are deserving of it. So on behalf of the people of the state of Iowa I simply want to say thank you for your heroism and for the example each of you have set."

Department of Public Safety Commissioner, Gene Meyer, read about each of the recipients as each of the awards was presented. Including the story of how Dan Davis of Badger rushed into his neighbor’s burning home in the early morning hours of June 16th, 2008.

"Without regard for his own safety, Dan crawled on his hands and knees searching throughout the home before he found Hanah, age 17, and Max age 16, asleep in their bedrooms. Fighting through the thick black smoke, he helped the two teenagers escape the burning flames," Meyer read.

Davis received the Governor’s Lifesaving Award with valor for risking his own life to save the teens. Davis received a lifesaving award with valor.

A group of men who pulled a woman from the Des Moines River after her boat went over the Center Street dam in Des Moines were also given awards. Several people who responded in the wake of the Parkersburg tornado also won awards.

See a complete list of the awards on the link below. See more pictures of the award winners here.

 

List of those receiving Governor’s Lifesaving awards. (Word)

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Moeaki hopes for season without injuries

August 14, 2009 By

Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki is hoping his final season in a Hawkeye uniform will be injury free. The former high school All-American out of Illinois has battled numerous injuries during his Iowa career.

His 2007 season was cut short with an injury at Wisconsin and saw limited action in 2008, a season in which he caught 13 passes and scored one touchdown.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says Moeaki has had a lot of hard luck in his career and if there is any justice, Moeaki will go through his year injury free. Ferentz says if that happens, he could put up big numbers, as he is an excellent football play and a great team leader. He says when you are away from the game with injuries, it sharpens your focus.

Moeaki appreciates the support but says he is not thinking about the past, he says he is approaching the season like it is any other. Moeaki says he is excited to be back and couldn’t imagine something unlucky happening again. Moeaki does not consider himself to be "snake bit".

He says there have some frustrating moments, but he says injuries happen all the time in college and the NFL. Moeaki says he never was hurt in high school. Iowa opens September fifth against U.N.I.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

King says passions over health care reform akin to immigration concerns

August 14, 2009 By

Congressman Steve King says the debate over health care reform is at a level of intensity that’s nearly as high as debates over immigration.

King, a Republican from Kiron, rejects the idea a so-called "public option" is needed as competition for private insurance plans. "I’d point out that there are a little bit more than 1300 health insurance companies in America and a combination of policies of around 100,000 different varieties," King says.

King advocates lifting restrictions so every health insurance company can sell policies nationwide. While King says he agrees health care costs are too high, King says he doesn’t buy the Obama Administration’s claim that as many as 47 million Americans are uninsured.

"By the time you subtract from that number those that are eligible for, say, a government benefit like Medicaid, for example, that don’t sign up; those that make over $75,000 a year that should be able to take care of themselves; and those that are illegal and those that are newly arriving immigrants that have an obligation to take care of themselves for the first five years you take that 47 million number down to about 12 million according to a Senate Finance Committee report," King says. "And that’s less than four percent of the population in the United States."

King made his comments earlier today on "The Exchange" on Iowa Public Radio.

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

Council Bluffs woman charged after courthouse incident

August 14, 2009 By

A Council Bluffs woman is charged with disorderly conduct after an incident Thursday afternoon at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse. Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Dwayne Ritchie says 25-year-old Heather Stephens was arrested after she tried to grab a deputy’s gun while outside of a third-floor courtroom.

Ritchie says Stephens was upset a friend of hers was involved in a court proceeding and allegedly used an expletive when yelling at the deputy and asking where her friend was. When the deputy told the woman he didn’t know who she was talking about, Stephens once again allegedly uttered an expletive and demanded he find her friend.

After the deputy warned Stephens her actions were being disruptive, she then allegedly made an attempt to take his sidearm, but was tackled to the ground by two court security guards who placed her in handcuffs and took her to jail.

 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts
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