From the daily archives:

Friday, August 14, 2009

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.

 

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Radio transmissions released from dragging of DM police officer

by admin 08/14/09 2:50 PM

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 [...]

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Beach Boy becomes "energy czar" of Fairfield

by admin 08/14/09 2:16 PM

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 [...]

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Governor gives out 22 Lifesaving awards

by admin 08/14/09 1:58 PM

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, [...]

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Moeaki hopes for season without injuries

by admin 08/14/09 12:55 PM

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 [...]

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King says passions over health care reform akin to immigration concerns

by admin 08/14/09 12:20 PM

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 [...]

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Council Bluffs woman charged after courthouse incident

by admin 08/14/09 11:30 AM

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 [...]

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