January 27, 2012

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Newton school district looks at closing an elementary school

January 27, 2010 By

The Newton School District is considering closing an elementary building as part of its efforts to save money to make up for declining enrollment and the budget cut from the state. Superintendent Steve McDermott says the district needs to cut between 2.2 and 2.5 million dollars.

McDermott says he believes the district can make “several thousand dollars worth of reductions without harming the offerings that we provide the kids, and that’s what our goal is.” He says some of the cuts will be more difficult than others, but he says it looks like they can do some downsizing “without a lot of pain.”

The discussions include cutting the number of elementary schools from five to four. McDermott says realigning the buildings and cuts in personnel and programs will still leave the district short of its cost-cutting goal. He says that will leave them with two options.

McDermott says one is to make more cuts, the other is to raise the tax levy. He says the district needs to do the best it can to make reductions wherever it can to minimize the harm to the programs offered students without raising the levy. “But I think we will to consider a slight raising possibly of the levy on top of these very, very significant cuts,” McDermott says.

Public meetings will be held at each elementary school in February to discuss the realignment alternatives for the schools.

By Randy Van, KCOB, Newton

Filed Under: Business, Education

Democrat legislators say they have a plan for the uninsured

January 27, 2010 By

Democratic legislators say they’ve come up with a plan that would see the state help low income Iowa adults who don’t qualify for government-paid Medicaid and who can’t afford private insurance get “primary care” from a clinic closer to their home. Dr. Dave Carlisle, a physician in Ames, is chairman of the 11-member Health Care Coverage Commission the legislature assembled.

“I think we’re taking one more step to what I hope will be every Iowan have the peace of mind that they have access to good health care coverage in future,” Carlisle says. Democratic legislators say soon they’ll consider a bill that would designate more clinics around the state where many uninsured, low income Iowans could go to get care. Under current rules, those folks must travel to the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City or Broadlawns, the public hospital in Des Moines, to receive subsidized care. Dr. Carlisle says that’s a good start.

“Iowa physicians are kind of like professional football players. We get to be paid for things we love to do,” Carlisle says, “Unfortunately in Iowa there (are) 250,00 Iowans who…cannot come into most of our clinics because they don’t have health care coverage.”

The top Democrat in the legislature says this new round of state-level health care reform is “exciting,” but the ultimate goal of expanding health care coverage to all uninsured adults won’t be reached without a significant infusion of federal money.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

ISU professor studies use of Indian nicknames, mascots

January 27, 2010 By

Around 20 colleges have been urged by the NCAA to drop their school nicknames or mascots because they’re considered disrespectful to Native Americans. Anthropologist Christina Gish Berndt, who teaches American Indian Studies at Iowa State University, says the mascots are often a “stereotyped representation” of Indian people.

“They’re very one dimensional,” Berndt said. “They either represent Native American people as blood-thirsty savages or a kind of noble Indian stereotype.” Many Native Americans say they find the mascots racially offensive. But, opponents of changing nicknames like “The Tribe” or “Seminoles” say they’re simply trying to honor the Native American population.

“But, it’s still a stereotype,” Berndt argues. “Even though it’s independent, strong, one with the earth…it’s still one dimensional and still a stereotype.” Florida State University, which carries the nickname Seminoles, may’ve found an answer to the controversy. The school has partnered with the Seminole Tribe in Florida – allowing the tribe to help determine how the mascot looks and is represented.

Berndt says the Seminole Tribe also has a financial stake in the mascot and collects a portion of the profits from merchandising. In the early 1990s, Simpson College in Indianola changed its nickname from Redmen to The Storm. Waterloo West High School still uses the nickname Wahawks, but the mascot is a hawk-like character named Westy. Years ago, the Wahawks mascot was a student dressed in an Indian outfit.

In November, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it would not review a 17-year-old legal challenge against the use of the nickname Redskins – used by the National Football League team in Washington. Berndt made her comments on the Iowa Public Radio program “The Exchange.”

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: ,

General says deployment won’t leave Iowa Guard short of troops

January 27, 2010 By

A top general in the Iowa National Guard assured state lawmakers Tuesday an upcoming deployment of 3,500 guard soldiers to Afghanistan won’t leave the state short handed. Deputy adjutant General Greg Schwab told a legislative budget committee the soldiers that will go overseas usually play a big role at home.

“When it comes to highway assistance teams or flood response or Parkersburg response or little Sioux a big part of our force structure is the second brigade combat team,” Schwab says. With members of the second brigade overseas, General Schwab says the guard will use the 3,000 remaining Army guard soldiers as well as air guard personnel to handle any problems.

And he says Iowa has agreements with other states to get help from their guard units. “Should it be required we can bring them in if we exhaust the capability that we have here in Iowa,” Schwab says. The general was at the statehouse to make his case for funding.

Schwab says to make sure the soldiers are adequately prepared for deployment, the guard will need a budget next year the size of this year’s budget before the governor’s across the board cut.

Filed Under: Military Tagged With: ,

Democrats pass bill to aid some military spouses

January 26, 2010 By

Democrats in the Iowa House have approved a bill which would extend unemployment benefits to the spouse of a soldier who’s reassigned or deployed and the spouse is forced to quit their job and relocate. 

Representative Ray Zirkelbach, a Democrat from Monticello, was part of an Iowa National Guard unit that served nearly two years in Iraq.  He said it’s not a unique concept.

“Thirty-seven other states think that supporting the spouses of military personnel, male or female, is something that’s valuable and that we need to provide those benefits so they’re not faced with a hardship,” Zirkelbach said. “Imagine in today’s economy somebody quitting their job, possibly selling their home in order to relocate and…on top of that, having the stress of the deployment.” 

[Read more...]

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

MVC leader UNI faces a surging Drake team

January 26, 2010 By

The Missouri Valley Conference leader will host the league’s hottest team when 25th ranked U.N.I. meets Drake on Wednesday night. At 8-1, the Panthers have a two game lead on Wichita State as the second half of the conference race begins. After an 0-4 start, the Bulldogs have ripped off five straight wins and began the week as part of a four-way log jam for third.

U.N.I. coach Ben Jacobsen says Drake’s seniors are really playing at a high level right now and they have a lot of confidence and that has carried over to the younger players. The Panthers are unbeaten at home this season and have won nine straight in the McLeod Center dating back to a 47-46 loss to Drake last season.

Jacobsen says protecting the home floor is something they talk about allot for a long time and says they have gotten better at that over the last two years. He says it is “extremely important to play well on your home floor.” Jacobsen believes the Valley is good enough to get more than one team in the NCAA Tournament.

U.N.I. was the only Valley team to make it last season and two years ago Drake was the lone entrant. Jacobsen says last year his team did not have a good non-conference start, and that kind of mess up the league after they got going. He says the league is in better position this year to get more than the automatic bid.

Drake coach Mark Phelps says U.N.I. is clearly the team to beat in the league race. He says when people talk about them, you hear they are well-coached and don’t make mistakes. Phelps says they also take advantage of your mistakes, but he says people don’t talk enough about U.N.I’s talent.

Three weeks ago Drake was 5-11 and looked like it was headed toward a lost season. With a win this evening the Bulldogs would move to the .500 mark. Phelps says it’s a huge game because it is the next game and they want to keep the momentum going. He says as an in-state game it gets a lot of attention too and is very important to them.

U.N.I. is 17-2 overall.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: , ,

Wallace taking wait and see attitude about new coach

January 26, 2010 By

Former Iowa State quarterback Seneca Wallace is back in Iowa to promote a financial literacy program for high school students. Wallace talked about his career and says he has been lucky to remain with the Seattle Seahawks.

Wallace says he has been blessed to be in the N.F.L. for eight years and especially on the same team. He says there are a lot of guys who have already been on several teams in only a couple years in the league. Wallace says it’s a credit to his determination and his ability to do several things.

Former U.S.C. coach Pete Carroll has been hired to take over the Seahawks. Wallace says he will wait to see what happens before he decides if it is a good move for the team, as he says former coach Jim Mora was highly touted when he came in. He says the Mora hiring kind of backfired as they only went 5-11, and Mora was supposed to be an energetic coach who could relate to players.

Wallace says the same things are being said about Carroll, although Carroll did not have a great record when he coached in the N.F.L. before. He says it will be refreshing to have a new approach and hopefully they can improve their record. Wallace says he tries to keep up with the Cyclones as much as he can.

As for the N.F.L., he is not making any predictions on how the championship game will turn out. Wallace says he said a long time ago that the Saints would be good, and says he knows from playing Indianapolis that they are a tough team. He declined to pick one team over the other, but said it should be a well-played game by two good teams.

Wallace played quarterback for Iowa State in 2001 and 2002 under Dan McCarney.He was taken in the fourth round by the Seahawks in 2003 and has been the backup quarterback as well as playing wide receiver.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,
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