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ISU women fall to Connecticut

March 29, 2010 By

The Iowa State women became the 75th straight victim in a 74-36 loss to the University of Connecticut women Sunday. U-Conn took control from the very start, led 42-14 at the half and never let the Cyclones think of the possibility of upsetting the defending national champion. Cyclone coach Bill Fennelly says the Huskies are as good as everyone says.

“I don’t think I’ve had a wupp’in like that since I was a little kid and broke something at my mom’s,” Fennelly says. He says he feels bad for his players that the season didn’t end with a better overall performance that would have given them the chance to beat what he calls the best team he’s ever seen.

The Cyclones had stunned top-seeded UConn 64-58 in the regional semis in 1999, but they never had a chance in this game. Fenelly says U-Conn is good in all areas of the game. He says they have a great game plan, they are long at every position, and play the game one play ahead instead of one play behind.

Senior Allison Lacey says there were a lot of things they could have done better. Lacey says at times they could have competed harder, been more aggressive and hit some more shots. Fennelly says they had a lot of shots that looked like they were going to fall, but didn’t.

He says that was their fear going in, could they score. Fennelly says they missed some open looks and he says when you have that shot against the Huskies you have to make it, as they don’t foul. The Cyclones had some great success this season with several younger players in the lineup. Fennelly says the loss can’t overshadow the accomplishments of the team.

Fennelly says this week was rightly all about Connecticut and what they have accomplished, but he says it doesn’t take away from his team. He says there are a lot of great teams in the country and to be one of only five teams to make back to back Sweet 16 appearances is a great accomplishment. Fennelly says the accomplishment of his team is being a team of great people that he is able to around every day. Anna Prins led Iowa State with 10 points. The Cyclones finished the season with a 25-8 record.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,

Gun rights debate pending in Iowa House

March 29, 2010 By

County sheriffs would no longer have broad authority to deny gun permit applications if a bill pending in the Iowa House becomes law.  The bill sets up statewide standards for judging who may receive a permit to carry a concealed gun. 

After a two-hour debate, the Iowa Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill Saturday morning on a 44 to four vote.  Senator Steve Sodders, a Democrat from State Center, is also a deputy Marshall County sheriff and Sodders stuck up for his boss and other sheriffs.

“People who have concerns about the sheriff, if they’re not issuing enough concealed weapons permits, can run for sheriff or can get somebody to run against them,” Sodders said.   Sodders, though, wound up voting “yes” for the bill. 

The National Rifle Association backs the bill, but some gun rights advocates in the legislature oppose it.  The measure would require those who get a permit to carry a concealed weapon have training in how to use a gun.  Even though Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, voted against the bill, he saw the merit in that.

“Currently there’s no requirement that somebody actually have training in how to safely use a fire arm,” Bolkcom says. 

The governor has already signed another gun-related bill that would let police take guns away from those who’ve been convicted of domestic abuse or who’re the subject of a no-contact order.  Some see this new bill as a counterbalance, since it makes the process of getting a concealed weapon permit in Iowa more predictable.  Senator Keith Kreiman, a Democrat from Bloomfield, says it’s common sense to have a statewide standard for concealed weapons permits.

“Many people have worked hard on this agreement which I think will advance the cause of public safety and our Second Amendment rights,” Kreiman said Saturday during senate debate. 

It’s unclear when the House may debate the bill and lawmakers hope to adjourn the 2010 legislative session early this week, perhaps even late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

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

2010 legislative session continues

March 29, 2010 By

The plan to end the 2010 Iowa legislative session this past weekend was abandoned and lawmakers are due to return to Des Moines today, with hopes of concluding the session early this week. 

Late Saturday night the Iowa Senate spent about half an hour debating a bill that outlines how state gambling taxes will be spent on a variety of infrastructure projects.  Senator James Seymour, a Republican from Woodbine, complained about the $8.5 million in state funds set aside for potential passenger rail projects. 

“President Obama has committed the United States to building at least 13 high-speed rail lines, one of the most expensive forms of transportation…a nation could choose,” Seymour said Saturday night. “Even in a strong economy, building high-speed rail makes little sense.” 

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

Iowa AD selects new basketball coach

March 28, 2010 By

University of Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta has confirmed that Siena coach Fran McCaffery will be named the new men’s basketball coach. Barta says he’ll introduce McCaffery at an 11 am press conference in Iowa City Monday.

McCafferey has been at Siena for five seasons with a record of 112-51. His team won the MAAC Championship this year and lost in the first round of the NCAA tourney to Purdue.

 McCaffery will replace Todd Lickliter who was fired March 15th after three seasons. Lickliter did not have a winning season at Iowa after replacing Steve Alford.

Filed Under: Human Interest Tagged With: ,

A new “debt collector” in state goverment

March 27, 2010 By

There’ll soon be a new debt collector in state government to pursue scofflaws who don’t pay their debts to the state.  A bill that’s among the final measures to come up for a vote in the 2010 legislature would give the governor authority to appoint a new “debt coordinator.” 

This new debt “czar” would work in the Iowa Department of Revenue.  According to the bill, the person hired for the job should be an “expert” in the field of debt collection.  Ther would be two other people working in the new office, and Representative Andrew Wenthe of Hawkeye says the primary goal for the trio will be to collect court-ordered fines and fees that have not been paid. 

“Currently, there’s $525 million in outstanding court debt; $216 million of this is over four years old,” Wenthe says.

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

Rants bids emotional farewell to legislature

March 27, 2010 By

A former leader in the Iowa House who ended his campaign for governor in February said an emotional farewell to his colleagues Friday afternoon. State Representative Christopher Rants, a Republican from Sioux City, spoke for half an hour, mentioning the lessons he’d learned during his 18 years in the Iowa House. Rants said he had no regrets about any bill or vote he took during his tenure.

“What I do regret are the times I’ve been too busy to shake a hand, too quick to judge, too focused on whatever it is that I was trying to get done at the time that I didn’t look around to see what else was going on around me,” Rants said, his voice breaking with emotion.

 ”Those are my regrets.” Rants advised legislators to “relax every now and then,” although Rants conceded he found that difficult to do. Rants also said no matter what happens in the course of a fight, a legislator should shake hands with their adversary once of the battle is over.

“I’m 42 years old this year and I’ve been here for 18 of those years,” Rants said. “You start thinking about the percentages, that’s a lot.” Rants was chosen by his fellow Republicans to be a floor leader in the House and then he served as House speaker for the 2004, 2005 and 2006 legislative sessions. Rants ended his campaign for governor in mid-February.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

Iowa high school drop out rate up

March 27, 2010 By

New data from the Iowa Department of Education shows more students are leaving high school before graduation. Last year, 4,782 9th-through-12th graders in Iowa dropped out of high school. That rate of 3.15% compares to 4,399 dropouts or 2.85% during the 2007-08 school year.

Elaine Watkins-Miller, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Education, says a recently installed system allows state officials to keep better track of students and may account for the slight jump in the dropout rate.

 ”Last year, we began tracking students through a state I.D. number and really looking at detailed information about students,” Watkins-Miller said. “We think that still might be part of why we’re seeing that really slight increase in dropout rates.”

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Filed Under: Education
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