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ISU grad’s future in space uncertain

June 4, 2010 By

The only Iowa State University graduate to go into space says his career path is now rather uncertain, along with the future of the U.S. Space program. Astronaut Clay Anderson was part of the shuttle Discovery crew that spent 15 days in space this April, his second trip into orbit.

Now, only two planned shuttle missions remain before America’s aging fleet of space vehicles is retired, with no replacement ships in the wings. “It is a little bit bittersweet because it’s the end of an era,” Anderson says. “It’s unfortunate, but some people are just really now starting to take notice since it’s going away. You know how it is, whenever people take everything for granted until someone tries to take it away and then it becomes foremost in their minds.”

In 2007, Anderson spent five months living aboard the International Space Station, his first assignment in space. He turned 51 earlier this year and Anderson says he’s uncertain if he’ll ever again see the bright glow of stars from an orbiting spacecraft. “If I agreed to fly on the International Space Station again, I might have a shot to get back to orbit,” Anderson says. “With my age, to wait for the next program to take me into space, I’ll be pretty old. In order to go back to the ISS, we’re now launching on Russian rockets and the training template is about two-and-a-half to three years long, so my family and I haven’t decided if we want Dad to be away from home that much.”

Anderson and his wife have two children and the oldest is ready to enter high school. President George W. Bush energized NASA and the space program when he declared during his administration that the U-S was headed back to the Moon and on to Mars. President Obama has radically scaled back all manned mission plans and cancelled Project Constellation, the proposed new fleet of rocketships that were to return us to the Moon and beyond.

Anderson says both presidents’ plans had a “deficiency,” in that they’re creating a gap when the U.S. no longer has the ability to launch astronauts into orbit. For the foreseeable future, NASA will be paying the Russians millions of dollars per launch to send astronauts to the space station aboard Soyuz rockets.

Anderson says, “What I hope we do, is we figure out that we can and need to put humans back in space on American vehicles and really get that going so that we can minimize the gap that we’ve created.” He says he remains optimistic the next U.S. space project will propel us beyond low-Earth orbit, whether that means a bold new mission to the Moon, to Mars or to an asteroid. Anderson says he’s spending a lot of time, traveling the country and talking to school kids, working to inspire them to look toward the stars.

“I’m very hopeful that the generation that’s in elementary and junior high today will be leaders of the space program of tomorrow and that they’ll keep it in the forefront of their imaginations,” Anderson says. “That’s going to be hard to do, you know? When kids are bombarded with all sorts of other stimuli and we won’t have any American rockets launching and I’m really hopeful that, somehow, we keep their focus. I don’t want it to be out of sight, out of mind.” Anderson’s a native of Ashland, Nebraska, and now lives in Houston, Texas. He earned a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University in 1983.

Hear Matt Kelley’s full interview with Clayton Anderson here: Anderson interview 6:02 MP3

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

Iowa Supreme Court says cities don’t have to return illegally collected cable fees

June 4, 2010 By

The Iowa Supreme Court says cities do not have to pay back cable fees collected illegally, but later approved by the legislature. Thomas Zaber, sued the City of Dubuque in September of 2006, claiming the city had collected an illegal tax from him and others in the form of franchise fees for gas, electric and cable TV in excess of the reasonable cost of regulating those industries.

Zaber sought a refund of the illegal taxes based on the Supreme Court’s decision in a case against the city of Des Moines where the court ruled franchise fees assessed by the city for gas and electric services constituted an illegal tax as the fees exceeded the reasonable costs of regulating the franchised activity.

The City of Dubuque argued that the cable fees were retroactively approved by the legislature in 2007 and they did not have to be refunded. Zabor argued his right to due process was violated by the legislature’s action. The district court agreed with the city.

[Read more...]

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

Wilton bar closed 30 days over smoking ban

June 4, 2010 By

A bar in the eastern Iowa town of Wilton is closing for 30 days. Fro’s Pub and Grub is losing its liquor license from June 13th through July 13th. That’s for owner Brian Froehlich’s early refusal to comply with Iowa’s anti-smoking law, which took effect July 1st, 2008.

The Advocate News reports the bar was originally supposed to close for a month a year ago, but that was postponed while Froehlich appealed the penalty. Froehlich says he appealed because most bars get a seven-day closure and a $1,000 fine for violating the law, and he wanted to negotiate.

He says he has now rescinded his appeal for financial reasons. Froehlich says he will renovate the tavern while it’s closed.

By Phil Roberts, Davenport

Filed Under: Business, Crime & Courts Tagged With:

Corrections Department breaking ground for new facility in Waterloo

June 4, 2010 By

Iowa Department of Corrections officials will break ground today on a new facility for women in Waterloo. Karen Herkelman, director of the 1st Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, says the current building serves both men and women who are working to transition from prison life back into the community.

“It can be a distraction for the women to be housed with men,” Herkelman said. “It is just more difficult for them to focus on their needs and address their issues.” The mixed population is also a bit of a security issue for the staff who try to keep the men and women separated.

But, Herkelman says the primary driving force behind the new facility is the long list of offenders waiting to join the treatment program. “Once someone’s approved for release from prison, our goal is to get them released back out into the communities just as soon as possible. So, this new facility will add capacity for both men and women because we’ll be freeing up beds in our existing facility for men and we’ll be able to move them back into the community in a more timely fashion,” Herkelman said.

The new $6 million facility will have 45 beds and provide services to up to 400 female offenders. It’s being financed through the I-JOBS program and should be completed early next year. Herkelman says the facility will be located on Waterloo’s new Human Services campus which already includes the Operation Threshold agency. Expansions to other correctional facilities are underway in Sioux City and Ottumwa.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Families of soldiers say post office memorial is comforting

June 4, 2010 By
General Bogle, Congressman Boswell and Veterans Affairs executive director Palmershiem.

General Steve Bogle, Congressman Leonard Boswell and Des Moines Postmaster Jackie Cook.

Some of the family members of fallen Iowa soldiers were on hand Thursday as the downtown Des Moines post office was renamed to honor the veterans from the state that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Elizabeth and Bill Schiller of Ottumwa lost their son Jonathan in Iraq on New Year’s Eve in 2006. Jonathan was serving with the U.S. Army and his mom spoke about her feelings as the post office was dedicated.

“We’re overwhelmed every time we attend something like this…just the overwhelming kindness and thoughtfulness is wonderful,” Schiller said.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Human Interest, Military Tagged With:

Former IASB official testifies about trip to Bora Bora

June 4, 2010 By

The former chief financial officer at the Iowa Association of School Boards told legislators that he never meant for the association to be billed for his tropical vacation. Kevin Schick testified before the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee Thursday, repeatedly answering questions about his December trip to Bora Bora. Schick at one point told lawmakers he made charges on the association’s card because his personal credit card had been compromised.

“I was sitting at Christmas opening gifts and I received a phone call to my house and they were saying, ‘Are you making charges from Brazil? Are you making charges?’” Schick testified yesterday. “But obviously on Christmas Day, it’s hard to get a credit card and so there was a delay in the time when my personal card was replaced.”

Schick told lawmakers he “immediately” repaid the association once he returned from vacation. Lawmakers asked for proof that Schick’s own credit card had been compromised, and Schick said he’d have to ask his credit card company for the documents. Schick resigned abruptly in late January after he learned a “whistleblower” had come forward to complain about his financial stewardship of the school boards’ association.

“After that I felt like the investigation into that was handled in a manner that was inappropriate,” Schick said, “and I felt most comfortable resigning and going forward with something else.” Officials at the Iowa Association of School Boards have said Schick claimed to own an island and had once offered to put up two-million dollars so the association could pay off a loan and remodel its headquarters.

Thursday, Schick told lawmakers he’d never made such an offer. Also yesterday the man who was the association’s executive director until last July repeatedly refused to answer lawmakers’ questions about his 12-year tenure at the Iowa Association of School Boards. The woman who took over as the group’s chief executive was fired in March for significantly raising her own salary without board approval.

The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee has been holding hearings, asking about audits of the group and questioning key figures in the on-going investigation.

Filed Under: Education, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Profile: three Democrats seek chance at U.S. Senate seat

June 4, 2010 By
Democratic Senate candidates during an appearance on Iowa Press.

Democratic Senate candidates during an appearance on Iowa Press.

Three candidates — Roxanne Conlin, Tom Fiegen and Bob Krause — are competing for the Democratic Party’s 2010 nomination for the U.S. Senate and the chance to face Republican Senator Chuck Grassley this fall.   

The candidate who has been in the race the longest is Krause.  Krause served in the state legislature in the 1970s, representing the area around his hometown of Fenton. In 1978, Krause ran for state treasurer, but he lost to Michael Fitzgerald, the Democrat who has served as state treasurer ever since. Krause has held a variety of jobs since then, often working in the transportation field, and he briefly served as a member of the Waterloo School Board. 

Krause was living in semi-retirement in Fairfield when he entered this race for the U.S. Senate in March of 2009. During the past year, Krause has called for getting U.S. troops out of Afghanistan immediately.  Krause argues that money would be better spent rebuilding the U.S. economy.

“You can stand up for what you believe in this state,” Krause said earlier this year during a campaign event in Winterset. “And if people think you’re sincere and you’re doing it for a good purpose, I don’t care if you’re in Steve King’s territory, I don’t care if you’re in downtown Des Moines — if you stay where you are with integrity, people will believe you and they will follow you.”

Krause also advocates revamped U.S. trade policies that would impose new tariffs on imported goods. He’s no fan of the North American Free Trade Agreement or the World Trade Organization either. “We are affecting the structure and substainability of our very own society,” Krause said during a forum in March. 

Fiegen is the candidate who has turned most of his rhetorical fire on Conlin rather than on Grassley as Primary Day, June 8th, draws nearer. Fiegen (which is pronounced FEE-gun) served in the state Senate for two years, but lost on two separate attempts in 2002 and 2004 to win that seat back. For the past 22 years, Fiegen has worked as a bankruptcy lawyer out of an office in Cedar Rapids. In August of 2009 Fiegen announced he was running for the United States Senate, touting what he calls “Fiegenomics.”

“I think we need to keep the congress focused on stimulating the economy, monitoring the economy,” Fiegen said during a campaign stop in Tipton last August, “and if it doesn’t improve by the end of 2010 or early 2011, we’ve got to look at a second stimulus package.”

Fiegen argues that Grassley is vulnerable in 2010 because Grassley seems “out of touch” with the times. “He talks about carrying the lunch box when he worked at John Deere, well that was 50 years ago,” Fiegen said earlier this year in Winterset. “Things have changed in Iowa.” 

Fiegen has fiercely challenged fellow Democrat Roxanne Conlin, calling her a party insider who’s not a good fit to run against Grassley in a year when voters are looking to shake things up. “One of the things that we need to talk about is whether we’re going to change the direction of the Democratic Party and change the direction of the country. In my view, Roxanne represents business as usual,” Fiegen said recently on Iowa Public Television.  “…This is really the year of the insurgent and this is really about connecting with the voters.” 

Fiegen has called for an end to federal subsidies for corn-based ethanol and soybean-based biodiesel. Fiegen uses the word “baloney” in reply to those who defend the subsidies.  According to Fiegen, the ethanol industry has sold a “bill of goods” to taxpayers.”

Last fall the Iowa Democratic Party’s chairman called Conlin the “big name” candidate best equipped to challenge Grassley. During a telephone interview with Radio Iowa in October, Conlin said “a lot of Iowans” are unhappy with Grassley, particularly because Grassley voted for the Wall Street bailout.

“Even though he is someone I like and someone for whom I have respect for his 50 years of public service, my feeling is that he has simply lost touch with Iowans,” Conlin said. “I don’t like the way that he has been voting. I would be voting differently.”

This is Conlin’s second run for higher office. “I’ve never held public office.  I tried,” Conlin said recently on Iowa Public Television, laughing as she added: “Lord knows I tried.”

She was the Iowa Democratic Party’s unsuccessful nominee for governor in 1982.  Conlin had worked as a deputy state attorney general and as a federal prosecutor in the ’70s. Conlin has pursued several high-profile cases as a trial lawyer, winning a recent class action lawsuit against Microsoft.

Conlin entered college when she was 16 and graduated from law school at the age of 21. “I have been hungry because there was just not enough food in my house to eat,” Conlin said during a Madison County Democrats meeting earlier this year.  “…I worked my way through college.  I worked my way through law school and while I was in law school I decided that I wanted to do with my life was to speak out for those who otherwise would not have had any voice.”

Conlin was the first female trial lawyer to head the American Association of Justice. She’s raised far more campaign money than any other Democrat who has run against Grassley.

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,
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