Many Iowans do much of their holiday shopping online instead of in malls, but this season is the busiest time of year for internet fraud and identity thieves. Michael Barrett, information security officer at Omaha-based PayPal, says shopping online can be safe and easy but you need to follow some … [Read more...]
Microsoft to build $500 million facility in West Des Moines
Microsoft will build its new, half-a-billion dollar "server farm" in West Des Moines. The official announcement came during a Thursday morning news conference at the statehouse where Microsoft's Michael Manos, the general manager of the company's data center services, discussed the reasons for … [Read more...]
Microsoft to open $500 million data center in Iowa
Corporate giant Microsoft plans to open a new data center in central Iowa. "It's really great news for the state of Iowa," Governor Chet Culver says. "Fifty good jobs -- high-quality, well-paying jobs; $500 million of investment with this Microsoft data center; one of the largest … [Read more...]
Senators squabble over shooting "big cats"
The Iowa Senate had a cat fight tonight about big cats -- about mountain lions and cougars. Western Iowa Republicans railed against a bill that would forbid the shooting of a mountain lion in Iowa unless a person's life or property is endangered. Senator Steve Kettering, a Republican from Lake … [Read more...]
U-of-I project aims to get African universities online
A University of Iowa project helping universities in third-world countries reduce "information poverty" has gotten a 225-thousand dollar grant from a private foundation. Cliff Missen, director of the University of Iowa's WiderNet project. "The overall purpose of the WiderNet project is to assist our … [Read more...]
New type of ethanol factory set for construction
Ground was broken Tuesday on what will become Iowa's 12th ethanol factory. Renewable Fuels Incorporated held the ceremony for its 43-million dollar investment in the Emmetsburg plant. Company Manager Norm Nicol says the facility will use a different process than most ethanol plants. No steam is … [Read more...]
10 State Workers Fired over E-Mail
More state workers have been fired for mis-using their state e-mail. A statement issued late Friday announced 10 workers have been fired, another seven state employees have been suspended and 22 others have received written reprimands. According to the Department of personnel, "some" of the … [Read more...]
No Fears of Y2K+1 This New Year’s Eve
State officials will rest a little easier as the New Year rings in comparedto all the action one year ago. State Emergency Management Division DirectorEllen Gordon took some time this week to reflect on the events of last year.At this time last year, everyone was preparing for a possible … [Read more...]
"Love Bug" computer virus mutates..again
Attorney General Janet Reno says a computer virus more damaging than the the recent "Love Bug" virus is on the loose. The "dot-v-b-s" virus is a "worm" virus like the love bug, but it changes each time it's retransmitted, making it harder to identify. Steve Witters is with a computer firm in … [Read more...]
Y2K may not be the biggest computer problem of the millennium
There's been so much hype and warning, many computer experts believe there won't be much effect at all by the Y-2-K bug. Still, the chief of the Central Iowa Computer Users Group fears there WILL still be trouble, but not due to the date change on January first. He says the bigger problem comes on … [Read more...]