July 2007 Archives

Iowans for Hillary Clinton have announced their statewide Women's Leadership Council, a group focused on increasing women's participation in the upcoming caucus.

"Through our social networks, community involvement, church groups and family ties we are determined to organize women who have attended the caucuses before and bring new women into the caucus process to support Hillary Clinton," Bonnie Campbell said in a prepared statement released Monday. "Hillary Clinton has been a leading advocate for women and children in America and around the globe. We are committing our efforts to Hillary's candidacy because she has committed her life's work to helping us."

Campbell currently serves on the Iowa Board of Regents, is a former Iowa attorney general, made an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid and has served as director of the Office of Violence Against Women.

The list includes two Iowa Senators, three Iowa Representatives, at least three current members of city government, at least three current or former school board members and one member of the Democratic State Central Committee.

• Black Hawk County
  • Vi Neil of La Porte City; Activist

• Buena Vista County
  • Diane Hamilton of Storm Lake; Attorney and former Buena Vista County Chair

• Cedar County
  • Alice Lopez of Lowden; Cedar County Task Force on Elderly issues

• Cerro Gordo County
  • Doreen Rick of Mason City; Educator

• Dallas County
  • Mickey Carlson of Adel; Former Dallas County Chair
  • Pam Duffy of Adel; Activist
  • Susan Knapp of Van Meter; Business Leader and Philanthropist
  • Marcia Wanamaker of Waukee; Real Estate Developer

• Davis County
  • Cheryll Jones of Bloomfield; Political Activist

• Des Moines County
  • Cindy Heland of Burlington; Political Activist
  • Karen Wick of Mediapolis; Des Moines County Central Committee

• Dickenson County
  • Megan Heneke of Spirit Lake; Past President of Iowa College Democrats and University of Iowa Democrats

• Dubuque County
  • Joyce Connors of Dubuque; Hills and Dales Board, Riverview Center Inc. Board, Convention Visitors Bureau
  • Patricia Foster of Dubuque; Educator
  • Carmen Hernandez of Dubuque; Educator
  • Carrie Tedore of Dubuque; Executive Committee, Dubuque County Democrats

• Franklin County
  • Rosanne Beyer of Dows; Mayor

• Floyd County
  • Juanita Mehmen of Charles City; Red Hat Ladies and Chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars

• Guthrie County
  • Mary Mincer Hansen of Panora; Former Director of the Iowa Public Health Department

• Henry County
  • Mary Elgar of Mt. Pleasant; Community Activist and Member and Former Chair of Henry County Democrats and 3rd Congressional District Central Committee
  • Christie Vilsack of Mt. Pleasant; Former First Lady of Iowa

• Ida County
  • Karla Hansen of Holstein; Healthcare Activist

• Iowa County
  • Linda Olson of Marengo; Activist
  • Linda Yoder of Marengo; County Supervisor

• Jasper County
  • Judith Dailey of Newton; Democratic Activist

• Jefferson County
  • Suzy Drish of Fairfield; Democratic Activist and Farmer
  • Barbra Hood of Fairfield; Former Jefferson County Chair
  • Becky Schmitz of Fairfield; State Senator

• Johnson County
  • Regina Bailey of Iowa City; City Councilwoman
  • Sarah England of Iowa City; Professor at University of Iowa
  • Melanie Friedman of Iowa City; Political Activist
  • Sharon Haselhoff of Iowa City; Political Activist
  • Vicki Lensing of Iowa City; State Representative
  • Janet Lyness of Iowa City; County Attorney
  • Mary Mascher of Iowa City; State Representative
  • Kim Painter of Iowa City; Johnson County Recorder
  • Sarah Stephenson of Iowa City; Activist and University of Iowa Law Student
  • Sally Stutsman of Riverside; Johnson County Supervisor
  • Rachel Zimmermann of Iowa City; Political Activist

• Keokuk County
  • Mary Ford Krier of Ollie; Business Women, Former Supervisor, Farm Activist, and Child Advocate

• Linn County
  • Katie Beckett of Cedar Rapids; Disability Rights Activist
  • Sondy Daggett of Cedar Rapids; Small Business Owner
  • Swati Dandekar of Marion; State Representative
  • Kay Halloran of Cedar Rapids; Mayor
  • Liz Hoskins of Cedar Rapids; Community Activist
  • Doreen Meier of Cedar Rapids; Hill's Angels, Volunteer at St. Luke's Hospital, Member of Poe Chapter HJ, Volunteer at St. Paul's Methodist Church
  • Jean Oxley of Cedar Rapids; First Woman on the Linn County Board of Supervisors
  • Audrey Rahn of Cedar Rapids; Hills Angels
  • Jerica Parker of Cedar Rapids; Cedar Rapids Activist
  • Phyllis Peterson of Cedar Rapids; Educator
  • Marcia Rogers of Cedar Rapids; President of Management Resource Group
  • Sara Porter Stark of Cedar Rapids; Volunteer at Cedar Rapids Free Health Clinic and Hill's Angels
  • Dr. Julianne Thomas of Cedar Rapids; Pediatrician and Community Activist
  • Jane Witt of Cedar Rapids; Community Activist and Volunteer

• Lee County
  • Faye Fraise of Fort Madison; Activist
  • Rocky Menke of Fort Madison; Labor and Political Activist

• Madison County
  • Barbara Pfieffer of Saint Charles; Activist

• Marion County
  • Phyllis Weeks of Knoxville; Knoxville County Chair and Third Congressional District Central Committee

• Mills County
  • Juanita Moreno of Glenwood; Activist

• Montgomery County
  • Jacky Adams of Red Oaks; Montgomery County Activist

• Polk County
  • Marti Anderson of Des Moines; Social Worker and Crime Victim Advocate
  • Theresa Backham of Des Moines; Local Activist
  • Barbra Boatwright of Des Moines; Founding Member of DAWN and Retired Social Worker
  • Connie Boesen of Des Moines; Community Activist and School Board Member
  • Margaret Borgen of Des Moines; Community Activist, Volunteer and Former School Board Member
  • Bonnie Campbell of Des Moines; Former Attorney General, Iowa Democratic Party Chair, and Clinton Administration Appointee heading Violence Against Women Office
  • Jean Classon of Des Moines; President of Iowa NOW
  • Sharon Dearden of Des Moines; Community Activist
  • Cindy Eisenhauer of Ankeny; Former Chief of Staff for Governor Tom Vilsack
  • Fran Fleck of West Des Moines; Community Activist and Volunteer
  • Valentina Fominykh of Des Moines; International Consultant and Community Activist
  • Cynthia Forbes of Urbandale; Women for a Stronger America Treasurer
  • Lynn Graves of Des Moines; Political Activist
  • Julie Haggerty of Urbandale; Polk County Recorder
  • Susan Judkins of Des Moines; Business Leader, Community Volunteer, and President of Nexus
  • Theresa Kehoe of Des Moines; Political Activist
  • Amanda Luong of Des Moines; Local Activist
  • Cyril Mandelbaum of West Des Moines; Past President of Nexus and Treasurer for Des Moines Public Library Board of Directors
  • Dorothy Mauro of Des Moines; Activist
  • Mary McGee of Des Moines; Attorney
  • Dr. Andy McGuire of Des Moines; Former Lieutenant Governor Candidate
  • Sally Pederson of Des Moines; Former Lieutenant Governor and Past Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party
  • Mary Riche of Des Moines; Activist
  • Laura Sands of Des Moines; Polk County Activist and Former School Board Member
  • Patsy Shors of Des Moines; Activist
  • Campbell Spencer of Des Moines; Former GLBT Outreach Director for the Democratic National Committee and Gore 2000
  • Julie Stauch of Des Moines; VP of Governmental Affairs for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa and Community Activist
  • Margi Weiss of Des Moines; Director of Marketing and Communications for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa and Former Member of State Central Committee

• Scott County
  • Rita Vargas of Davenport; Scott County Recorder
  • Cindy Winckler of Davenport; State Representative and Past National President of Business and Professional Women

• Story County
  • Pat Carmody of Ames; Activist
  • Tammy Ferrell of Roland; Educator
  • Phyllis Peters of Ames; Political Activist and former Story County Chair

• Wapello County
  • Bonnie Eggers of Agency; Labor Activist, SCC
  • Helen Epperson of Ottumwa; Political Activist

• Warren County
  • Staci Appel of Ackworth; State Senator
  • Ruth Harkin of Cumming; Business Leader, Attorney and Clinton Administration Appointee as President and CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation

• Webster County
  • Shelly Escobedo of Fort Dodge; Webster County Activist
  • Kati Kregel of Fort Dodge; Community Activist and Former Director of BVU Ft. Dodge Center
  • Patsy Olejniczak of Fort Dodge; Webster County Coordinator, Iowans for Hillary

• Winneshiek County
  • Holly Raczowski of Decorah; Troop Leader Girl Scout Troops 345 and 348 of Decorah. Council Delegate of Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois

• Woodbury County
  • Mary Ann Schuldt of Sioux City; Retired Educator
  • Anita Wendt of Sioux City; Retired Educator and Community Activist
  • Donna Whitead of Sioux City; Activist

• Worth County
  • Jean Stowell of Northwood; Executive Director of the Top of Iowa Welcome Center

A desire for change is what Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama says he's heard loud and clear while on the campaign trail in Iowa -- and exactly what he's prepared to provide to the American people.

"I've had a terrific chance to travel -- not just in the main urban areas like Des Moines and Cedar Rapids -- but also the smaller, rural areas around the state," he said today following public remarks at Roosevelt Middle School in Cedar Rapids. "What's interesting is just how uniformly people are hungry for change."

Obama said he's been impressed with the level of the discourse with residents throughout the state as well as with citizens across the nation.

"What's also been really interesting is that even the most remote areas, people are very concerned about foreign policy," he said. "I think people recognize that we are at one of those crossroads where the decisions we make over the next five years are going to have such a profound effect on our long term security and our relationship with the world. I'm really pleased to see just how engaged people are."

He says that while campaigning around the state, he is often asked is why support should be placed with him instead of another of the other Democratic candidates for president.

"I think we are in one of those rare moments where we can start to bring about significant change," he said. "The question for Democratic voters this time out has to be not just who can win the election, but who can bring about a significant enough change to move the agenda forward. For instance, we're going to have to have 60 votes in the Senate to bring about universal health care. So, it's not enough for us to rely on the traditional 50 plus one campaign strategy. We can't concede 45 percent of the electorate."

In order to be effective, Obama says the next president must be able to work with the existing players as well as bring new people into the process.

"We have to attract independents and even some republicans into a working coalition," he said. "And we also have to get new people involved in the process so that we can change the political map."

As an example, Obama pointed to Mississippi, where the electorate is 40 percent African-American. Yet on election day, he said, only 25 percent of the votes cast are from African-Americans.

"If we have a Democratic Mississippii -- or at least a Mississippi that's in play -- then we don't have to just barely win in Ohio and Florida," he said. "Suddenly we will have the whole country in play."

Obama noted that although he isn't as well known as some of the other Democratic contenders, he ranks the highest among Independents and Republicans.

"This is despite the fact that in many ways my voting record is more progressive," he said. "This means, I think, that I at least have a chance in putting together the kind of majority that would actually get stuff done."

Speaking before a morning crowd of roughly 500 people, Obama said three tests will be given to individuals who want to serve in his administration.

"The first test is competence," he said and was quickly forced to pause while the audience voiced its approval. "The second is integrity. I don't want people in my administration who aren't there to serve the nation. And, three, I want people who are independent. ... Those are the kinds of people I want around me. Those are the types of people who will tell you when you are wrong."

He added that people who serve in his administration will not be allowed to work on regulations or contracts directly related to a former employer for two years. And, once an employee leaves the administration, he said that employee will not be allowed to lobby for the remainder of his term in office. He additionally vowed to end no-bid contracts and to place government transparency as one of his highest priorities.

During the question-and-answer period area resident Brad Kiburtz asked how Iowa residents could be sure that once moved into the White House, Obama would not fall into a pattern of corruption. The Senator took the opportunity not only to outline his past achievements in ethics reform in Illinois but to lash back at politicos and pundits who have pointed to his recent debate statements on diplomacy as proof of a lack of experience.

"What I've come to realize is what Washington oftentimes means as experience is simply reciting the conventional wisdom that's developed in Washington -- even when it doesn't work," he said.

EE is typically not the blog you want to visit if you are searching for gloom and doom. While plenty of dire alerts cross my email inbox each day, I try very hard to sift through them and only bring the most relevant and legitimate to the front of the pile. That being said, I received a note this morning from Amanda with information and a link that I believe is worth some lines here.

On July 17, Pres. George W. Bush issued another one of his infamous executive orders, this one titled: "Blocking Property of Certain Persons who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq." Sounds like a good thing on the surface, right? Let's read on...

This order impacts four earlier executive orders:

...it is in the interests of the United States to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, and expanded in Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, and Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004.

Granted, the entire document is written in legal-ease and isn't at all easy to follow, especially for any non-attorney. I will do my best to tell you what I read and understood; however, I encourage each of you to read it for yourselves and come to your own conclusions.

This document essentially provides the government power to take all of your property and assets -- and all of those that belong to your business as well (both "person" and "entity" are addressed in the order).

Who will make the determination if your stuff should go buh-bye? The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense (Section 1a).

Why would the determination be made? The document really doesn't say. "...any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing..."

Did you read those last six words? "...pose a significant risk of committing..." Read it again. In order to have your seized by the government, you will only need to be SUSPECTED of something.

Yes, it does indicate that you should pose a "significant risk" of "an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or, undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people" (and more listed in still more sub-sections of that last clause). The problem is, the document does not define what some of these vague purposes or effects might be.

In other words, we don't know if some one protesting the war -- perhaps someone who has not personally participated in violent protest, but has been present at an event where it did take place (real or made-up) -- could be found in violation of the executive order. An "act of violence" is not defined in the document.

And, quite frankly, I may be in violation right at this very moment because I'm telling you my thoughts on the order: Section 2(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

Donations to certain groups appear to be blocked/banned in Section 4. And, in Section 5, we learn that there will be no prior notice given before funds are blocked. (Remember, we aren't talking about someone convicted of a crime, but someone the Secretary of the Treasury has determined "might" pose a risk.)

Finally, Section 6, outlines how the Secretary of the Treasury -- in consultation with the Sec. of State and the Sec. of Defense, although the exact meaning of "consultation" is never defined -- will be acting as law enforcement, judge and juror in all matters relating to this order:

Sec. 6. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government, consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and, where appropriate, to advise the Secretary of the Treasury in a timely manner of the measures taken.

Does this plan without oversight and judgment without legal recourse sound like a good plan to you? If not, you need to know that Congress has 30 days from the date an executive order is published in the Federal Register to act.

Read it for yourself and make up your own mind. If you believe -- as I now believe -- that this is stinkier than five-day-old dog poo then contact your Congress critters and let them know!

Here's your earworm: Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn to fly.
I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky.
I'll make a wish...
Take a chance...
Make a change...
And breakaway.

In other news, blogger Jill Stanek picked up the second post from my Helen Thomas interview from its cross-post location on RH Reality Check. It's a bit of a ramble, but, from what I was able to determine, Stanek thinks quality of life refers to one's caregiver. I guess, when you look full spectrum, that's a small portion. The much larger slices, however, have to do with terminal and chronic disease, opportunities for personal advancement and so-forth. Stanek also seems to be trying to connect a lack of doctors focused on geriatric medicine to abortion. Frankly, I didn't realize scientists had identified that gene.

Finally, Stanek also seems to believe that anyone who believes families should make their own choices should not be granted end-of-life care. On this point, Adrian Monck joined the conversation, "I don't care which side of the line you want to come down on regarding abortion, but peddling threats dressed up as commentary seems to me to rub the line right out."

You might want to have a look at the new blog Virginia Patriot. It's written by former Gov. Jim Gilmore.

Bret Hayworth blogs over at the Sioux City Journal on the possibility of Ron Wieck or David Johnson taking over the position of Senate Minority Leader. I'm guessing those might be two of the people Mary Lundby, the current minority leader, was talking about when she told me, "Some of them are darn glad I'm leaving."

The Tancredo '08 blog tell us "immigration is just this hot" while offering some photographs of the congressman's visit to Iowa Falls. Frankly, I have to wonder if Tancredo "faced question after question on immigration" because it is "this hot" or because that's really the only thing he's known for.

Kent at Bowulf Network Admin Blog discusses his experience on the Bix 7 in Davenport. The seven-mile race had over 15,000 participants!

Iowa Votes 2008, operated by WHO, did a small experiment. They took six undecided voters -- two Democrats, two Republicans, two independents (3 women and 3 men) -- and gave them a statement from each candidate. The written statements were not marked with the candidates' names. The participants each came from a different Iowa city.

The written statements contained the candidates' answer to one question: "What do you think will happen when U.S. troops are withdrawn from Iraq, and what is your strategy to deal with what happens afterward?"

At the end, the candidate worst for wear is Tom Tancredo. The one on top was Duncan Hunter.

Those who are concerned about the Supreme Court and what seems to be an organized and expanding attack on human rights should read and remember Mitt Romney's words that he will only appoint strict constructionist judges.

There's another new read for Iowans: Mike Palecek, a novelist, has started Is this Heaven? on blogspot. He and I share a very different writing style, so don't be expecting my type of blather when you visit.

Nicholas Beaudrot of Electoral Math made a guest post (at least I think it was a guest post) at Ezra Klein discussing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's words on July 10 in Iowa about pulling out of Iraq. He notes that the end of her speech gives more insight into her plans which include leaving troops behind. In this case, most of the comments are just as thoughtful as the post.

*Yawn* Bill Steigerwald of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review interviews David Yepsen about (what else?) how long he's be covering Iowa politics and why all us corn-lovers don't necessary do what the talking heads dictate.

A fellow by the name of Lonnie Berger has appointed himself as Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback's prayer coordinator, according to the LA Times blog. Berger has launched a website dubbed Pray for Brownback. In speaking with the Times he said, "When Christians vote, our values move forward in the culture war. When Christians stay hoe, the enemy wins." He asks in email reminders that supporters pray "that God would supernaturally activate the Christians in Iowa to pray and go to the straw poll to vote for Sam."

I'm all for grassroots and, quite frankly, I don't have too many bad things to say about Brownback or his campaign. I do wonder, however, how God is receiving these requests for him to intercede in an Iowa GOP fundraiser that only holds meaning in the presidential race due to the fact of August being a slow news month.

You know, I also wonder how any news organization can take the results of such a straw poll, votes sold at a cost of $35 a pop, with anything other than a passing interest. Instead of being a first taste of the views of Iowans, the straw poll is a first glimpse of big money in action. Whoo-Pee.

And, in closing, a news story that's sure to have everyone looking to the heavens: Large chunks of ice fell from the sky last Thursday in Dubuque, smashing through a homeowner's roof and destroying trees.

First, hat tip to The Good Reverend.

For those who don't know, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts are essentially the same thing. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts recognizes at most one guiding organization per country, although some have several organizations that come together as one governing federation. With that bit of background, here's the news:

The Guides in Europe, according to Times Online, want to earn some new badges based on what they see as life skills needed for living in the 21st Century. The information came from a survey of more than 1,000 Guides by Girlguiding UK.

The results of the survey showed that senior Guides -- those over 16 -- wanted to learn how to manage money and practice safe sex. Guides aged 10 to 15 wanted to learn how to pitch a ten, cook a healthy meal and stand up to boys.

Just as there was an uproar when girls first began learning camping and survival techniques, I've little doubt there is soon going to be a massive din from across the big pond. Yet, I still find myself asking: Why isn't this being discussed here?

As both a Girl Scout leader and especially as a mother, I know what I've heard from the girls. The things they worry about are everyday things that, in many instances, are the same things girls have worried about from the beginning of time. They worry about eating disorders, parents getting ill, parents breaking up, managing stress, sexual health, bullying, maintaining friendships and being good citizens. Why shouldn't all those fears be addressed?

I think there remains in this country a belief that everything related to sex and "private parts" should only be discussed in the dead of night, behind closed doors and in whispers. There is a belief in our nation that anything sexually-related is inherently "dirty."

It really wasn't that long ago since I was a young woman and discussing sex with friends who knew little more than I did on the subject. My stomach hurts when I consider all the disinformation we swallowed as fact. The good news is back then the worst thing that might happen to a girl who had sex in the backseat of a car was getting pregnant and dealing with whatever aftermath befell her. When I was young, we did not have to approach sex as a potential death sentence.

As soon as our children are moving around and understanding language, we begin to teach them how to best protect themselves. We explain about proper hand washing to fend against disease. We pass them tissues when their nose runs and, then, show them the wastebasket for disposal. From crossing the street to buckling up in the car, society as a whole -- across economic, religious and social lines -- has agreed that it is in our best interest to teach our youngest citizens safety. Not to mention, our hearts and souls would shatter if we didn't take time and one of our children was hurt because of it.

Last session when the legislature debated the beer keg identification law, I protested on the grounds that doing so wouldn't stop underage drinking. I also pointed to society's relationship with alcohol. I wrote, "Our society will not be able to overcome the 'mystification' of sex, alcohol and drugs until we stop putting them on pedestals in front of our children."

Sex is and should be private. Sex is and should be sacred. Sex is and should be something we discuss easily with our children, especially now that it is a life and death decision. For us not to discuss and protect our children is the largest negligence we could ever commit.

I look forward to seeing how the Girl Guides handle their member's requests for safe sex education.

Peace activists in the Iowa City area have busily building a weekend of events for March for Peace. For more information on the marchers and the mission, check out our earlier post.

At least two Cedar Rapids activists joined the marchers for several miles yesterday and there are plans throughout the corridor area for others to join over the next few days.

Today at 2 p.m., peace activists will take a free university bus from downtown Iowa City near the intersection of Washington and Capitol. (map showing bus stop location - parking is available on the ramps in downtown). The bus will take participants to the place they will join the marchers. Together, the groups will continue into Iowa City, roughly an hour by foot. Those who cannot travel that distance by foot may join the group at a half-way point.

The march ends near the intersection of Washington and Clinton. A vigil will follow in that location from roughly 5:15 to 5:45 p.m.

On Saturday, a potluck has been planned from roughly 3 to 7 p.m. at the Wesley Center, 120 N. Dubuque St., also in downtown Iowa City. Activists can begin to gather at the center between 1:30 and 3 p.m. Help will be needed to set-up the facility prior to the potluck. A local band, Broke*Out Steppers has been tentatively scheduled to provide entertainment.

The marchers will speak during the potluck, sharing stories of their journey thus far and why they have embarked on it.

On Sunday, there will be a march out of Iowa City. It begins 11 a.m. in College Green Park, corner of College and Dodge. According to organizers, there is quite a bit of on-street parking in this area. The closest parking ramp sits at the corner of Iowa and Linn, roughly six blocks away.

The march will head south on Dodge, turn east on Kirkwood and follow that street around until it becomes Lower Muscatine Rd. The path is followed right onto Hwy 6, roughly two miles total.

Since there is no bus service on Sunday, the group will stop just before Hwy 6 to meet with volunteer drivers and be returned to the downtown area.

As always, these events are open to peace activists and concern citizens throughout the area. There is no need to contact anyone if you want to participate -- although bringing a covered dish to the potluck is just good Iowa manners. Hope to see you at one or more of the events!

Iowa Rep. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, made it official this morning by announcing she will seek the state Senate seat currently held by Mary Lundby. Lundby announced Wednesday that she would seek a position on the Linn County Board of Supervisors instead of running for re-election.

"I know that I have some big shoes to fill," Dandekar said in a telephone interview this morning. "Mary Lundby is readily accessible. People could always call and email her their problems or their issues and she was always on top of things. She always made sure that the district's constituents and citizens were taken care of. I have learned from her that our job is to take care of our district and our constituents."

Dandekar currently serves House District 36, which includes Marion and extends to the edge of Central City. She will be seeking election in Senate District 18 which includes Marion as well as Robins, Hiawatha, Walker, Coggon, Prairieburg, Center Point, Alburnett, Palo and Fairfax. Because Dandekar, a former member of Linn-Mar Community School District Board of Directors, has continually shown interest in education and school-related issues, it is worth noting that, if elected, her new district will serve Marion Independent, Linn-Mar Community, Springville, Central City and Alburnett school districts.

"I have always worked hard in the Iowa House and I will do the same for District 18 in the Iowa Senate," she said. "It will be an extension of what I've been focusing on and I'm looking forward to the opportunity. Education will remain as one of my key focuses because in order to have a great economy, you have to have a great work force. I have always felt that education and economic growth go hand-in-hand."

Dandekar is running for the Senate, she says, so that she can continue and expand work she began in the House for education, the economy, and the environment. She also believes the new role would allow her to do more for health care, government reform and fiscal responsibility.

"We need a fiscally responsible government that not only consistently meets its obligations for public safety, children, seniors, the environment and health care, but also invests wisely in education and growing the economy for Iowa's future," she said.

Speaker of the House Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, says there is little doubt Dandekar will be missed but that he is also optimistic the seat can be retained for the Democrats.

"Swati is a good legislator and she's done a very good job in the House," he said by phone Friday morning. "She's done a very good job of helping us, especially on issues involving economic development and she will be missed. We will be proceeding forward and seeking out a candidate. The one thing we've done in the house is pick candidates that listen to people. We pick candidates that are reflective of their district."

Murphy added that Dandekar would have a voice during the selection of the next Democratic candidate for her current House district.

Dandekar was the first Indian-born U.S. citizen to win a state legislature seat in the United States. Before serving in the Iowa legislature and in addition to the Linn-Mar School Board, she served on the Iowa Association of School Board's Board of Directors and the Vision Iowa Board. She is active with the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, Iowa Math & Science Coalition, Junior League of Cedar Rapids, Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted and Talented, and the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy.

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Chris Dodd dished out his plan for universal health care during a kitchen table discussion today in Marion at the home of Jerry and Marvalee Vuichard.

"What I'm advocating is a totally universal program with 100 percent of the American people involved," Dodd told the seven people gathered around the table. "This is an affordable and quality health care package."

Dodd's plan, if he is elected, is to introduce his health care initiative within days of inauguration in 2009 and to phase it in over a four-year period. He says having a "portable" plan is key to covering all Americans.

"Regardless of where you live in America, [health care] will follow the individual and not the job," he said. "This is a plan which is literally an American plan. What is does is to create a marketplace for health care -- something I call a Universal HealthMart -- that is based on the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan."

Under Dodd's plan all employers would have to provide insurance to their employees either through the HealthMart or through existing systems. Individuals would be automatically enrolled in the program. Individuals and businesses would contribute to HealthMart based on their ability to pay, and individuals would have a choice of plans and coverage.

By pooling coverage, Dodd says his plan would spread risk and increase the bargaining power of the government to negotiate lower premiums. Premiums would be made further affordable by requiring insurance companies to provide incentives to both individuals and businesses that promote the use of technology and preventative care as a condition of participation.

"Chris Dodd's proposal thoroughly achieves universal coverage without qualification," Barbara Smith, health care policy expert and consultant to the campaign, said in a prepared statement. "It is the boldest and most pragmatic plan to date to achieve universal and affordable coverage while improving care. It provides for the comprehensive reform the country needs, while at the same time, being achievable by building on the current system."

Smith was a lead staffer on health care to Rep. Jim McDermott, a member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee between 1993 and 1995.

The rise of premiums by 87 percent in the past six years along with "other outrages," says Dodd, has led to an environment where change can happen.

"There is a level of impatience in this country that is palpable," he said. "Anyone who doesn't understand that isn't listening to the people of this country at all."

Dodd says it is his ability to walk across the aisle and get things done is what will be the major difference in his plan becoming a reality.

"In the past I've always been able to approach and work with people who don't necessarily agree with me," Dodd said. "That's exactly what's going to have to happen with health care. This isn't all going to get done by one person. It's going to take the ability to sit down and work with other people."

Dodd is not the only Democratic candidate to put forth a health care plan. Former Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Bill Richardson all have developed initiatives for health care. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has not provided a detailed plan and told the Des Moines Register on July 21 that she will wait until she is elected to determine which path to pursue in relation to health care.

Video of Marion's kitchen table event is available on Dodd's website. A clip from the media conference call following the kitchen table event is below.

Today, Denise O'Brien, the 2006 Democratic nominee for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, announced her support for former Sen. John Edwards during a community meeting in Atlantic.

"Sen. Edwards comes from rural America and obviously hasn't forgotten where he came from," O'Brien said in a prepared statement. "I am endorsing him because of his strong support for family farmers and his willingness to take on corporate agribusiness. He has outlined a bold plan to reinvest in rural towns and communities, bring in new jobs and ensure that hard-working family farmers can earn a decent living."

O'Brien is an organic farmer and well-known progressive political activist. She is the co-founder and coordinator of the Women, Food and Agriculture Network. A past-president of the National Family Farm Coalition, she has advocated for the concerns of farm families and rural communities on international, national, state and local levels. Her efforts have aided in the establishment of many organizations, including Rural Advocacy 2000, Iowa Fair Trade Watch, the Women's Task Force of the Iowa Farm Unity Coalition and Progressive Prairie Alliance. She is a member of the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame.

"Denise is a strong advocate for the needs of Iowa family farmers and rural communities, and I am honored to have her support," Edwards said. "She shares my commitment to revitalizing rural America and will be a great asset to our campaign."

Veteran journalist Helen Thomas is worried about what she describes as the current "chipping away" of individual rights by the Bush administration and the U.S. Supreme Court."

"I've had my eyes and ears on the White House for years, and I've never seen it in worse shape," Thomas said recently while in Des Moines where she was keynote speaker for the annual luncheon of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa. "The rights of the individual are being hacked away."

Thomas, who has covered every president since John F. Kennedy, says citizens who seek change will need to work with Congress.

"It seems the present conservative [U.S. Supreme] Court is targeting Roe v. Wade and there's not much you can do about it unless Congress is willing to deal with these touchy subjects," she said. "Without pressure, I doubt they will."

Thomas, 86, believes that having the issue of abortion loom so prominently on the political landscape is a distraction from other, more needed discussions.

"How sad it is that [abortion] is still an issue on the political scene when we should be more concerned about education and health care for all -- especially the deprived," she said while slowing shaking her head. "Our president is now about to veto an extension of child health-insurance legislation. To paraphrase he objections, he feels it would lead to adult government health-insurance programs."

Thomas says there are two major ironies in President George W. Bush's stances.

"The president has never had to worry about health care or medicine for his family -- nor will he ever have to," she explains. "The American people provide very well for presidents and past presidents. ... There is also an irony that [President George H.W.] Bush's parents founded the first Planned Parenthood chapter in Connecticut."

The more than 300 people crowded into the small banquet room at the Hotel Fort Des Moines, many of them standing, grew silent as Thomas outlined her thoughts on the battles to come.

Her final sentence provided a quick and nervous laugh from the audience. Thomas looked around the room, meeting many women eye-to-eye before continuing.

"Women have come a long way," she said. "Now we have the possibility of the presidency, and a woman already serves as speaker of the House. Two women have served in the powerful role of secretary of State. There is no doubt that we have come a long way, but we have not come far enough."

In a private interview after her public remarks, Thomas continued her thoughts on the role she believes women must play in the coming years and on the imminent threat of the Supreme Court.

"I don't think we have passed a point of no return -- I don't think we will ever do that," she said. "I think women should be alerted to the possibility of what may come. Women should not rest on their laurels. They need to understand the danger of this court. This is a deliberate court. It is very rigid, and it is going to be against a lot of women's rights in terms of equal pay, birth control, abortion or anything else where women are striving for equality. The justices were deliberately picked because of that. I think the litmus test was given to them even though they denied it."

Thomas also admits that when she was originally told the conservatives' plans for the court, she didn't fully understand the implications.

"People were saying during the [Ronald] Reagan administration that this was about the Supreme Court," she said. "I wasn't sure at that time what they meant. But the truth is that the court is their one last resort to push their agenda. It is their one last resort to prevail."

When pressed to name a piece of legislation or a presidential action that she believed most affected women and reproductive health, Thomas refused.

"This is not a dodge," she said. "Everything they do affects women. You can't separate it out."

At the end of the day, Thomas says all of these issues can be set back on the right course if we return the the ideals found in our national documents.

"Let's return to the true ideals of Bill of Rights," she said. "The issue is not the right to live. The issue is the kind of life. The issue is freedom without government or outside interference."

Thomas served for 57 years as a correspondent and White House bureau chief for United Press International. She was the first woman officer of the National Press Club, was the first woman member and president of the White House Correspondents Association and the first woman member of the Gridiron Club. She is also the author of four books, including her latest released in paperback in June: "Watchdogs of Democracy? The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public."

Three of Iowa's lawmakers will join more than 350 elected officials from around the nation including former President Bill Clinton this weekend for the Democratic Leadership Committee's National Conversation in Nashville.

Iowa Sen. Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids and Iowa Reps. Mary Gaskill of Wapello and Helen Miller of Webster have confirmed they will attend the largest convention in DLC history.

The convention will focus on a wide variety of national issues including economic opportunity, national security, ending poverty and energy independence. Additionally, many of the ideas discussed at the convention will be featured on a DLC website, which was launched in May.

Clinton served as chairman of the DLC from 1990 to 1991, when he resigned his position to launch a successful bid for the presidency. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former first lady, has served as chairwoman of the DLC's American Dream Initiative since July 2005. Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack chaired the DLC from July 2005 to January 2007, when he resigned to launch an unsuccessful bid for the presidency.

The DLC is a nonprofit corporation that believes the Democratic Party should shift away from traditionally populist positions. Moderate and conservative Democratic leaders founded the organization in 1985 in response to the landslide victory of Ronald Reagan. The group has advocated economic policies, such as decreased government regulation of big business as-well-as trade agreements that often conflict with the views of traditional Democratic constituencies, especially labor unions.

One of the organization's first projects was a Super Tuesday primary, which directly threatened Iowa's first-in-the-nation status. The plan was abandoned, however, when the process seemed to be favoring Rev. Jesse Jackson, a vocal critic of the organization, instead one of the DLC's hand-picked Southern conservatives. Since that time, the DLC has sought to influence the national debate and has founded the Progressive Policy Institute, a Democratic yet conservative think tank.

The current committee chairman is Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee, a former member member of Congress and visiting professor of public policy at Vanderbilt University. Ford is also vice chairman and senior policy advisor for Merrill Lynch and was hired in March as a political contributor to Fox News.

Late last night eight fire departments and the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office responded to a fire at the old Birmingham school building. Today the fire, which led to a total loss of the structure but no injuries, was ruled arson.

Agents from the State Fire Marshal's Office are asking the public for help. Anyone with information relating to the fire is asked to phone either the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office, 319-293-3426, or the Arson Hotline, 1-800-532-1459. Investigators are particularly interested in speaking with individuals who may have seen activity around the building prior to 9 p.m. yesterday. Information leading to an arrest and conviction may qualify the informant to a monetary reward.

Responding fire departments were Birmingham, Fairfield, Libertyville, Packwood, Stockport, Bonaparte, Keosauqua and Douds.

The Ottumwa Courier has video of the fire.

(This post was updated at 5:45 p.m. to include an interview with Sen. Mary Lundby.)

In a move that won't surprise many in eastern Iowa politics, Iowa Senate Minority Leader Mary Lundby announced today that she would not seek re-election to the Legislature and instead will run for a seat on the Linn County Board of Supervisors.

The move follows two elections -- one last fall to increase the number of supervisors from three to five and a second held Tuesday, which determined how the new supervisors would be elected. Just more than 56 percent of those voting in Linn County chose to have the county divided into five districts of roughly 38,000 people. Candidates for the supervisor post would be required to live within the district, and only residents of that district could determine who would serve them at the county level.

In a telephone interview, Lundby, 59, said she made the decision to leave the senate more than a week ago.

"I told family, friends and colleagues about my decision," she said. "Yesterday, the election determined that Marion would make up about 60 to 70 percent of a new county supervisor district. Since I still want to be involved and serving my community, I thought that would be an opportunity."

There has been speculation that health issues may have played a role in her decision.

"My health was not a factor," Lundby, a cervical cancer survivor, said. "Matter-of-fact, on July 2 or 3 I was given a clean bill of health. I know this district and I want to continue to serve our community... and I think I can play a very important role as supervisor."

Lundby, who represents Iowa's 18th District, has not always found favor with fellow Republican Party leaders.

In an IowaPolitics.com profile, Lundby said the day in politics she would rather forget is "the day I lost the race for the speaker of the house after I had orchestrated and executed the Republican takeover of the house after 10 years of Democratic control... Some members told me I couldn't be speaker because Iowa was not ready for a woman speaker...in 1992."

Today, in speaking of the Republican caucus and their disagreements, she said, "Some of them are darn glad I'm leaving."

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal says he has enjoyed serving with Lundby and that her departure, despite creating an opportunity in her Senate district, is not a cause for his personal celebration.

"I have served with Mary for many years and have always had a great relationship with her," Gronstal said in a telephone interview. "She was the first woman leader of the Republican caucus, and I will always remember her for being very strong on environmental issues."

With a reminder that the voters of the district ultimately will decide the candidate in the next election, Gronstal added that he and others in the Democratic Party have had individuals approach them about the possibility of running for the seat.

"I know that [state Rep.] Swati Dandekar is considering a run for that seat," he said.

Lundby has also heard speculation that Dandekar may seek her vacated seat.

"I wouldn't be at all surprised if that happened," she said. "Swati has served Marion well as a state representative; however, she is a Democrat and I am a Republican. I will never personally criticize her, but we do disagree on issues. I believe she works hard, loves our community and that she is a descent and outstanding human being."

Lundby, a native of Carroll and graduate of Upper Iowa University in 1971, still believes being "in the middle of the road philosophically and never taking your constituents for granted" is key to political success.

She has served in the Iowa Senate since 1994 and served in the Iowa House from 1986 to 1994. Before earning a seat in Des Moines, she served as co-chairwoman of the Linn County Republican Party, a member of the Linn County Republican Central Committee, and as staff assistant to Sen. Roger Jepsen.

"I will miss the incredible amount of information I had at my finger tips as a state legislator," Lundby said. "I will miss having the ability to call any number of state department heads on behalf of my district and being able to nearly immediately get someone in charge on the phone. I will miss my ability to help constituents solve problems at the state level."

That being said, Lundby is not entering into her decision lightly and already has begun to formulate plans on how she can best serve Linn County if elected as a supervisor.

"Having worked in Des Moines for so long, I think I can put my knowledge to use for the county," she said. "I believe I can help our county government better work with the state and have a more effective voice in Des Moines. I want to talk with governments throughout the county so that we can all work together. I also want to forge more public-public partnerships which I think will benefit Linn."

She also still has great faith in the voters in Linn County.

"I have always relied on the voters here in my district and in the county to know what they want," she said. "I will put out a plan and if the voters like it, I'll hear about it. If they don't like it... well, I'm sure I'll hear about that too."

Base pay for state senators in Iowa is $25,000 per year before taxes. Given her role as minority leader, Lundby made roughly $10,000 in addition to the base pay. Supervisors in Linn County are paid just over $84,000 per year before taxes.

District Court Judge Joel Novak was recently presented with the Iowa Judges Association Award of Merit for his contributions to the association.

"Throughout his distinguished career, Judge Novak has served as a district court judge with the highest integrity," 5th District Chief Judge Arthur Gamble said in a prepared statement. "He has handled every kind of case from misdemeanor to murder, medical malpractice and complex commercial litigation. He studiously catalogs each decision of the Iowa Appellate Courts. He shares his judicial scholarship each year as a faculty member for our new judge orientation."

The judge, having made a name for himself as the "marrying judge," was the subject of an April 2006 article in the Des Moines Register. He is especially sought after in the Latino community because of his ability to speak Spanish.

"The two best things a judge can do is preside over adoptions and weddings," Novak said in that interview. "Any other time I'm dealing with people's problems. When I look back, believe me, I see the faces of the couples in my mind. It warms my heart."

Novak, Des Moines, was appointed to the bench in 1979. Born in Rock Island, Ill., he graduated from the University of Iowa in 1962. In 1965, he earned his law degree from the same institution. From 1965 to 1979, Novak was a trial lawyer with a private firm. He belongs to the Polk County and Iowa State Bar associations. He is married with four children.

The Iowa Judges Association represents the interests of all active, senior and retired judges and appellate judges in Iowa.

Came across this nifty tool that will test if a website is censored in China and, just for the fun of it, I put in our blog address.

It saddens me to report that the women in China will not be able to keep up with Iowa women in politics, learn of my handbag fetish or listen to the latest earworms. We've been blocked! Of course, my 15-year-old daughter just informed that I can now talk trash about the Chinese and they'd never know.

If you test your site, leave us a comment and tell us if the Chinese are reading or not.

Gov. Chet Culver has appointed Iowa native Bradley Harris of Grundy Center as a District Court Judge for the 1st Judicial District, located in northeast Iowa.

"[Harris's] vast experience in both the public and private sectors make him well-equipped to serve in this new capacity," Culver said in a prepared statement. "I have no doubt that Mr. Harris' expertise will be an asset to Iowa's judicial system and the 1st District."

Harris, 51, is currently a partner at the law firm of Kliebenstein, Heronimus, Schmidt, & Harris where he has primarily practiced in the areas of real estate, family law, collections and taxation. He serves as the Grundy County Attorney and the City Attorney for Grundy Center. He received his undergraduate degree in economics from Loras College in 1976 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1980.

He originally served in private practice at Karpin & Harris and Bradley J. Harris Law Office in Albia. He has served as an assistant county attorney in Monroe County and city attorney for Lovilia. He was as public defender in Waterloo during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1995, he joined his current law firm and was subsequently named a partner in 1999. He has served in the office of the Monroe County Attorney since 1995 and as Grundy Center City Attorney since 2004.

The vacancy was created when Iowa District Court Judge Karl D. Briner retired. Harris will serve as judge in District 1B which includes Black Hawk, Chickasaw, Fayette, Grundy and Howard counties.

Sen. Chris Dodd, one of eight Democrats running for president, told members of the Iowa Democratic State Central Committee that "Iowa is going to be a blue state for years to come" and that his candidacy wasn't a boyhood dream.

"I've come out here a lot over the years on behalf of Democrats," Dodd told members of the committee, the Iowa Democratic Party leadership and guests at a meeting Saturday in Des Moines. "I've been to Jefferson-Jackson dinners going back 20 years or more for Tom [Harkin] and others. I'm coming into the state now in a new capacity. I didn't wake up at age 10 and decide I wanted to be president of the United States."

Life experience and a belief that he can make a difference are what led him to this path, he said.

"This quest is a labor of love for me," he said. "I've got two very young children and I firmly believe that they and all the children in America need a good and solid future. The reason I'm standing before you today and offering myself is because we have so much at risk. If I went around this room and asked what was the single-most important thing to you, I suspect the answer almost unanimously would be your children and your grandchildren and what type of a country you and I are leaving them. The stakes could not be higher."

Dodd went on to praise Iowa and New Hampshire for the role they play in the nomination process.

"I've come to appreciate immensely what Iowa and New Hampshire mean in terms of giving people like me a chance," he said. "I'm not as well-heeled financially -- you all know that -- I'm not as well-loved. But I also know that you, in this state, don't get overly impressed by all of that.

"You like to make up your own minds and don't like to be told by others what the choice is going to be when the caucus meets in January. You like to kick the tires and you like to get a feel for who we are, what we've been, where we've been, what we stand for, what we believe in, whether or not we are electable and, if elected, what we are going to do for the country and for the people across our nation."

Without Iowa and New Hampshire, Dodd says, the process would be "a lot more exclusionary" and different.

"If this was only going to be a race where you ran on how many campaign ads you can buy and by only visiting the delegate-rich states, I think this would be a very different process indeed," he said. "We web-cast almost every house party we do in Iowa and New Hampshire so the country has an opportunity to tune in to your questions and my answers."

Dodd added that "having been the general chairman of this party, having been through eight elections, having been very involved in almost every presidential race over the years... whatever else happens here, I'm absolutely committed to seeing Iowa is the first-in-the-nation caucus for as long as I'm breathing."

Dodd also discussed his belief in national service, ending the war in Iraq and saving the environment (included in attached audio clip) before moving into a question-and-answer period. The senator from Connecticut will return to Iowa on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to roll out a health care plan.

Iowa's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose again in June, reaching 3.8 percent.

June's rate is up slightly from 3.7 percent in June 2006 and 3.6 percent in May of this year. The 3.8 percent rate means 62,500 residents of Iowa are unemployed, up from 59,500 in May of this year and 61,700 in June 2006.

"Although nonfarm employment was at a record high in June, jobs grew at a slower place than usual," David Neil, interim director for Iowa Workforce Development, said in a prepared statement. "June marked the third straight month that the manufacturing sector lost jobs in the state."

In April 2007, Iowa's unemployment rate stood at 3.4 percent. All of Iowa's figures, however, still fall well below the national average of 4.5 percent for June.

Nonfarm employment in Iowa reached a record of 1,523,200 in June, which was 900 higher than in May and 17,500 higher than in June 2006. Growth was centered mainly in health care services, financial activities, and professional and business services. A large decline of 700 was noted in manufacturing, while smaller declines occurred in mining and construction, private educational services and state government.

The industry sectors that added the most jobs from June to June were professional and business services (up 3,800), education and health services (up 3,300), trade and construction (up 3,100) and construction (up 2,400).

July numbers will be announced in late August.

On Monday I picked up a post from Tennessee Guerilla Women that presented a photo of Republican hopeful Mitt Romney with a supporter, both of them holding the following sign:

The incident happened last week while he was campaigning in South Carolina. On Sunday, according to the AP, Jerid Kurtz, administrator of Buckeye State Blog, asked Romney to apologize for comparing two U.S. senators with an internationally-known terrorist.

Kurtz has posted a first-hand account and the following video, showing him confronting Romney about the poster:

Kurtz poses the question once and Romney side-steps. When Kurtz poses the question again and more forcefully, Romney responds: "You know what? Lighten up slightly. Lighten up. There are a lot of jokes out there. I'm not responsible for all the signs that I see... just lighten up."

While I firmly agree candidates cannot be held accountable for every sign that pops up at their rallies and events, there is a distinction to be made for a sign appearing at a rally and a candidate holding a sign at one of their rallies.

By posing with and holding this sign, Romney has effectively taken it's homemade message as his own. He has compared two members of the U.S. Congress with Osama bin Laden and, when confronted about it, he has chosen to play it off with apology.

Just as I would not and do not tolerate Democratic candidates and supporters painting the current dynamic duo in the White House as Hitler, I cannot and will not tolerate Republican candidates and supporters comparing any American with an international evil such as Osama bin Laden. To do so does nothing to elevate the national conversation, pushes honest and concerned Americans away from the process and further divides our nation.

If you are looking for a new voice in Iowa, today's your lucky day.

A good friend of mine -- soon to be a good friend of yours -- has started a new site: Cornsong. When you visit you will find information, most of it in audio, on music, local issues and events. Unlike my site and all other Iowa blogs (at least those that I'm aware of), you won't have to sit and read on this new site. Grab your audio file and go. Easy!

So, head over, tell 'em hello.

Those interested in live commentary from the YouTube/CNN debate tonight will want to visit Iowa Independent and Rocky Mountain News.

If you haven't had enough, head over to Chris Dodd's site for types of additional coverage -- including Dodd's responses to videos that didn't make it on the air.

On Saturday Elizabeth Edwards dropped by the Democratic State Central Committee meeting in Des Moines to thank Iowa Democrats for their hard work and attention to the issues.

"We want to applaud you for all the the work you do because it is important for us," Edwards said. "The work you do is particularly important to the Edwards campaign because you help people find ways to be informed."

In addition to patting local activists on the back, she provided an update on the status of the campaign in Iowa.

"It helps to have been here before and it helps to know the process," Edwards said. "You don't spend time dancing around in Iowa. This is an organization state. I'm really pleased that John has 99 county chairs in addition to 99 rural county chairs. I'm not sure of the exact numbers on caucus chairs, but I know that we are doing well there as well."

The Edwards Campaign, she says, is working to bring currently uninvolved citizens to the process.

"We are reaching out to people who haven't been previously involved with the caucuses for our campaign and also in hopes of helping the Democratic Party overall," Edwards told the roughly 60 committee members, party leadership and guests who had gathered for the public portion of the meeting. "We are certainly doing our best to get people engaged in the process. The caucus system... I see it as a narcotic: once you're hooked, you're hooked."

Believing that turnout to caucus sites and polling places is going to be key in this election, Edwards says she personally plans to do what she can to get more women involved.

"I want to do 'ironing board' registrations," she said. "We need women to take ironing boards out in front of some of these big box stores or laundromats or wherever we need to go to get people registered to vote. Because, honestly, the people who aren't voting are probably the people most affected by the decisions of those elected."

Following urging from Chris Petersen, president of Iowa Farmers Union, for her husband and all the presidential candidates to keep rural issues at the forefront during this election, Edwards responded that she believed her husband is the only candidate who can successfully compete in rural America.

"Of the 18 or 19 candidates that are out there, you have one candidate who has a rural policy and that is John," Edwards said. "I also believe that he is the best candidate when it comes to making the case in rural America because that's the part of the world he came from. These are issues he has thought about which is why he has the policy and these are issues on which he is a very good messenger."

In rural areas, she says, many voters don't go on party lines, but support candidates who talk about their issues, understand their issues and "really get it."

"This race is not going to be a nameless Democrat against a nameless Republican," she said. "It's going to be someone with a face and a way of talking about things against a Republican who also has a story."

Former Sen. John Edwards will return to Iowa this Wednesday when he is scheduled to ride a portion of the RAGBRAI route with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

Have a look at this:

Hat tip to Tennessee Guerilla Women for this one.

That's Republican hopeful Mitt Romney enjoying holding and posing for a photo with a sign that compares two members of the United States Senate with Osama bin Laden.

If you are like me and visit lots of sites, forums, blogs and discussion boards, you're bound to have come across a list of three favorite things. I want our readers to join in, but, of course, with a twist. We all know you love your spouses, significant others, children, dogs, cats and so-forth. What we want to know is how petty you really are. What material things and gadgets make you smile just thinking about them?

List your top three in the comment section. To get things going, here are my three petty things:

1. Really great leather handbags. I've been known by friends as a handbag whore for years! It has to be soft, buttery leather and have just the right configuration for my stuff. My current favorite designer is Perlina. I also like Fossil, Coach and Braccialini.
2. My BlackBerrry. Being a self-employed type, it was always difficult for me to take off and leave the house. What if a client emailed and I wasn't quick to respond? Well, the BlackBerry solves that problem. It also beats the crap out of carrying around both a Palm and a mobile phone.
3. Moleskin notebooks. I realize I could buy a regular notebook for about a tenth of the cost of a Moleskin. Cost is not what draws me to these beauties. I love their hard cover and that with the reporter's notebook, I can bend it back over itself without worrying about ruining it. I love the thick paper inside, the pocket at the back and the elastic band to keep it all contained.

So, what are your favorite petty things/creature comforts?

First, the earworms. Two this week:

1. Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten:

2. Breaking Free from High School Musical (Yeah, I know... but you can't control your earworms)

And now for a look around the blogosphere...

For those who aren't aware, we have this little biking tradition in Iowa each summer known as RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). The ride is now in day two and there are several posts around from riders and observers. Here's a sample:

• The Bickersons
• The Challenge of RAGBRAI
• Robert Gray's Blog
• The T3sk3y Defenestrator
• CoeBRAI
• ACS Notes from the Mobile Action Center
• Brian Duffy @ the Register
• Adventures of an Idaho Violist
• Blah, blah. Woof, woof.
• Vicious Cyclers
• Krewebeadwhore

The John Edwards Campaign has also announced that the former senator will be joining Lance Armstrong in this year's RAGBRAI. Edwards will join the fun on Wednesday for a portion of the fourth day.

In other news, Douglas Waller has an interesting piece on his MySpace blog outlining how he believes Sen. John Kerry won Iowa. I'm not sure if I agree with all of his statements, but it is interesting reading nonetheless. Waller believes Gov. Howard Dean made missteps. Well, so do I, but not the same ones Waller points out. For instance, if you are going to campaign in Iowa, it is imperative to remember that Iowa is a caucus state and to prepare both your supporters and your staff to participate in a caucus. It's not going into a booth and coloring a dot. The caucus is a marathon where, in order to truly support your candidate, you have to nearly become your candidate and be able to draw people to your circle. In my opinion, that's where Dean died. His supporters had no idea how to caucus or how persuade others to their preference group.

The Barack Obama Report has information from the senator's stop at the AFSCME convention Saturday night. At that event, Obama told activists he would walk a picket line as president if organized labor helps elect him.

If you missed it, Sen. Tom Harkin guest blogged at Bleeding Heartland about staying up all night to fight for our nation's military.

There's a call for volunteers on Blog for Iowa to help with building the Rapid Response list during the 2nd Congressional District's Democratic Off-Year Workshop in North Liberty on Saturday, July 28.

Sen. Chris Dodd guest blogged at Huffington Post about Iraq and redeployment.

Don at Tusk & Talon notes that Rush Limbaugh picked up former Iowan Dave Hogberg's article in The American Spectator about SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program). Don seems to think this pick-up by Limbaugh is an honor. I tend to disagree... but it's still worth noting.

Head over to Gimmie the Scoop for information on Bush's initiative: the Import Safety Working Group. It is hoped this panel will provide recommendations to the feds on what needs to be done to ensure safety of imported food. It's being chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt.

Amy Ridenour has an interesting property rights post on a recent Ohio Supreme Court decision. The court refused to allow government in Norwood, Ohio to designate an area as blighted so it could be "reclaimed."

Lisa Sabin-Wilson is all excited about the upcoming Blogher Conference. I'm jealous as hell because I can't go and, therefore, am linking to Lisa in order to make up for the visits I'll not be paying to her blog in the next few days (out of spite and jealousy, of course).

Antioch Road has a one paragraph review of "The Age of Reagan" by Steven Hayward.

The Corn Beltway Boys tell us George W. Bush has announced a new initiative to lower his approval rating.

"Nah-Nah-Nah-Boo-Boo," said Gordon this week as he gloated about a secret. In true grade school fashion, we plan to steal his pudding cup and poke him with sharpened pencils until he either tells us or shuts the hell up.

Jimmy Montague over at The Cyanide Hole brings news of then end of the war on drugs.

Don McDowell offers the McCain campaign's strategy to end their slow, horrible, public campaign death at Cyclone Conservatives. Quite frankly, I remember Ronald Reagan and John McCain is no Ronald Reagan. So, here's my advice to the campaign: Don't let your candidate talk anymore. So far he's managed to alienate every possible group which might have supported him. Perhaps -- although even I admit this is a long-shot -- if he doesn't talk out of either side of his mouth for awhile, he might be able to repair the damage.

My thanks to Greg Alan for his quick post yesterday about a Mason City duct tape stunt. I'm a little hesitant to admit this, but I couldn't agree with him more on this subject. If we give our teenagers and young adults something to do, we could prevent a whole lot of stupidity.

The other big news of the weekend arrived with a cash register soundtrack. For the most part, I'm still trying to stay far away from posts about the new Harry Potter book -- you know, at least until I finish reading it -- but there is one you must see. Iowa's own John Deeth live-blogged from Barnes & Noble on Friday. There is much merriment and many things to make you smile -- including a picture of Deeth as a middle-aged Harry. There was also an incident later in the evening where Deeth came face-to-face with some mall security types. I guess taking a picture in a parking lot is no longer allowed.

Keeping with Potter for a moment, there is a really interesting and excellent post by Bernie Heidkamp over on Pop Politics which discusses why Harry Potter matters.

Charlotte Eby at Iowa Insider explains why Iowans may want caller ID or unlisted numbers.

Moe at Midwestern Wilderness has an amazing photograph of a rio samba rose for Green Thumb Sunday.

Yesterday, Dave Price reported WHO-TV has earned softball bragging rights by offering up a spanking to KCCI and WOI.

Red Hog Diary visited the the Jones County Fair and has a very interesting post about faith and politics.

Compliments of The Good Reverend: Check out a Philadelphia Gas Works invoice. I hope they aren't just planning for the future.

Members of Congress should take notice. That's the word from the National Women's Law Center and Planned Parenthood Federation of America as they unveil the results of a national opinion survey on reproductive health.

The survey documents that on issues like sex education, contraception, unintended pregnancy and abortion, most voters agree that this country is on the wrong track. By a decisive margin -- 58 to 24 percent -- voters are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the country's approach to reproductive health issues.

Those who responded to the survey want a reproductive health agenda that will make a real difference in the lives of women and families. Over 70 percent strongly favor making it easier for women at all income levels to obtain contraceptives, want to see public schools teaching comprehensive sex education and want to make sure women's right to contraception is protected.

More information on the recent polling results are available online in PDF memo and blog form.

Iowans called for jury duty can now respond while in their bathrobes.

A new online service of the Iowa Judicial Branch, eJuror, enables Iowans to respond to a court summons, complete a standard juror questionnaire, ask to reschedule jury duty and obtain information about serving on a jury.

"Each year, the courts call thousands of Iowans to jury duty," said Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Ternus in a prepared statement. "Because their time is valuable, we want to make their service as jurors as convenient as possible. Our new eJuror service will make reporting for jury duty a little easier."

Iowans who receive a jury summons in the mail can respond to the summons on the eJuror site. The jury number on the summons becomes the citizen's login information. Once logged in, the software will provide the standard juror questionnaire and electronically send the completed form to the court's clerk. There are also links to useful information about jury service, an email contact address for each court clerk and an option for requesting a one-time rescheduling of jury service.

Iowa courts are mandated by law to randomly select prospective jurors from a master list that includes licensed drivers and registered voters. More than 60,000 Iowans are summoned for duty each year. Iowa law provides that a person shall not be required, in any two-year period, to serve a term of more than three months unless to complete service in a particular case; to serve on more than one grand jury; or to serve as both a grand and petit juror.

Venerable political journalist Helen Thomas hopes both Iowans and bloggers understand the depth of responsibility placed on their shoulders.

"I think [blogging] can be very good," Thomas said in a one-on-one interview Thursday afternoon. "It is important, however, for them to get some help and training from legitimate journalists who can tell them about standards and ethics. The problem is that when everyone who has a laptop thinks that he's a journalist, the potential of ruining lives and ruining reputations is there."

She points to training and standards as mechanisms for ensuring all writers maintain a certain level of legitimacy.

"All journalists need to learn standards and ethics -- of being responsible for what they say and do and print," she said during an interview in Des Moines. "When that is reached, that's when [blogging] will be helpful."

Well aware of how Iowa can influence national politics, and how certain personalities in the White House can influence the nation, Thomas also has a reminder for Iowans as our state moves closer to the 2008 caucus.

"I hope that Iowans understand that in leading the way they have an incredible decision to make," she said. "They will be telling the people of the nation 'this is our choice' and 'we have made a real sound judgment.' It is just a tremendous responsibility and one I believe Iowans take seriously."

While she wouldn't name her choice for president, she did have advice for others as they decide.

"They need to think about who could really be best person for our country," she said. "They don't need to think in political party lines or any of that. I hope they think about if the person would be able to rise to all the occasions -- because there will be one crisis after another. Does the person have the stamina, the integrity, the principles? Why is this person here? Is the person simply ambitious -- full of their own ego -- or does the person really want to do something right, something good for us?"

Thomas, 86, was in Iowa to serve as keynote speaker for the annual luncheon of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa. She served up anecdotes and insights from her years in the White House press corps to the standing-room only crowd. Introduced with reference to her signature phrase for ending closed presidential conferences, "Thank you, Mr. President," Thomas began her official remarks by confessing there were several times she wanted to say, "No thank you, Mr. President." She also assured those in attendance that, although she was visiting from Washington D.C., she was not a candidate for president -- but, if elected, she said she will serve.

The humor and wit continued throughout her 10 minutes of remarks and the lengthier question-and-answer period that followed. This did not mean, however, that she avoided hot-button issues.

"I hope the voters will demand of the presidential candidates the unvarnished truth on mainly the disastrous war in Iraq -- the war without end, the war to nowhere," she said. "There are those in power who cry about government interference in private lives -- until the question of abortion rights comes up. They are very concerned about the unborn; however, the ongoing slaughter -- daily -- in Iraq evokes no shock."

Thomas, who has covered every president since John F. Kennedy, has no qualms about peppering candidates and presidents with tough questions. In response to an observation from a reporter that Thomas seems never to have backed down, she responded:

"Why shouldn't we stand up to them? Who are they? You don't have to back down because they work for us and they answer to us."

Thomas served for 57 years as a correspondent and White House bureau chief for United Press International. She was the first woman officer of the National Press Club, was the first woman member and president of the White House Correspondents Association and the first woman member of the Gridiron Club. She is also the author of four books, including her latest released in paperback in June: "Watchdogs of Democracy? The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public."

U.S. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, joined a bipartisan group of senators today that is introducing legislation to reverse a controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrowed employee rights to sue over employment discrimination.

The Fair Pay Restoration Act addresses the Supreme Court's decision in Ledbetter vs. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. that Lilly M. Ledbetter, a supervisor at a Goodyear Tire plant, could not sue for pay discrimination because she did not file her claim within 180 days of her pay being set.

"The Supreme Court's recent ruling in the Ledbetter case ignored the realities of the workplace and placed illogical restrictions on women's ability to fight for the pay they deserve," Harkin said in a prepared statement. "This legislation will ensure that the Supreme Court's mistake does not hinder women from fighting for fair compensation. Given the fact that women still earn only 77 cents for every dollar a man makes, it is imperative that women have the right to challenge their employers for fair pay."

People for the American Way has launched a petition and web video (shown below) featuring Ledbetter to support the Fair Paid Restoration Act and companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

"Congress has a rare opportunity to correct a terrible decision by the Supreme Court," said Ralph G. Neas, president of People For the American Way. "The Roberts Court made it more difficult for Americans to recover wages unfairly denied them and much easier for employers to engage in pay discrimination with impunity. Congress must act now to undo the Court's unjust assault on the individual rights of American workers and the laws passed by Congress to protect them."

The bill clarifies the Civil Rights Act's statute requiring cases be filed within 180 days "after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred." Specifically, the bill classifies each paycheck in which an employee is unfairly paid as a new act of discrimination. Therefore, employees would have 180 days after their last paycheck in which to sue for fair compensation. Given the secrecy of pay scales in the workplace, this clarification is considered crucial in ensuring employees' right to petition for fair compensation does not expire before they have the opportunity to discover they are being discriminated against.

Other co-sponsors are Democratic Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware, Barbara Boxer of California, Hillary Clinton of New York, Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Diane Feinstein of California, John Kerry of Massachusetts, Patrick Leahy of Delaware, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Patty Murray of Washington, Barack Obama of Illinois, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. Republican senators Olympia Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania are additional co-sponsors of the legislation. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is also a co-sponsor.

A longtime champion of fair pay for women, Harkin also recently introduced the Fair Pay Act. This legislation would address the historic pattern of undervaluing and underpaying so-called "women's" jobs. The bill requires the disclosure of pay scales and rates for all job categories at a company, without identifying the individual employee. This would make it easier for a woman to learn of pay discrimination closer to the date she begins working for an organization, enhancing her ability to advocate for better pay.

Actress Carol Burnett once said, "Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own." As the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence and author Kate Iola plan an upcoming public awareness campaign, they hope Burnett's words hold true.

In October -- Domestic Violence Awareness Month -- newspapers throughout the state will run public service announcements, each featuring an Iowan who is a survivor of domestic violence.

"We are currently seeking survivors who are open to telling their story," said Sarabeth Anderson, director of development at ICADV. "Kate [Iola] has volunteered to work with those who come forward to help develop 31 unique stories, one for each day of the month."

Iola, a business and agriculture writer for Successful Farming magazine, Agriculture Online and the Sioux City Journal, has a master's degree in molecular pathology and three issue patents. A resident of rural Iowa, she began reporting on foot-and-mouth disease in 1999. A year later, she took the initiative to write a work of fiction centering on the bizarre and true story of that threat. Since publication of her novel, Iola has become someone who regularly and loudly sounds the alarm of agro-terrorism.

The successes have been sweet, but the sour is also a part of her life experience and what drew her to the coalition and this project.

Iola is a domestic violence survivor. She approached the agency in January, asking how she could best volunteer. As a result of that initial contact naming rights for a character in her upcoming novel were placed on the block at an auction in April with all proceeds benefiting ICADV. Although the auction as a whole raised more than $30,000 for the agency, Iola wanted to do more.

"I want to give back," Iola said in a phone interview. "It wasn't that long ago that I was provided tremendous support and guidance at a local women's shelter. It's important to me to not only return the favor but to help the coalition raise awareness. Many people you meet have been in these types of situations, and I don't think the public really understands how complex and difficult these types of relationships are to end."

As a part of the project, Iola will tell her own story. Organizers are hopeful she will be one of many people who come forward.

"There is a misconception that domestic violence happens only to women of a certain educational or socio-economic level," said Anderson. "We hope this project will have a diverse cross-section of survivors -- different backgrounds, races, ages, occupations and economic status. When the series is complete we want Iowans to know that domestic violence isn't something that just happens to other people."

In 2005, roughly 24,000 victims of domestic violence were served by ICADV. The agency provided over 100,000 nights in a shelter and fielded over 77,000 calls to a statewide hotline in 2006. There have been 154 Iowans have been killed in domestic abuse murders since 1995.

The coalition, which has an overall goal to end violence in intimate relationships, provides assistance and education to programs that serve battered women and their children, Anderson says.

In addition to the newspaper public service announcements, residents in Des Moines will soon see banners as a part of the awareness campaign. The banners feature stock images of women with occupations below them. "I'm a survivor. I'm your..." appears across the top. The agency logo sits at the bottom.

"We want people to know that anyone can be a victim and a survivor of domestic violence," Anderson said. "Since 30 percent of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend, chances are there are people in your life right now who are survivors of domestic violence."

At the end of October the completed stories will be combined into a book, proceeds benefiting ICADV. Survivors of domestic violence who would like to tell their story should contact Anderson, (515) 244-8028.

Drive off the dealer's lot in a blue car and, suddenly, every other car on the road is blue. That's what came to mind as the following information came to me just as I was polishing a post on an upcoming domestic violence awareness campaign.

Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation have arrested a five-year veteran of the Osceola Police Department for domestic abuse assault.

The Osceola agency requested state assistance in the investigation of Judd Piercy, 34, of Osceola. The complaint states that June 20, while off duty, Piercy and the victim had an argument. During the course of the altercation, Piercy "got the victim down" and assaulted her, causing injuries to her eyes and nose.

Piercy posted bond and has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

In Iowa, domestic abuse assault is a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year imprisonment and fines up to $1,875. My article on the domestic violence awareness campaign will be posted later this afternoon.

It's been rumored that when Sen. Joe Biden announced to the audience at a recent presidential debate that both he and Sen. Barack Obama had been tested for HIV, the collective gasp pulled paint off the auditorium walls at Howard University.

"I got tested for AIDS -- I know Barack got tested for AIDS," Biden said. "There's no shame in being tested for AIDS. It's an important thing."

The statement prompted Obama to explain that he and his wife were tested during a 2006 visit to Kenya to encourage others to follow in their footsteps. Biden then clarified he had been tested following a blood transfusion.

It is unclear if this exchange garnered so much media attention because of the "clean and articulate" participants or because it is one of the few times the presidential hopefuls of either party have broached the subject of reproductive health without bringing up abortion.

Potential voters willing to scour the tubes of the internet can locate information indicating candidates' stances on various reproductive health topics. For instance, in response to a survey from the Human Rights Campaign (PDF file) the Democratic hopefuls all said they would support funding for the Ryan White Care Act to provide access to life-saving treatment and care for more than half a million low-income Americans with HIV/AIDS, increasing funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and research, and passage of the Responsible Education About Life Act to channel money to comprehensive and age-appropriate science-based sexual education. Visits to candidate web sites -- if the viewer is willing to sift through health care, education and foreign policy plans -- can provide more snippets of information. On the campaign trail, even in the political powerhouse state of Iowa, candidates rarely include basic reproductive health statements in stump speeches.

"We do our best to allow time for citizens to ask questions at events," said Tom Reynolds, Iowa communications director for Gov. Bill Richardson. "Questions about reproductive health, in general, have not been asked."

While Reynolds does not paint a rosy picture for reproductive health advocates, his statement is nonetheless true. In looking over notes from candidate events held in Iowa from January 2007 to present, Iraq and the war have dominated the question and answer periods of all presidential candidates, regardless of party. A full 63 percent of all questions recorded in this journalist's notebook have been either directly related to the war or encompass foreign relations policy in the Middle East. Coming in second are questions related to defense and domestic spending, due in large part to the efforts of bird-doggers for Iowans for Sensible Priorities. General health care questions including topics ranging from insurance company woes to impact of undocumented workers on hospitals rank third. Of the questions relating to health care, over 80 percent focused directly on cost and coverage.

Although questions about poverty, especially those instigated by the ONE Campaign, sometimes result in discussion of funding increases for AIDS, drug-resistant tuberculosis and malaria, they most often end in plans relating to Katrina-like disasters where most victims lived at or below poverty levels.

It is nearly a given that in each stump speech the audience will hear a one- or two-sentence sound byte relating to the candidate's stance on abortion. Outside of that hot-button issue, however, reproductive health appears only faintly in conversations of health care, education or foreign policy.

Realizing the impact political sound bytes from Iowa and New Hampshire can have -- if not on the presidential election itself, then on the national conversation on the issues -- many groups with a particular focus have set up shop in the granite and hawkeye states. Using both paid staff and volunteers, the groups have made a point of attending all kinds of candidate events and posing scripted questions relating to the group's specific purpose. Because of this, it is difficult to gauge whether Iowa citizens are unconcerned about reproductive issues or if their individual voices have been over-shadowed by special interest groups.

At the end of the day, however, if Americans want to know how the candidates feel on specific issues, their best bet is to not rely on national news outlets and to do the legwork themselves.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson keeps a casual feel, but leaves humor far behind in his new television ad titled "Stand Up." In the ad the governor reiterates his call to get all U.S. troops out of Iraq and for Congress to stand up to President George W. Bush.

"Governor Richardson knows all too well the pain of the families of fallen soldiers and the human toll the war is taking on our communities and our country. The Governor's own state of New Mexico has lost 31 soldiers. Iowa has lost 45 soldiers," said Richardson campaign manager Dave Contarino. "Congress must stand up to a President who has put our brave military men and women in an impossible situation refereeing a civil war. Our troops are targets- viewed as occupiers. If George Bush doesn't get them out, as President, Bill Richardson will. Every last one of them. These commercials reinforce that point."

The commercial begins running today on broadcast affiliates and cable systems in Iowa.

Former Cerro Gordo County judicial magistrate, Colleen D. Weiland has been appointed by Gov. Chet Culver as a district court judge for Iowa's 2nd Judicial District.

Weiland, a resident of Mason City, has served Cerro Gordo County for a decade. She received both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Iowa. While in law school she interned with the Dubuque County Attorney and the Iowa Attorney General. She has worked in general private practice and served as hospital legal counsel for Schroeder & Anderson for three years.

"Her experience as a judicial magistrate ... has prepared her well for her new job as District Court judge," said Culver. "With her background and experience in private practice, I'm certain she'll make valuable contributions to Iowa's judicial system in the years ahead."

The 2nd Judicial District covers Winnebago, Hancock, Worth, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Mitchell, Floyd, Butler and Bremer counties.

The nominating committee considered 11 applicants prior to recommending Weiland for the post. The vacancy was created when Jon Stuart Scoles resigned earlier this year to become Northern Iowa Federal District Court Magistrate.

The Iowa Department of Education has reviewed 176 applications and will provide state funds to 52 school districts for voluntary preschool programs.

The statewide program for 4-year-old children was established in May when Gov. Chet Culver signed House File 877. The legislature appropriated $15 million for the upcoming school year, which is the first of four years school districts may apply for funding under the new program. It is hoped this new venture will both expand the opportunity for young children to access quality preschool and move the state toward its long-term goal of 90 percent participation by 2011.

"Today is a great day for Iowa's children and Iowa's future," said Culver in a prepared statement. "In January we promised to increase access to quality preschool for 4-year-olds, and today we are able to deliver on that promise. Today's announcement means we are going to strengthen tomorrow's workforce and give more Iowa children hope for a brighter future."

School districts applied for a competitive state grant to provide at least 10 hours of instruction a week through collaborative community partnerships. The Iowa Department of Education selected the school districts based on the legislature's criteria and considerations, which include current availability of preschool programming, collaborative efforts of community early childhood partners, poverty and district size.

The amount of funding each district receives will be based on the amount requested in the application. Selected districts will not need to reapply. After the first year, funding for the approved preschool programs will move into a preschool aid formula based on the prior year's enrollment.

"We congratulate these school districts and commend the Governor's efforts to expand high quality preschool opportunities to Iowa's young residents," said Gene Vincent, chairman of the State Board of Education. "This has been a priority of the [board] for many years."

Selected districts are:

Adair-Casey · Allison-Bristow · Alta · Anamosa · Bedford · Benton · Boyer Valley · Burlington · CAL · Carlisle · Center Point-Urbana · Central City · Cherokee · Council Bluffs · Davenport · Delwood · Des Moines Independent · Durant · East Marshall · Eastern Allamakee · Estherville Lincoln Central · Garner-Hayfield · George-Little Rock · Gilmore City-Bradgate · Highland · Iowa City · Iowa Falls · Lamoni · Lenox · Lewis Central · Lisbon · Maple Valley · Marshalltown · Melcher-Dallas · Mid-Prairie · Mount Ayr · Muscatine · Nevada · North Fayette · North Scott · North-Linn · Perry · Pocahontas Area · Rock Valley · Sioux City · Southeast Warren · Starmont · Storm Lake · Stratford · United · Waterloo · West Liberty

At 5 p.m. today members of MoveOn along with Iraq Summer volunteers will hold a "counter-filibuster" in front of the Federal Building, 210 Walnut St. in Des Moines. The event is planned to take place as Sen. Chuck Grassley joins a Republican "filibuster" to block a vote on ending the Iraq war.

The groups will call on him to end his participation in the filibuster, which is blocking the United States Senate from passing a timetable for the safe and secure exit of troops from Iraq.

Event organizers plan to read a letter from an active-duty soldier serving in Iraq that calls on Congress to bring the troops home soon.

"We're gathering to ask Senator Grassley to stop playing political games and vote to bring our troops home safely, securely and soon," said Charles Carnes, a Des Moines MoveOn volunteer.

At the event Iowans will also unveil Grassley's report card on Iraq. Since the start of 2003, he has supported Pres. George W. Bush's Iraq policy. According to event organizers, now more than 70 percent of the American public is calling for the withdrawal of nearly all troops from Iraq by April.

A majority of senators are on the record in support of legislation that would require Pres. Bush to begin brining the troops home within the next 120 days and complete the task by April 2008. They will not be able to vote on such a measure if Grassley and others continue to block progress. Senate rules require 60 out of 100 votes in the Senate to end debate and bring a bill to a vote.

The pending Senate bill is an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill offered by Democratic Senators Carl Levin of Michigan and chair of the Armed Services Committee and Jack Reed of Rhode Island and a former U.S. Army Ranger. It is co-sponsored by three Republican Senators -- Olympia Snowe of Maine, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Gordon Smith of Oregon.

Vigils and counter-filibusters are also planned in front of the U.S. Capitol Building and at in-state offices of most of the senators who plan to filibuster.

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards finished up a long day of campaigning on Saturday night by visiting with Linn County democrats at their annual picnic at Ushers Ferry Historic Village. On Monday he will begin a tour focused on poverty in New Orleans dubbed "The Road to One America."

The former senator from North Carolina was introduced by a crowd favorite: Iowa 2nd District Congressman Dave Loebsack (on left in above photo).

Edwards continued a theme he began earlier in the day at the 1st District off-year workshop. "The power in America, the ability to change this country is right here," he said.

Speaking before one of the largest crowds at the annual picnic in recent years, Edwards said the attempts to tie his focus on poverty and subsequent tour to a similar move made by Robert Kennedy were off the mark.

"Don't compare me to Robert Kennedy," he told the crowd. "While he influenced me, I wouldn't ever dare to compare myself [with him]."

Most of Edwards' remarks were focused on the upcoming tour and the ways he believes America can improve its image internationally.

Americans and American leadership needs to be seen "doing good things again," he says. He pointed to education, ending pollution, fighting disease and healthcare as ways Americans and our nation can make a difference not only in our own country but internationally as well.

"America is benevolent," he said. "We need to once again become a country that is a light for the rest of the world."

In the upcoming tour, Edwards plans to visit 11 cities in 8 different states to "shine a light" on the problem of poverty in America, and highlight solutions to restore economic fairness. The former senator has developed a national goal of ending poverty in 30 years.

During his first stop in New Orleans, Edwards plans to walk the Lower 9th Ward with local community leaders. This area of the city continues to face large obstacles in rebuilding, despite Pres. George W. Bush visiting 22 months ago and pledging to help with renovation and restoration efforts.

Following a week of investigation, agents with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation, arrested and charged five people associated with Terrible's Lakeside Casino in Osceola with theft and cheating at a gambling game.

Larry Shepherd, 22, was charged with first degree theft and one count of cheating at a gambling game. An Ngoc Vo, 40, Phuoc Thanh Ho, 33, and Nam L. Dam, 30, were all charged with second degree theft and one count of cheating at a gambling game. Oanh Oanh Ngoc Nguyen, 26, was charged with third degree theft and one count of cheating at a gambling game.

The arrests came after DCI gaming agents suspected a dealer was working with casino patrons to cheat the game of mini baccarat. After a review of casino surveillance video, agents determined the dealer, Shepherd, had misplayed hands by switching cards, exposing cards and paying losing hands to pay out more than $12,000 in casino money.

Agents say that, upon questioning, Shepherd confessed he had done as they suspected. Subsquently, he and the four other individuals were arrested.

At this time, it is not known if those charged remain in custody or if they have posted bail.

Sally Pederson has an opportunity to continue the philanthropic work she began while serving as Iowa's lieutenant governor. Today she was seated as one of three new representatives on the Northwest Area Foundation's board of directors.

Pederson will join Natalie Camacho Mendoza, an attorney from Boise, ID, and Sarah Vogel, an attorney from Bismarck, N.D., as new members on the board. Those continuing as members of the board are Daniel Kemmis of Montana, Dorothy Bridges of Minnesota, Father Kevin McDonough of Minnesota, Louis Fors Hill of Minnesota, Elouise Cobell of Montana, Patricia Jensen of Minnesota, Sandra Vargas of Minnesota, Elsie Meeks of South Dakota and William Thorndike, Jr. of Oregon. Leaving the board are Iowan Cornelia Butler Flora, who served as chair, and Humberto Fuentes of Idaho.

The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to helping communities reduce poverty for the long term. The foundation works on strategic projects with a small number of rural, urban and American Indian reservation communities, and the organizations supporting these efforts. It serves an eight state region made up of Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Although the eight states are contiguous, history, more than bonds of population or geography, bring them together into Northwest Area Foundation's service area. These states were served by the Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill's son, Louis W. Hill, established the foundation.

By the late 1990s, the foundation had been operating as a traditional grant-maker for nearly 50 years. Directors sifted through several thousand requests a year to make about 120 grants in 39 categories. Then, in 1998, after more than a year of reflection, study and strategic planning, the board of directors and senior management decided to focus the mission on long-term poverty reduction. This, the group reasoned, would allow existing financial and human assets to achieve a greater impact.

Leaders also decided upon an innovative approach -- to work directly with communities by providing financial resources and technical assistance to help with achieve four critical outcomes:

• Increased ability to identify and develop key local assets
• Expanded economic opportunities
• Increased use of inclusive decision-making
• Increased community know-how and institutional support to design, lead and implement poverty reduction strategies

Pederson served as Iowa's lieutenant governor from 1998 to 2006, during which time she advocated for people with disabilities, health care coverage for children and insurance coverage for mental health. In 2003, Pederson received the John F. Sanford Award from the Iowa Medical Society for her efforts in improving the quality of health care in Iowa. As lieutenant governor, Pederson initiated and chaired the Iowa Committee on Diversity. She served as state Democratic Party leader until November 2006. Pederson holds a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University.

Since 1999, the foundation has invested approximately $193 million in community-based poverty-reduction programs. It expects to invest an estimated $75 million within the next two years, at which time it will have completed its first 10 years of operations under a community-based program model.

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. For more information, visit the foundation website or phone (651) 224-9635.

A quick note that, in addition to former Sen. John Edwards attending in person, the campaigns for Sen. Joe Biden, Sen. Chris Dodd and Sen. Barack Obama will have representatives at the Linn County Democratic picnic this Saturday at Ushers Ferry Historic Village.

Jill Biden will appear on behalf of Biden. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, will appear on behalf of Obama. Rep. John Larson, D-Connecticut, will appear on behalf of Dodd. Our own Congressman Dave Loebsack will also be in attendance.

Here's a copy of the latest press release:

Linn Co. Democrats Host Free Children's Carnival

~ Former Sen. John Edwards Scheduled To Attend ~

A free children's carnival is the focus of the annual Linn County Democratic Central Committee picnic slated for Saturday, July 14. The carnival will feature many old-fashioned picnic games including ring toss, face painting, bean bag throw, and much more. This year the picnic will also free a free children's bouncy castle and a dunk-a-dem booth were balls can be purchased for $1. Children of all ages are welcome to attend, grab a free popcorn or snocone, and earn prizes as they play free games.

The event will be held at Ushers Ferry Historic Village, 5925 Seminole Valley Trail NE in Cedar Rapids, and will include free admission to the Village and free self-tours. If you've never had opportunity to tour this wonderful slice of American history, this is the perfect time!

There is absolutely no charge for families to come out between 1 and 4 p.m. and enjoy the children's carnival, bouncy castle, tours of Ushers Ferry and fun in the Iowa sun.

From 4 to 9 p.m., politics -- local, county, state and national -- takes center stage. We anticipate appearances by local elected officials at all levels of government and will welcome special guests Jill Biden (on behalf of Sen. Joe Biden); Rep. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii (on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama), Rep. John Larson of Connecticut (on behalf of Sen. Chris Dodd), U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack, and Democratic presidential hopeful former Sen. John Edwards. There is absolutely no charge to come and listen to what all of these wonderful speakers have to say about the state of our county, communities, state and nation.

The evening will wind down with an evening meal at a cost of $5 per plate. The menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, baked beans, chips and beverage (soda, water, lemonade and beer). Friends and fellowship will the name of the game throughout the evening and there will be some fun activities for those in attendance.

Such a wonderful, free community event would not be possible without some truly great sponsors. Our thanks to Swati Dandekar Campaign Committee; Alan Bernard, Rep. Todd Taylor, Linn Co. Supervisor Linda Langston, Allan and Kay Hale, Roger and Diane Hoffmann, Beer-U.com, Linn Co. Obama for America, and the Linn Co. Stonewall Democrats.

For more information, please visit www.LinnCountyDemocrats.org

It was a good thing New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was running a few minutes late for the meet-and-greet at his Cedar Rapids headquarters Wednesday. Local organizers needed the time to move supporters and chairs out of the overcrowded office and into the parking lot in front of the building.

Richardson, known for his ease and good-natured humor on the campaign trail, was fresh off stops in Waterloo and the Field of Dreams in Dyersville -- and was quick to point out he was still wearing the jeans and sneakers to prove it.

"It's been a great day," the longtime baseball fan said. "I even got to hit a line drive... right into a photographer."

Richardson said the photographer was not injured and quickly forgave the presidential candidate even as laughter and a shout came from the audience about how the journalist "shouldn't have been in the way."

The rest of the Democratic hopeful's prepared remarks were short and sweet, much like a shopping list.

"I'm running because we need change and experience," the former ambassador to the United Nations. "We need to get out of Iraq. We need to be energy-independent. We should have schools for all and national health care. We need an economy that will protect the middle class."

Point after point was delivered, only interrupted by outbursts of applause from the crowd of about 100. Some of the largest eruptions came when Richardson said he will be "a president that will follow the Constitution."

"We have to bring back habeas corpus," he added before giving a quick overview of why the United States should not tolerate human rights violations and should close the holding facility in Guantanamo Bay. "I want to lead us back into the community of nations, and I want to lead our nation back together -- we should not be so divided."

Richardson ticked off a couple more items on his list before proceeding to check-out: the importance of women's reproductive rights and ending discrimination based on sexual orientation.

"I'm someone who knows how to get these things done," he said. "I know I'm not in an easy fight here. I don't have as much money as some of the others. I'm not a rock star. I know I'll be fighting some of the special interest groups. There is one thing I do know: no one is going to out-work me."

Before moving on to audience questions, he closed his remarks with praise for Iowa and a promise to supporters.

"I am hopeful because the choice of the presidency is in your hands," he said. "Iowa is first because you deserve it. I want you to know that I will make you proud. I'm going to stay positive because our nation needs me to -- to try and bring us back together."

Despite gentle shoving from campaign staffers for him to move a little faster toward the car and the airport, Richardson took his time answering questions, speaking with the press and sharing a few laughs.

"I really like him," one woman confided as she made her way out of the event and toward her car. "He reminds me of a really great uncle you simply must have at the family reunion or it's just no fun. I know he has great credentials and he knows he has great credentials. I like that he's comfortable enough not to have to shove them in my face and can just be casual."

Although the event in Cedar Rapids marked the end of a two-day tour, campaign staff members have begun planning his next trip into the area.

(Information on the events planned with the marches in Iowa City on July 27, 28 and 29 is located in a new post.)

The marchers are definitely coming -- and they need your help.

It all began May 21 in San Francisco and has slowly but surely moved across the nation -- from California to Nevada to Utah to Colorado and, currently, to Nebraska. This weekend, March for Peace is expected to cross from Nebraska into Iowa.

As with most grassroots activism, this journey began as an idea last fall for now 19-year-old Ashley Casale. She was a freshman at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. and thought a march across the nation would bring attention to the peace movement. She developed the web site and distributed fliers. Many people showed interest, but it has only been Casale and 18-year-old Michael Isreal doing the vast majority of the marching.

Earlier this month the pair did an interview with Colleen Mastrony of the Chicago Tribune:

...Their packs leave bruises on their backs, and their shoes have worn holes. Their skin has darkened to a chestnut hue and their bodies have grown lean. Over seven weeks they have traversed four states, more than 1,400 miles.

They make an unlikely pair. Israel is quiet and soft-spoken, and wears a floppy fishing hat. Casale is vivacious and outgoing, wearing outlandish orange sunglasses and carrying a cell phone that constantly rings with calls from activists and family checking the marchers' progress. They had not met in person before the march began.

As they travel the highways, they have glimpsed the nation's conflicting and complex feelings on the war. One woman working on a road crew in Colorado choked back emotion as she told them her son was shipping out to Iraq. "I don't like war either," she said before handing them her last few dollar bills. A Vietnam veteran selling produce at a roadside stand offered the travelers a free bag of cherries. "The government is sending those boys to die just like they did in Vietnam," he said.

But the marchers also have faced the nation's anger. An Army recruiter said American soldiers were making the real "march for peace" over in Iraq. And a farmer who initially had agreed to let them stay on his land abruptly asked them to leave after they told him they were protesting. At the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, rangers refused to let the pair enter until they put away the signs that read "March for Peace." And on July 4, a driver in a passing car yelled: "Bunch of hippies! Bomb Iraq!"

Their anticipated route is posted and they are planning to pass through Council Bluffs, Treynor, Carson, Griswold, Massena, Fontanelle, Greenfield, Nanito, Stanzel, Winterset, Patterson, Bevington, Martensdale, Prole, Norwalk, Lakewood, Des Moines, Ivy, Prairie City, Reasnor, Sully, Lynnville, Montezuma, Deep River, Williamsburg, Unviersity Heights, Iowa City, West Liberty and Muscatine between the July 15 and July 26.

There are many things you can do to help: provide a place for them to sleep for a night, bring cool drinks, walk along for a few miles, say hello, write a letter to the editor of your local paper, hand them a few bucks or organize a rally.

I realize that not all readers will agree with the thinking behind this march. I am hopeful, however, that each of you will applaud two very young, motivated and determined people.

Three of Iowa's community foundations are a little more flush today, thanks to matching grants from Endow Iowa.

Gov. Chet Culver joined the Iowa Council of Foundations and the Iowa Department of Economic Development to announce the 2007 award recipients. Kossuth County Community Foundation received a $10,000 grant, while Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Story County each received $20,000 grants.

"I would like to congratulate the community foundations from Hardin, Kossuth and Story counties," Culver said in a prepared statement. "Because of their foresight and dedication to philanthropy, these communities will continue to grow stronger."

Iowa community foundations are tax-exempt charitable organizations created by and for the people of a given region. The organizations make positive, local impacts by offering tools to help people achieve charitable goals and do good works in their communities such as college scholarships, youth activities and quality of life projects.

Endow Iowa provides an incentive to encourage individuals, businesses and organizations to invest in their region. All recipients receive a matching grant to build their community foundation's unrestricted endowment fund. To be eligible the organization must show enough local, non-earmarked contributions to provide the matching funds.

"Iowa's strategy for economic development has two focuses: creating great new jobs and building great communities," said Michael Tramontina, director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. "Well into the future, these long-term endowment foundations will improve quality-of-life in these communities, making them even more attractive to businesses and employees."

The Endow Iowa grant program is a competitive process. Organizations complete applications reviewed by a committee formed by the Iowa Council of Foundations. Items such as the governing body representatives, philanthropic spirit in the area, unrestricted endowment fund contributions raised, enthusiasm toward growing the community foundation, long-term plans and charitable needs of the area are all aspects of the application process and review.

"The Community Foundation movement in Iowa is certainly creating long-term opportunities for community betterment in every corner of the state," said Angela Dethlefs-Trettin, director of the Iowa Council of Foundations. "Through programs such as Endow Iowa, we are building upon that spirit of philanthropy which will continue to benefit charitable projects and programs that are so important. By helping to build strong community foundations, so much is being done for Iowa communities - for good and forever."

The goal of the Endow Iowa Grant Program is to enhance the quality of life for Iowans by funding community foundations that will aid nonprofit projects and programs. The grant program is administered by the Iowa Council of Foundations in collaboration with the state. Now in its third year, the Endow Iowa Grant Program in total has leveraged nearly $1.1 million in local contributions, creating sustainable, philanthropic vehicles in communities throughout Iowa.

Having long considered steadfast anti-abortion views as one of his best campaign assets, Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Sam Brownback will up the ante this week when he brings two well-known activists into Iowa to campaign at his side.

Today the Brownback campaign announced a "Pro-Life,Whole-Life Tour" featuring Bobby Schindler, brother of the late Terri Schiavo, and Francis Bok, an escaped slave from Sudan.

Bobby Schindler, brother to the late Terri Schiavo, gave up his teaching job at Tampa Catholic High School after his sister's husband received court permission to remove her feeding tube while she was in a coma caused by severe brain injury. Bobby now travels across the world telling his sister's story and describing the impact of euthanasia. Bobby is the author of "A Life That Matters" and the executive director of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation.

Francis Bok is an escaped Dinka slave from Sudan. At the age of seven he was abducted in a Sudanese government raid held in bondage in northern Sudan for nearly a decade. Bok was forced to sleep with cattle, endure daily beatings and eat rotten food. Since then he has dedicated his life to speaking on behalf of those who are still in bondage: "What good is my freedom if my brothers and sisters around the world are still not free?"

Stops on the tour are all free and open to the public.

Friday, July 13 @ Council Bluffs
Gabriel's Corner Pregnancy Counseling Center, 131 S. 16th St.
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Friday, July 13 @ Sioux City
Home of Marge Stanek, 5500 Wild Rose Lane
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 14 @ West Des Moines
Brownback for President Iowa Headquarters, 2700 University Ave., Suite 206
9 to 10 a.m.

Saturday, July 14 @ West Des Moines
Crossroads Fellowship Church, 1200 60th St.
11 a.m. to noon

Saturday, July 14 @ Ames
Brown for President Office, 526 Main St.
2 to 3 p.m.

Saturday, July 14 @ Cedar Rapids
Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, 350 1st Ave NE, 16th Floor
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 15 @ Bettendorf
Home of Ron and Lynelle Stahlhut, 5439 56th Ave. Ct. East
2 to 3 p.m.

Many Iowans may have considered a report issued by several collaborating agencies last year to be the end of a project documenting access to emergency contraception. The truth is, however, last year's findings were only the beginning.

"Since the initial report was issued we've had 10 volunteers make over 800 more phone calls over a 55-hour period," Karen Kubby, executive director of the Emma Goldman Clinic, said. "From those efforts, we have 300 more completed surveys."

Such new information is currently being added to the 2006 results of Project Pharmacy, a collaborative effort between the Emma Goldman Clinic, Planned Parenthood of East Central Iowa, Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, Planned Parenthood of Nebraska/Council Bluffs, Planned Parenthood of South East Iowa, the University of Iowa's Law Students for Choice, Iowa Chapters of the National Organization for Women and the University of Iowa's Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance. The aim of the project was to determine availability of emergency contraception at Iowa pharmacies as well as to educate and inform both pharmacists and the general public about emergency contraception.

The study initially found 42 percent of Iowa pharmacies did not stock or dispense emergency contraception -- although all of the pharmacies carried other hormonal methods of contraception. In a report summary, such lack of access was attributed to "pharmacists and physicians not understanding how [emergency contraception] works, as well as anti-choice groups attempting to deliberately misinform and create confusion" about how it works.

"We began our study prior to the FDA granting approval of EC for over-the-counter sales," said Kubby. "We also did not include Wal-Mart Pharmacies in our initial study because, at that time, none of them carried EC. Since then Wal-Mart has issued a corporate policy, requiring their pharmacies to stock EC."

Kubby is quick to point out that stocking a pharmaceutical is a completely different thing than dispensing a pharmaceutical.

"One aspect of what we are doing is educating women on how to approach pharmacists," she said. "If a woman makes a request and is refused, she needs to know that she can ask if the pharmacy stocks EC. If so, she can then ask if there is another pharmacist on duty who will dispense. If all else fails, she can ask for a referral to another pharmacy or clinic."

Education of that nature, Kubby says, is a key part of Project Pharmacy.

"One of the things we are doing with the data we've collected is organizing it geographically," she said. "Once that is complete, we should be able to see if there are pockets within the state where EC is either not being stocked or not being dispensed," she said.

If such areas are identified, additional education-based outreach can be targeted to whatever specific needs are discovered.

"In some cases we might contact a county health department to both inform the agency of the lack of service and to, hopefully, involve them as a dispensing site," she said. "In another case we may wish to contact the Iowa Pharmacy Association to help get accurate information into the hands of pharmacists."

"One of the things that we've learned through this project is that not all the pharmacies who do not stock EC are doing so because of a moral objection. In some cases there is an economic factor."

Currently, pharmacies order emergency contraception -- which has a shelf life of three years -- by the case. In smaller communities or in pharmacies where there has not been a demand, product has expired and had to be thrown out.

"If economics is playing a factor, maybe we can work with the pharmacy to find a solution," Kubby said. "Maybe instead of purchasing a full case, we could find a way for the pharmacy to purchase a three-pack."

Because emergency contraceptive is effective if taken within 120 hours of protected sex, though most effective if taken within the first 72 hours, immediate access is important. According to the study, with proper access, emergency contraception could prevent 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions each year in the United States.

In the original study, funded by the National Network of Abortion Funds and the Emergency Contraception Access Campaign, phone surveys and mystery shopping was used to determine access and availability of emergency contraception in Iowa pharmacies. The phone survey consisted of eight questions and, originally, 648 pharmacists were targeted. Of those, 417 or 64 percent were given the survey. Both chain store pharmacies and independently owned pharmacies were included, although each type was broken into its own category.

Of the 183 chain store pharmacies contacted, 56 percent said they regularly stock emergency contraception. Only 29 percent, however, had emergency contraception in stock at the time of the call. Of the 80 stores that stated they did not stock emergency contraception, only three cited "moral or religious beliefs" as the reason they did not stock or dispense emergency contraception.

Of the 234 independently owned pharmacies contacted, 59 percent said they regularly stock emergency contraception and 42 percent had it in stock at the time of the call. Of the 95 stores that stated they did not stock emergency contraception, nine cited "moral or religious beliefs" as the reason. Of those nine pharmacies, four also refused to offer a referral to another pharmacist who would dispense.

Of the independently owned stores, there were 68 pharmacists who mistakenly believed emergency contraception would cause an abortion. Forty-six of the chain store pharmacists also held this mistaken belief.

Kubby anticipates the new findings will be released in late summer or early fall.

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards will be on hand this Saturday, July 14, at the Linn County Democrats' annual Good, Old-Fashioned Democratic Family Picnic.

The day will kick off at 1 p.m. at Ushers Ferry Historic Village in Cedar Rapids with a free children's carnival. The event features free popcorn, snocones, games, prizes, face painting, tours of the historic village, temporary tattoos and a bouncy house. Dunk-A-Dem will return again this year as well with balls available for purchase. (Come out and you might even get a chance to dunk me!)

At 4 p.m. the carnival ends and the politics begins. Many distinguished guests are anticipated from the various presidential campaigns. U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie from Hawaii's first district will be visiting and speaking on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama. Congressman Dave Loebsack, representing Iowa's 2nd District, will visit with picnic goers and offer remarks before introducing former U.S. Senator John Edwards.

The evening meal -- $5 per plate -- consists of typical picnic food -- hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, baked beans and chips. Beer, soft drinks and other beverages will also be available.

At roughly 4 p.m. this afternoon, State Troopers began working with local law enforcement in Minden to search for a man who escaped from a bail bondsman.

Within four hours the fugitive -- 29-year-old Amir Saad, charged with third-degree burglary -- was once again in police custody, according to Col. Robert Garrison of the Iowa State Patrol.

Saad was being transported from Utah to Ohio. He escaped when the bonding company transporting him stopped at the Fill and Food in Minden. Saad fled on foot into a wooded area adjacent to the convenience store.

The state patrol used aircraft to assist officers on the ground during the search.

Don't like political advertising? Better find and hide under a very big rock. With its first-in-the-nation status, Iowa stands on the front lines in a national debate over campaign finance reform.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled in a 5-4 decision that, by passing the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (also known as "McCain-Feingold" for its sponsors), Congress overstepped its authority to regulate political speech. The case, Federal Elections Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, focused on the portion of the law that prohibits organizations such as WRTL from using corporate funds to broadcast advertisements targeted at a specific candidate within 60 days of a general election and within 30 days of a primary or caucus.

Readers should not be distracted by WRTL being a party in the suit. The issue of free speech was being pressed from both sides of the political spectrum. Organizations and agencies supporting WRTL in this effort included the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Rifle Association, the American Federation of Labor and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among others.

The AFL-CIO filed a brief supporting the challenge in this case, according to the organization's President John Sweeney. Five years ago the group was a plaintiff in the "McConnell" litigation, opposing the "electioneering communications' ban.

"[The ban] criminalized an important and effective means of our public communications and silenced the collective voices of working people to a degree almost without historical precedent," he said. "We look forward to the occasion when the last vestige of this unjustified prohibition is invalidated or repealed."

For better or worse, Iowa broadcasters, viewers and advertisers will soon feel the brunt of the landmark decision.

"The influx of political advertising can definitely cause customer service issues for us," said Steve Lake, national sales manager for Iowa-based ABC affiliate KCRG-TV. "While no two stations plan out their advertising schedule in the same way, we all only have a certain amount of time to sell. That is, the amount of advertising I have available on the evening news -- the spot most political advertisers want -- doesn't change."

Despite the court's decision, there are still differences between issue advertisers and political advertisers, says Lake. Political advertisements are created by candidates and have certain protections under the law. Issue advertisements are created by groups and are not afforded such protections.

"Broadcasters don't have a choice when it comes to political ads," Lake said. "We are required by federal law to run them and to offer our lowest possible rate. Issue ads are a different story. We can charge higher rates and we are not legally required to accept them."

That last sentence is good news for Iowa viewers and advertisers.

"I doubt we'd bump any local advertisers," Lake said. "But those who buy in at the lowest rate do so with the risk of getting replaced with premium rate advertisers. The worst part is that we rarely know when an order for political or issue advertising is going to come."

Political campaigns and issue groups often make ad buys in advance that vary in duration and size. Key ad placement -- during the coveted evening newscasts, for example -- can be purchased for a price.

"We know who has bought ad time, but we don't know when an ad is going to come in at the last minute and need to be run the next day," he said. "When that happens -- and considering our limited ad time each day -- another advertiser has to be pulled from the schedule."

In general, political advertising isn't the economic boom some viewers may view it to be.

"Are we going to make money?" Lake asked. "Sure. At the end of the day, when you take a political ad at the lowest rate and mix in an issue ad at the higher rate, it's just a wash."

One thing is for sure, with their muscles restored to the strength of years past, organizations are going to be flexing in the weeks prior to the Iowa caucus.

"We welcome the Supreme Court decision upholding the rights of unions and other groups to broadcast messages that influence public debate and legislative decisions, even though these messages might also influence voters' choices in an upcoming election," Sweeney said. "A majority of the court has finally and emphatically embraced the simple truth that the First Amendment abides no law that suppresses independent speech about legislators and candidates, at least absent an explicit call for their election or defeat."

Only 14 blocks will separate Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton tomorrow in Des Moines. Both Democratic hopefuls are scheduled to offer remarks in the downtown area beginning at 10 a.m.

Clinton's campaign announced Saturday that she would be speaking on the Iraq war at the Temple for the Performing Arts. This morning Obama's campaign made the announcement he would be speaking on the urban campus for Des Moines Area Community College. His talk will focus on the economy.

If politics aren't your thing, why are you reading our blog? Seriously, anyone not attending these two events may want to steer clear of downtown traffic between about 9 a.m. and noon.

Two Osceola police officers are back on full duty today after being cleared of any criminal wrongdoing during a June 7 fatal shooting.

On the afternoon of June 7, Officer Richard Thomas and Sgt. Chuck Beeker encountered an armed man who opened fire on Thomas. The officer returned fire, expending three shots and striking the suspect twice.

The armed man was Eric "Max" Harold Lockwood, 40, of Osceola. The officers were responding to an emergency call indicating Lockwood had shot into an apartment. According to police reports, a woman in the apartment had recently ended a relationship with Lockwood. Following the shooting, both officers -- one a three-year and the other a 22-year veteran of the force -- were immediately placed on administrative leave.

A Grand Jury was convened by Clarke County Attorney Ron Wheeler. After hearing testimony and reviewing evidence, the jury cleared the officers. The decision closed the investigation into the incident.

Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge will be hosting a series of Wellness Town Hall meetings throughout the state in the coming weeks. Led by her Commission on Wellness and Healthy Living, these meetings are designed to begin a conversation across the state centered on new and innovative ways to improve the health of Iowans.

Ideas discussed at the meetings will be recorded by officials from the Iowa Dept. of Public Health. The ideas will then be used as the Culver/Judge administration formulates new policy initiatives for the 2008 legislative session.

Judge will attend the following meetings:

Tuesday, July 10 @ Fort Dodge
Celebration Center at Friendship Haven, 420 Kenyon Rd.
5 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, July 17 @ Sioux City
Briar Cliff University, Stark Student Center, Assisi Room, 330 Rebecca St.
7 to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 18 @ Newton
Newton Public Library, 100 N. 3rd Ave.
5:30 to 7 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 6 @ Cedar Rapids
Mercy Medical Center, Hallagan Education Room, 701 10th St. SE
5 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, August 7 @ Cedar Falls
UNI, Gallegher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, Davis Hall
2 to 4 p.m.

Additional meetings (without Judge in attendance) will be held:

Wednesday, July 11@ Burlington
Chamber of Commerce Meeting Room, 610 N. 4th St.
4 to 6 p.m.

Thursday, July 12 @ Davenport
Kahl Education Center, Room 1006, 326 W 3rd St.
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 19 @ Mason City
Liberty Room, 22 N. Georgia
4 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, July 24 @ Oskaloosa
Mahaska County Extension Office, 21 N. I St.
6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, July 25 @ Atlantic
Atlantic Library, 507 Poplar St.
4 to 7 p.m.

"We must begin to discuss new and innovative ways to increase wellness," Judge said. "By doing so, we will be able to increase the health of Iowans and give everyone a healthier outlook for the future -- from the youngest child to the oldest senior. I hope to see as many Iowans as possible during these events, and I encourage everyone to join with us as we begin this conversation."

The Commission includes at least one member for each congressional district. The members are Dr. Seldon Spencer (chair), Sen. Maggie Tinsman, Sharon Yearous, Kim Dorn and Art Silva.

After leaving Cedar Rapids last week, Democratic hopeful Sen. Joe Biden traveled to Des Moines where three Iowa lawmakers publicly pledged their support to him.

Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames:

Rep. Dick Taylor, D-Cedar Rapids:

Rep. Mike Reasoner, D-Des Moines:

Tomorrow, voters in Polk, Dallas and Warren counties will held to the polls to decide the fate of "Project Destiny," a local-option tax. As we reported last week former lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate Ed Fallon moderated a discussion on WHO and WMT radio stations between both sides of the proposed project. He and I'M for Iowa partner Lynn Heuss spent time on the radio talking about the proposal afterward. For those who missed the discussion, however, Fallon put out a summary today.

Our View on "Yes to Destiny" Sales Tax Increase

Regarding tomorrow’s vote on the proposed local option sales tax for Polk, Dallas and Warren counties . . . we’ve been asked to share our opinion on the matter. (For those outside the Des Moines metro, this may be relevant in your community some day, so please bear with us.) After lots of study and dialogue, we’re recommending a “no” vote, but not without significant excitement about the plan itself.

Yes, we need to do a lot more for culture, the arts and trails. Investing in these amenities will help make Iowa and the Des Moines metro even more dynamic and sustainable places to live and work.

However, the trails discussion has been almost exclusively about recreation. The focus should be on trails as part of our biking transportation infrastructure. Like other places that take biking seriously (the Netherlands and Portland, Oregon), there’s absolutely no reason the Des Moines metro couldn’t see 25% of its commuters getting to and from work by bike most of the year.

Sure, trails are a part of that conversation; but the focus should be on biking-as-transportation, addressing issues of road safety, bike lanes, bike racks, trail and lane maintenance, etc. Driving one’s car to ride one’s bike on a trail does nothing to reduce auto dependence or carbon emissions. Biking as recreation is important, but if we truly are committed to becoming more environmentally-friendly communities, developing an infrastructure that supports biking as transportation is essential.

Our main problem with Destiny is the funding stream. It is simply flat-out wrong to pay for these improvements by increasing the sales tax, which is the most regressive of all taxes. With a sales tax increase, the biggest businesses and wealthiest individuals will see reductions in their property taxes while the poor and middle-class will pay more.

So, what should happen? First and foremost, Destiny proponents should join with those of us who have been working for years to support a slate of legislative reforms that would provide more than enough money to pay for Destiny-type projects, not just in central Iowa but across the state. Build a statewide coalition to:

• Allow local governments to enact an income surtax to pay for Destiny-type improvements;
• Require most tax-exempt property owners to pay for police and fire protection;
• Limit the use (and abuse) of tax increment financing (TIF) and tax abatement;
• Restructure the road-use-tax-fund to shift money away from new highway projects (the proposed northeast Polk County beltway and the Dallas County beltway) toward bike, pedestrian, bus, light rail and rapid train transit options; and
• Provide more funding for arts and culture.

Second, there’s plenty that can be done even without legislative changes:

• As stated above, amend the Destiny proposal to focus improvements for biking on transportation, not specifically recreation;
• Build a broader pro-Destiny coalition by addressing the concerns that Destiny opponents have raised;
• Use the current vehicle tax (“wheel tax”) provision of the Iowa code to pay for Destiny;
• Agree to limit campaign spending in support of Destiny to $25,000.
• For those who contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the pro-Destiny campaign, pledge that amount to the Destiny plan itself instead of spending it on pricey consultants, brochures and advertising.

For those who are interested, that’s our take in a nutshell. It’s a tough position to take, because a lot of our friends have worked hard on both sides of this issue. If it fails tomorrow, we’d be willing to be part of the discussion on where to go from here.

Straight from the press release:

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today announced his Iowa Faith and Family Leadership Committee.

"Over the past ten years, no one has done more in Congress to protect human life, traditional marriage and the American family than Sam Brownback," said former Iowa State Representative and pro-family leader Chuck Hurley, who will chair the committee. "Born and raised on a small family farm, Sam understands Iowa's conservative, Midwestern values. For conservatives looking for a champion in 2008, the choice is clear: Sam Brownback."

"I have been thrilled with the enthusiastic support of Iowans who share my goal to rebuild the family and renew the culture," added Brownback. "I have been blessed with the opportunity to carry forward the life, family and faith battles in Congress over the last decade. With the help of my Iowa Faith and Family Committee and the support of like-minded citizens across America, as president I will protect marriage and the family, preserve the role of faith in the public square, promote a culture that respects human life and appoint the Supreme Court Justice who will overturn Roe v. Wade."

The members of Brownback's Faith and Family Leadership Committee joined in appreciation of Brownback's consistent record and demonstrated leadership in promoting a culture that celebrates and respects life, the family, faith and freedom.

The entire committee is listed below:

Chairman:
Chuck Hurley, Des Moines

Members:
Rosemary Wilson, Ames
George & Carol Remer, Battle Creek
Brian Rosener, Bronson
Pat Anderson, Cedar Falls
Charles Daugherty, Cedar Rapids
Patricia Daugherty, Cedar Rapids
Theresa, Jerry, Josiah & Joel Lydon, Cedar Rapids
Judith Colgnhoun, Cedar Rapids
Scott Gilbert, Cedar Rapids
Dean Rothchild, Cedar Rapids
Bob & Patti, Kyle & Kelli Klaus, Cedar Rapids
Michael & Jeannette Frey, Cedar Rapids
Wendy Wilcox, Cedar Rapids
Jason Besler, Cedar Rapids
Dana Philips, Central City
Les & Liz Schofield, Clinton
Joe Ranney, Council Bluffs
Janice Sanderland, Davenport
Zac & Laura Stollenberg, Davenport
Kent & Karen Baxter, Davenport
Marilyn Anderson, Dayton
Nick Bal, Des Moines
Larry & Sara Morris, Des Moines
David Rubin, Des Moines
Shane Vanderhart, Des Moines
Nancy Ellinger, DeWitt
Brett Barker, Iowa City
Jeanne Jennings, Johnston
Randy Goodson, Marion
Garth Betry, Marion
Mark & Marie Scherbaum, Marion
Brandon Scherbaum, Marion
Sandra Goodson, Marion
Ric Lumbard, Marion
Jack McCullough, Monroe
Amy Russell, Mt. Vernon
Brad Russell, Mt. Vernon
Mark & Kay Flanders, Muscatine
Hannah Flanders, Muscatine
Anna Anderson, Muscatine
Brad & Danielle Schmidt, Muscatine
Joe & Joan Flanders, Muscatine
John Anderson, Muscatine
Bill Tvedt, Oskaloosa
Robin Chase, Palo
JoHann Twedt, Roland
Kateri Sevde, Roland
Donna Uhl, Sioux City
Dianne Winkel, Sioux City
Katherine Anfinson, Sioux City
Regina Ratina, Sioux City
Marge Stanek, Sioux City
Larry Myers, Toddville
Mark Bakker, Urbandale
Peter & Becky Johnston, Urbandale
Jordan Anderson, Washington
Gladys Heasley, Waterloo
Angela Wruche, Waterloo
Bob Deever, West Des Moines

Those who have flown over Cedar Rapids know the city is split by the Cedar River. Residents often use the river as a dividing line when they offer directions. The postal service, which places addresses into quadrants, uses the river as one of its primary dividing lines. And in the early 1900s city leaders, perhaps sensing the potential for divisiveness, began moving city services to May's Island in the middle of the river.

The current island -- designed to appear as a large battleship floating down the river, the only such structure in North America -- has remained immune to quadrant classification. This sense of neutrality is probably why organizers of the city's annual Freedom Festival use the island each year. It also might be the reason the 2008 presidential hopefuls steered clear.

On July 4th, Democratic hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton brought her husband, former President Bill Clinton, into town for a rally in Green Square Park on the east side of the river. At that same time rival Democratic hopeful Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut brought his entire family into town, parking the tour bus near the police station on the west side of the river. Whether by convenience or design, the paths of the presidential candidates did not cross.

Hay Bales and Barricades

The park, flanked by the modern Cedar Rapids Museum of Art on one side and downtown businesses on the other, was filled with American flags, hay bales, flatbed trucks (for the press) and, of course, people hoping to catch a glimpse of the former president and first lady.

Local staff had been collecting names and passing out tickets over the past week and their efforts did not go unrewarded. The park was packed with many people sporting "Hillary" stickers.

Bill Clinton was given first dibs on the microphone. He led those listening down memory lane.

"If you think about the way things were in the eight years when I had a chance to serve and now how every little thing has been turned on its head since I left office, we have a good comparison," he said. "Our way works better."

As smoothly as a Broadway show, Hillary Clinton picked up her husband's cues and asked the audience, "Wouldn't you like to be free of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney?" The audience erupted into applause.

Following short remarks, the music began and those who had gathered either rushed away to other activities or, more often, pressed four-deep at the barricades surrounding the stage area made out of hay bales.

Piggyback Rides and Fireworks

Those who want prime seating for the fireworks often show up on the west bank of the river in the first hours of daylight. A few tents and many blankets and tarps covered the ground as families sat in lawn chairs and lit sparklers.

This was the scene as the big, blue Chris Dodd for President bus pulled up near the Cedar Rapids Police Station. Dodd (pictured above with a daughter on his shoulders), his wife Jackie and daughters Grace and Christina didn't exit the bus to campaign theme music, but quickly began shaking hands and talking with supporters.

Once they began to make their way down the sidewalk and along the river toward the Third Avenue bridge, Dodd lifted his 6-year-old daughter, Grace, onto his shoulders for a piggyback ride. Iowa Rep. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids, served as host, leading the senator through the crowd and making introductions.

While some festival goers made an obvious point of ignoring the politician, most were receptive. People of all ages stopped along the sidewalks for a few minutes to ask questions, say hello or have their photos taken with Dodd and Staed (also pictured above).

It took the group nearly two hours to walk the two blocks between the police station and the Third Avenue bridge. An attempt was made to count handshakes, but your reporter lost count shortly after 150.

"This is the type of campaigning I really enjoy," Dodd said before boarding the bus to travel to Veterans Memorial Stadium where the family watched the fireworks display. "When you meet people like this -- on the street and sidewalks -- they are candid. They tell me things I don't hear anywhere else, and those are things I need to know."

Proving having a candidate at arm's length isn't a requirement for drumming up political support, staffers for Democratic hopeful Sen. Barack Obama visited with festival goers and passed out literature for their candidate at the 2007 Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival yesterday.

Field Organizer Allison Pulliam and Regional Field Director Hallie Schneir -- two of the hardest working young women in Eastern Iowa politics -- seemed to be having a hot but great time near the 3rd Avenue bridge when I caught up with them.

I heard that staff members from other campaigns -- particularly Gov. Bill Richardson's, former Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Sam Brownback and former Gov. Mitt Romney -- were on the ground in Cedar Rapids as well. Either I didn't spot them or they did a good job of running from the camera.

It took nearly five years, but the Labor Services Division of Iowa Workforce Development received more than $700,000 from a Missouri-based company penalized for violating occupational safety and health standards while working on the Des Moines sewer system in July 2002.

Workers Daniel Grasshoff, 25, of St. Charles, Mo., and Brian Burford, 19, of Lemay, Mo. died after being overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas while working on the east side sewer project for Insituform Technologies USA Inc. Five other workers were seriously injured when they attempted to rescue their two co-workers. According to state inspectors, neither Grasshoff or Burford was wearing a respirator or hooked up to any type of rescue line to pull them to safety in the event of an emergency. Autopsies showed that they drowned in sewage at the bottom of the the 15-foot trench after being overcome by the fumes.

The Labor Services Division, also known as Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration, requested a total of $808,250 in penalties after the accident, asserting, among other things, that Insituform failed to ensure that workers had ventilation respirators, ladders and harnesses which would have assisted in pulling the workers to safety. In addition, state officials said that the company had not adequately trained employees on procedures for permit-required confined spaces entry. The amount included $770,000 in penalties for 11 willful violations and $38,250 for nine serious OSHA violations.

The road to the large penalty was not an easy one. The company contested the fines to the Employment Appeal Board, which referred the case to an administrative law judge. The judge held up most of the penalties, but dismissed or combined others. This resulted in the fine being reduced to $158,000.

That decision was appealed by Insituform to the board, which reinstated all but one of the violations and increase the penalties to $733,750. From there the company requested review by the district court, records show. The court upheld the board's decision, but realigned the fines back to $158,000.

Both Insituform and the Employment Appeal Board appealed that decision, and the Iowa Court of Appeals dismissed all but two of the violations, ruling that the violations were based on the wrong safety standards. This court ordered the company to pay a total penalty of $4,500 on the remaining two violations.

The Iowa Supreme Court, which heard the state's appeal last winter, reversed previous rulings in the case. The state's highest court awarded $733,700 to the state in February, stating the company violated safety rules during the repair. The court found the standards applied to Insituform's employees and that the use of those standards does not violate the U.S. or Iowa constitutions. The court also ruled that evidence supported the Employment Appeal Board's decision that the company violated the standards and that the assessment of penalties was appropriate.

"This decision will serve as a precedent if similar issues are raised in future cases regarding interpretation of OSHA law," said Dave Neil, interim director of Iowa Workforce Development.

He praised the work of state inspectors who investigated the accident, and attorneys Gail Sheridan-Lucht with the division and Rick Autry, formerly of the attorney general's office, who handled the five-year litigation and appeal.

"It is good to see the hard work of an inspection being upheld through all stages of the legal process," he said. "We hope this provides some additional closure to the families of those lost."

The award is believed to be the largest penalty check sent to the state's labor services division, said Neil.

The family and estates of Grasshoff and Burford sued Insituform and the City of Des Moines in Polk County District Court following the incident. The case was settled in November 2006 for an undisclosed sum.

Former Iowa legislator and 2006 gubernatorial candidate Ed Fallon will be in control of the microphone this Friday morning, replacing Jan Mickelson as host of the radio personality's talk show.

During the show, broadcast in central Iowa on Newsradio 1040 WHO and in eastern Iowa on AM 600 WMT, Fallon will moderate a discussion between opposing sides of the "Yes to Destiny" sales tax proposition for Polk, Dallas and Warren counties. Those outside of the listening area can put a glass to the wall by using WMT's live stream. The discussion will run from 9 to 11 a.m.

Afterward Fallon and Lynn Huess, his partner in I'M for Iowa, will provide their take on the debate.

"Project Destiny" is a local option sales tax, the culmination of months of discussion among business and community leaders. The proposition will go before voters Tuesday, July 10.

Local campaign officials say the plan will raise $750 million over 10 years through the sales tax increase. Proceeds would be split into thirds: One-third for property tax relief in each of the 41 communities voting, one-third earmarked for publicly announced government plans and one-third for regional "quality of life" projects. Participating cities have set a 10 year plan for use of their portion of the funds.

Proponents believe property tax burdens will be reduced and regional quality of life amenities will be enhanced. This, in turn, will allow the region to retain current employers and employees while attracting new ones.

Opponents say this plan is "the largest local option tax increase in Iowa history" and point to an April report by the Tax Foundation. In that report, Iowa is listed as 18th in the nation for state and local tax burden. Iowans, according to the report, will pay 11 percent of their incomes in taxes to state and local governments this year.

If passed, the third of the tax earmarked for "quality of life" project would be managed by a new 15-member board called the Tri-County Regional Authority. Funding would be distributed, according to YesToDestiny.org, for regional quality of life facilities (30 percent), recreational trails (25 percent), scientific, arts, cultural and historic preservation organizations (25 percent) and additional regional property relief through regional property tax equalization and transition (20 percent).

My family had an excellent advantage point for the fireworks at this year's Freedom Festival in Cedar Rapids. We could literally watch them shot from the barge in the middle of the Cedar River and travel up into the sky before exploding... right over our heads.

Here's a video clip of the finale. It's a little shakey, but you'll have to give me points anyway. I had my five-year-old son, burrowing his head into my lap in an attempt to hide from the loud noises.

Happy 5th of July! (It was a long ride home.)

Today, Stand Up For Steel, a coalition of the United Steelworkers Union and America's major integrated steel companies, launched a print ad campaign in Iowa in an attempt to bring attention to our nation's lagging manufacturing base.

"On July 4, as America is celebrating its independence, we're becoming less independent," Terrence Straub, senior vice president of public policy and government affairs for U.S. Steel Corporation, said in a prepared release. "Our manufacturing jobs continue to disappear while this country increasingly relies on countries like China to provide products previously made in the United States.

"As we lose our independence, our national security is at stake. Specialized products such as titanium, nickel-based alloys and specialty steels are vitally important to the U.S. military platform, but our unwillingness to hold countries that cheat accountable on their unfair trading practices is eroding our ability to produce these products here at home."

The U.S. trade deficit with China was $84 billion in 2000. It currently stands at over $225 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Such increases in the deficit are having devastating impacts on trade laws through illegal subsidies, currency manipulation and dumping, says Straub. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports American manufacturing loses 49,000 jobs each month; more than 3 million since 2000.

China issued a new steel policy in 2005 and indicated it would continue to own and subsidize steel industry production and control fundamental aspects of the industry. The United States is China's number one target for their steel exports, according to their National Development and Reform Commission, a subject of the Committee on Ways and Means in February.

"In this campaign, we're urging voters to talk with the candidates about the national security implications of losing our manufacturing base," Thomas Conway, international vice president for United Steelworkers, said. "Our next President must commit to strong enforcement of our trade laws to ensure a level playing field for American workers. When America loses jobs due to unfair trade practices, America loses its ability to produce the materials that it needs to defend itself.

"This country has preserved freedom around the world on the backs of the men and women who work in our factories -- the same factories that are being closed because no one is forcing China to play by the rules."

Recent poll results show the issue of trade, manufacturing and the national security implications of our eroding industrial base are important to Iowa voters. Both Republicans and Democrats in Iowa rate manufacturing job loss, the trade deficit, and the China threat as serious concerns for this election.

The ads feature the above graphic and read as follows:

Today, we need to celebrate our independence, not lose it.

(Tell the Presidential candidates America deserves a real Independence Day.)

We hear a lot about national security from our Presidential candidates -- but none of them will tell you that one day we may depend on foreign manufacturers for our national security.

That's right -- as America increasingly depends on foreign-built products, our manufacturing base continues to erode. The same manufacturing base that supplies the equipment our troops need to keep America safe.

This Independence Day, Americans need to ask our Presidential candidates to do more than just talk a good game and sit on their hands while China and other countries cheat on our trade laws with illegal subsidies, currency manipulation and dumping.

They're taking America's jobs -- 49,000 a month in manufacturing alone.

Today is the day we're supposed to celebrate our independence. But every year, we're becoming less independent.

Tell our Presidential candidates that America needs to start enforcing the trade laws and safeguarding our national security.

After all, what better day than today to start standing up for America's independence?

First and above all else, my deepest gratitude, respect and appreciation to our nation's veterans and the men and women serving our country today. We celebrate our nation today with full knowledge that, without you, there might not be anything to celebrate.

When I think about patriotism, I think of helping others, sustainable neighborhoods, a sense of belonging and enjoying the bounty of our country. In this post I'll be focusing on the latter.

This past weekend our family headed out on a mini-vacation. The destinations of the trip were some of our favorites. The picture above was taken in the cemetery behind the Grotto in Dickeyville, Wisconsin. My husband saw it and said, "I know there's some sort of political or religious message in that one, but I'm not going to attempt it."

We arrived at the grotto as the sun was lowering on the horizon. The light was absolutely stunning, lighting up the pieces of glass and rock within the grotto walls. The grotto is composed of a main structure and at least two significant additions. All of the pieces are set closely to the Holy Ghost Catholic Church.

Dickeyville Grotto was shaped and built by Father Mathias Wernerus, who is buried in the cemetery behind the church and grotto, between 1925 and 1931. The structure is unique because it incorporates both religion and patriotism. On the left of the main grotto is a walkway with a pillar and cross marked "religion." On the right, there is an American flag inscribed with "patriotism."

The grotto is not a commercial attraction. The times that we've visited it has been quiet -- sometimes eerily so -- and beautiful.

We spent the better part of the day at one of the most unique places we've ever had the pleasure of visiting -- the House on the Rock.

The attraction, located in Spring Green, Wisconsin, was the vision of a Mr. Alex Jordan, who is described in several biographies (both official and non-official) as being someone who didn't seek the limelight. From the looks around what he built, I have a difficult time meshing what I've seen with what I've read.

The photo above is of a section of what probably is the most prominent feature of the house -- although I doubt it is the most discussed. "The Infinity Room" stretches out across a ravine with no solid structure linking it to the ground below. When you enter the room and look forward, it really does appear to stretch into infinity -- it also shakes. This last observation is why I've never been out to the end of the room. This time I made it roughly three-quarters of the way before my heart felt as if it would beat right out of my chest and my lungs refused to function.

The contents of the house and the out-buildings are about as eclectic as they come. There is a display known as "Streets of Yesterday" that features a recreation of an early 20th century town (woe be to you if you needed to visit the dentist back then) and another huge nautical display that features a 200-foot statue of a whale and squid in a battle. What most people remember and can't get over are the carousels.

The pictures above are all from one of the three working carousels within the attraction. I have no idea what the fascination was with nude mannequins or why some of them have their heads removed in favor of animal ones. While the House on the Rock often has the feel of a museum, there are no signs with information about the exhibits.

The two photos below are of the main carousel -- the world's largest working carousel. It has over 20,000 lights, lives under a vast umbrella of angels, and does not have one horse.

The doll carousel (two photos below) is my youngest daughter's favorite part of the place. She could sit all day and watch three levels of dolls go round and round.

In addition to the carousels, there are many unique collections throughout the house and out-buildings. The photo below shows just a small fraction of the doll house areas. I'm one of those people who loves to drive around at night and catch glimpses in people's windows. I love to see how they've decorated. Needless to say, the doll house collection is one of my favorite parts. Another of our family's favorite places to visit and look and look and look is circus world, which features several models of circuses, trains and even a large stack of elephants.

The house, and most of the displays, aren't at all in museum style. As the pictures evidence, it is very dark throughout. You'll often see something and have to fight back an urge to go and fix it -- a cracked window, a deck with a plywood floor instead of expensive wood and sofa cushions in need of a good wash. I found myself drawn to the many bookcases and the piles and piles of books (which, remarkably, are real and can be removed and flipped through). My heart ached to find many with water damage or other neglect.

This is also one attraction where you'll want to visit all the bathrooms. There are even collections of knick-knacks and other such novelties in there! You'll also want to bring some dollar bills to feed the token machines. There are many large displays which feature automated musical instruments. Tokens (one or two) are required to make these displays play.

This is only a small sampling of what both the House on the Rock and the Dickeyville Grotto have to offer. Our family highly recommends your family visits both. We do, however, offer a warning to those with severe dust allergies about House on the Rock. To say it is dusty, especially in the main areas of the house, would be an understatement. Also, the price tag associated with House on the Rock isn't inexpensive. To take all three tours (which you should) costs $26.50 for adults and $15.50 for children ages 4 to 7. Children under the age of 3 are free, but this is not a stroller-friendly environment.

Many more photos, including ones with our family, have been posted on my facebook account for those who are interested.

Chairs were hard to come by at the Blue Strawberry in Cedar Rapids Tuesday morning as roughly 100 individuals stopped by to hear Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Joe Biden.

"If there is one thing I could tell you today that I hope you take with you, it is that the American people have never, ever let this country down," Biden said.

Politicians, he says, like to skirt around issues and not hit them head-on. The American people see things differently.

"The American people are ready and they are not afraid to tackle any of these problems we are discussing this morning," he said. "The fundamentals of this country are firmly in place because they are drawn from the people."

Biden says that although he has great respect and admiration for the entire field of Democratic candidates seeking the presidency, he believes they are doing the public a disservice.

"Democrats need to trust the American people," he said with a low and thoughtful voice. "We need to tell the American people the truth. That's what I'm trying to do. I'm not telling you want you want to hear. I'm talking about the realities of what we have and how we can make progress toward what we want."

He asked the audience to consider the health care plans set forth by others on the campaign trail.

"Can you explain John Edwards' plan to to me?" he asked. "Can you tell me what Obama's plan is? Leading this country forward is going to take more than standing up and saying you have a plan."

Iraq is, in Biden's estimation, the largest issue facing the United States.

"Iraq is like a huge boulder in the middle of the road," he said. "It is blocking the other things we need so badly at home and abroad. America has never been so isolated -- the middle class has never been more threatened."

Keeping with the theme of realities, Biden said there is "no possibility in the lifetime of anyone in this coffee shop for Iraq to have a centralized government that will hold the country together."

"If our troops pull out the civil war we see now will expand into a regional war," he warned and then encouraged members of the press to write down his prediction.

Knowing his recent vote to appropriate funds for the troops in Iraq would be on the minds of some in the audience, Biden spoke frankly about his second vote to approve war funding.

"We have to face the sad reality that we need votes to override a presidential veto," he said. "These are votes we don't currently have. We need 17 Republicans to change their minds and, in the meantime, I'm not trading lives for the sake of making a political point."

The senator urged those who attended to view the Biden-Gelb plan for Iraq, a five-point plan that aims to keep Iraq together, protect America's interests and bring the troops home.

"Do I want the troops home now?" he asked. "Of course I do, but I want it done in a responsible way. I don't want to have to wait another 20 months [until President George W. Bush leaves office] to end this war. There are things we can be doing now... if the arrogance of this administration would allow them to see it."

Biden says that although pundits try to paint Democrats as being weak on terrorism, Bush and his administration are the weakest. The second-place position goes to the Republican candidates for president, he says.

"I put forth a bill that would have taken back one-eighth of the Bush tax cuts for America's wealthy," he said. "The bill had a detailed list of how that money would be spent to implement the recommendations of the 911 Commission. This administration refused it.

"Everything that could be done to keep America safe has been neglected by this administration and -- well let me say it -- they are criminally irresponsible when it comes to protecting the American homeland."

Biden concluded his remarks with a direct message to pundits and others who believe the Bush administration has made the country safer and the Democrats are only serving to weaken it: "Read the National Intelligence Estimate. This past February their report was issued and it said the policy of this administration has produced more terrorism."

[Commentary] If there is one piece of advice given to parents that has remained solid through generations it is this: "Be consistent and follow through."

From the time our children begin to test their boundaries, pediatricians, guidance counselors, therapists and teachers all agree the best thing a parent can do is set limits and adhere to them consistently. If your child is expected to keep food at the dining room table or fill the pet dish each morning, it is your job as an adult and a parent to ensure the rules are followed -- even in times when it would be more convenient if they were broken.

Along those same lines, parents are told to only make threats they will actually carry out. For instance, don't tell your daughter she's going to be kept home from the big game on Saturday if you know in your heart you won't do it. Don't tell your son he won't be allowed to attend the camping trip if you know you're going to let him go regardless of his actions.

It is through these two methods of consistent and fair discipline that our children learn the much needed life lesson of actions having consequences. This lesson has, unfortunately, either not been taught to the current White House administration or it has been forgotten.

Yesterday, the President who three years ago demanded to know who in his administration broke the rules called a sentence handed down in the same case excessive. George W. Bush commuted I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison term. Libby was found guilty in March of four counts of perjury and obstruction in a case involving the outing of a covert government operative. The move was made when a U.S. District Judge -- a 2001 Bush appointee -- refused to allow Libby to remain free while appealing his case.

Let's say that I was called by the Girl Scouts and told officials believed that someone in my troop had committed a crime by releasing the secret recipe to thin mints. As troop leader, I went before the council and the press and announced my intention to "smoke the leaker out" and that I would be cooperating completely with authorities. During the course of the investigation, my co-leader's daughter is called in to testify and it becomes obvious to everyone involved that she knows more than she telling. What's worse, she is lying in order to keep investigators from the truth. Eventually, of course, the girl would face strict punishment from council investigators for her misconduct -- even if a direct line could never be drawn between the girl, the co-leader and the secret recipe.

If the council investigators decided the girl should be punished by removal from the troop for a certain period of time and I, as troop leader, intervened on her behalf, what message would I be sending the rest of the girls in my troop? What message would I be sending to the council and their investigators?

There is a reason why parenting is one of the hardest jobs on the planet. It isn't always easy and many times, if you do it well, you break your own heart. At the end of the day, however, it is more important for our children to understand the consequences of their actions than it is for us parents to bask in the immediate popularity that comes with being a rule breaker.

If we want to raise children who are contributing members of society, we have an obligation to teach them the rule of law and show them the consequences of breaking those laws. Just as looking away from the child with her hand in the cookie jar leads to gluttony, falsehoods and excess, looking away from this administration and its misuse of authority has led to gluttony, falsehoods and excess.

The State Historical Museum Atrium in Des Moines will be the spot for a state policy meeting with a dual focus.

Denise O'Brien, who made an unsuccessful bid for Iowa secretary of agriculture in 2006, will discuss the road map for agriculture. Iowa Rep. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, will follow with a discussion on Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections legislation.

The event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on July 12. Sponsors are Women's International League of Peace and Freedom, The League of Women Voters, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa, Oxfam, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Citizen Action Network and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

In an email to supporters, Sen. Tom Harkin announced his wife Ruth plans to formally endorse Democratic candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton.

In the email, Harkin explains that he and Ruth are no strangers to passionate political involvement and that his wife did not take this decision lightly.

"Ruth took many things into account before deciding on this endorsement," Harkin wrote. "When Ruth was elected to the position of Story County Attorney in 1972, she was honored to be the first woman to hold the position of county attorney in our state's history -- and one of the first female county-wide prosecutors in the country. It was an exciting and challenging time for her, but it taught her that groundbreaking accomplishments just don't happen. They are not just made -- they happen over time and with hard work, determination and focus."

Ruth Harkin served as county attorney in Story County until 1979. She was the county's lead criminal prosecutor and also served as its corporate attorney. The Harkins have raised two daughters, Amy and Jenny. As an infant, Army often shared Ruth's office at the Story County Court House.

Ruth left the Story County post to serve as deputy general counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. In 1993, Pres. Bill Clinton chose her to be president of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, an agency that encourages mutually beneficial American private investment in developing countries and newly emerging free markets.

Harkin added his wife, as a public office holder, feels a responsibility for "opening doors and paving a new way" for other women seeking leadership roles. He closes the letter by stating his personal resolve not to endorse any candidate.

"I have worked closely with many of them, and I am extremely proud of each of them for their commitment to public service," he wrote. "I remain focused on my own re-election campaign in 2008 and look forward to working with a Democrat in the White House."

With this endorsement, Ruth Harkin joins several other prominent Iowa women who are active in the Clinton campaign. State Central Committee member Bonnie Eggers, Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran, former First Lady Christie Vilsack, former University of Iowa Democrats President Megan Heneke, Des Moines activist and philanthropist Susan Knapp, Iowa Rep. Mary Mascher, former candidate for lieutenant governor Dr. Andrea McGuire, former Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson and former Iowa Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Bonnie Campbell have all publicly announced their support of Clinton.

Newspaper and magazine clippings litter the table and are passed from hand to hand. The latest news from the weekend and morning news shows is the hot topic at both ends of the table, although not necessarily tied to the same program or information. Smiles, hugs and hysterical laughter are simply par for the course.

There is little doubt some visitors to Cedar Rapids' Lindale Mall during the Monday meeting of the "Kerry Babes" make the mistake of writing off the women as a social network for mothers and grandmothers; the clippings they circulate on the news of the day believed to be favorite recipes. If you look a little longer, however, there are signs this isn't a grandmother's sewing circle -- a t-shirt with the single word "coexist," a patriotic hat and snippets of conversation about U.S. domestic and international policy that would leave some of the highest paid political strategists wishing they were flies on the wall.

"You aren't going to find any recipes here," said Janet Wagner, a retiree who raised a special needs child and continues to volunteer with low-income families.

The diverse group of women ranges from age 52 to 89 and met during the 2004 election when they volunteered for then Democratic hopeful Sen. John Kerry.

"We are all from such different backgrounds that I doubt we would have met and become such close friends if it hadn't been for that common thread," said Sara Stark, a retired educator who worked both in the classroom and as a school guidance counselor. "We were really blessed to have found each other."

The "Kerry Babes" -- a name coined by retired trust banker Linda McCormick -- didn't begin official meetings until well after the November 2004 elections.

"That was a difficult time," said Janet Hernandez, who volunteers in many capacities including driving cancer patients to chemotherapy treatments. "We were physically and emotionally invested."

At their first meeting on Jan. 20, 2005, the members wore black and gathered at the Irish Democrat in Cedar Rapids.

"We needed each other for support that day -- Inauguration Day," said Audrey Rahn, an animal rights activist who retired from a career at the Washington Post. "It made it easier to be with friends."

The women -- "brought together by politics, staying together by friendship," says McCormick -- have continued to meet, support and educate one another.

All the members point to respect and friendship as the way they're going to weather the 2008 Iowa caucus. Most of the women have taken on the name "Hill's Angels" and are supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton. Within the group supporters can also be found for former Sen. John Edwards, Gov. Bill Richardson, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Joe Biden. At least two of the women are still undecided.

"We will always be 'the babes' -- we know each other and feel comfortable coming together to vent," said Doreen Meier, a post-Korea war bride who raised seven boys and has 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her entire face turned red when other members picked up on her venting comment and proclaimed her as the group's "angel."

"It's true," Wagner said. "She can't say a bad word about anyone -- not even [Pres. George W.] Bush!"

After the meeting Meier explained she simply couldn't talk badly about another person. "Even if you don't like the job that person is doing or don't believe the same things, we have to give respect to another member of the human race," she said. "Everyone deserves that."

While the women agree the 2008 contests are going to be divisive, they are also assured their circle will remain.

"We don't even get mad over religion," confided Rahn. "We have lots of variety and diversity in our group in that respect and we don't fight about it."

While politics and religion may be two of the most hot-button issues the women face, the group's diversity doesn't end there. Roughly half the women are currently married. Although some are now widows, there are a few who have never married and only about half have had children.

When asked to name what should be the most prominent issue in this election, the women found the question difficult to answer. Internationally, the women agreed the focus was the Iraq war and the U.S. reputation abroad. Domestically, however, answers ranged from health care to protecting the environment to development of a fair tax law.

A handful of the women admit to volunteer efforts with Kerry as being their first dive into politics. Most of the members, however, have been politically active for some time. All will tell you their lives have been changed by being a part of this dynamic group of women.

"This group is my life," said Janet Spratte, a self-employed Realtor one of only two members who is not retired. "Because of this group, I know what is going on in the world and I get to have deep conversations about it. Because I know Donna will get up early, I know I can sleep late and not miss any big news."

Barbara Wihlm continues to work as a cosmetologist. Another member, Sara McDermott, is retired from U.S. West, but is currently enrolled as a student.

Sue Collins, a retiree who refused to label herself but whom the others described as "a wonderful person with a big heart," said with confidence, "I know this group. I know they will always be there."

The Iowa State Patrol has a new weapon in its arsenal. A Cessna Skylane 182 it has purchased will be used in holiday traffic enforcement.

"It's very important for the safety to Iowa's state troopers to have equipment that's in good condition," Col. Robert O. Garrison said in a prepared statement. "That's even more acutely obvious when the equipment is thousands of feet above the ground. We owe a big thanks to our state legislature and Gov. [Chet] Culver for helping fund the purchase of this plane."

The Cessna carried a price tag of almost $350,000 and will be housed in Waterloo. Troopers will use the plane to observe speeding, illegal passing and stop sign violations. It will also be used to assist in emergency blood and tissue match relays and to assist in search and rescue operations.

Independence Day is one of the deadliest days on Iowa highways, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Because of this the new Cessna and other aircraft will be used during the holiday to enforce traffic laws.

In addition, over the next week, troopers will participate in the national program Combined Accident Reduction Effort. The program encourages state police agencies to enforce traffic laws on major interstates across the country. As a part of this program in 2006 the Iowa State Patrol investigated 27 accidents (four fatal), netted 34 operating while under the influence arrests, wrote 2,973 speeding citations, handed out 530 seat belt citations and cited 601 other moving violations.

Officers will also participate in the special Traffic Enforcement Project beginning today and continuing through Friday. Through the program local, county and state agencies will combine efforts to focus on seat belt enforcement.

~*~UPDATE~*~

I wrote this post Friday and had it scheduled to appear Sunday morning because the family and I were headed out-of-state on a mini-vacation. (Look for a quick post on that in a moment.) In the interim, Century of the Common Iowan has made a post with much more detail than this one. I'd recommend heading over there for candidate schedules.

Iowa Republicans and Democrats should all find a little satisfaction during 4th of July festivities this year as presidential candidates from both sides of the aisle attend celebrations throughout the state.

Sen. Joe Biden plans to march in the Urbandale parade before attending a picnic at the Marshalltown Veterans Home. From there he travels to a house party and barbeque hosted by the Polk County Democrats and ends the evening at the Woodbury County Democrats Truman Club fundraiser where he will be the featured speaker. More information on the Biden schedule can be obtained by phoning the Iowa headquarters at (515) 440-2008.

The campaign of Kansas' Republican Sen. Sam Brownback says their candidate "will participate in several parades on July 4." An exact schedule has not been released by the campaign, but will be made available to our readers once it is.

Sen. Hillary Clinton will be joined on the campaign trail by her husband former Pres. Bill Clinton. The Democratic duo plans to march in the Clear Lake parade before heading to an event at the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo. Tickets are needed for the Waterloo event and can be obtained by phoning (319) 833-9465. That evening, the Clintons will join the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival in Green Square Park. Needed tickets for the Cedar Rapids event can be obtained by phoning (319) 364-4083.

The Norwalk parade is the first stop of the day for Democratic hopeful Sen. Chris Dodd. From there he will travel to Pleasantville Post-Parade Luncheon and then on to Wellman for their 4th of July celebration. That evening he will begin at the Coralville 4th Fest before joining the festivities at the Freedom Festival in Cedar Rapids. More detailed information on Dodd's schedule can be obtained by phone his state headquarters, (515) 282-3633.

Sen. Barack Obama will be bringing his entire family to Iowa. They will start the day at a breakfast in Oskaloosa before traveling to Pella for a house party. That evening the family will converge on Beaverdale Park. Those who want more information, should visit the campaign's Iowa online headquarters.

Earlier this week the campaign for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced he would be marching in the Clear Lake, Ames and Waukee parades on July 4. The former Massachusetts governor also plans to host a Dallas County ice cream social while visiting Waukee. The day will conclude his five-day visit to central and southwest Iowa. Call the Romney for President headquarters at (857) 288-6400.

If other candidates announce plans to visit Iowa on Independence Day -- or if those listed here change their plans -- we'll start a new post.