February 2008 Archives

Iowa has become the 17th state to refuse Title V, Section 510 funding for abstinence-only sex education.

Courtney Greene, press secretary for Gov. Chet Culver, said the decision has been made and federal monies will continue to be refused unless changes are made to the program. Iowa currently receives roughly $319,000 in matching funds from the federal funding stream.

FutureNet, an Iowa network for adolescent pregnancy prevention, parenting and sexual health, held a policy briefing Thursday morning that took aim at the abstinence-only funding. Today, Rhonda Chittenden, executive director of the organization, applauded Culver's decision to dismiss the funds.

The funding received by Iowa is administered by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Title V abstinence-only funds required states to provide three dollars (or the equivalent in services) for every four federal dollars received. In addition to disseminating the funds to regional groups, the IDPH also conducted a statewide campaign dubbed "I am" or Iowa's Abstinence Mission. At least one of the program's outreach efforts -- a billboard featuring a pregnant woman without a wedding ring and the words "Wait for the bling" -- drew the ire of both feminist and comprehensive sex education advocates.

IDPH has provided Title V funds to eight Iowa organizations. The awards for fiscal year 2006 are as follows:

• Allen Memorial Hospital (Women's Health Department), $31,149
• Bethany Christian Services of Northwest Iowa, $48,114
• Community Opportunities, Inc. (doing business as New Opportunities, Inc.), $15,052
• The Crittenton Center, $10,214
• North Iowa Community Action Organization, $25,491
• University of Iowa, $45,000
• Webster County Health Department, $14,525
• Young Parents Network, $23,371

In addition to the Title V abstinence-only funds, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States reports that two Iowa organizations receive Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) non-matching grants. Bethany Christian Services was announced as a recipient of a $600,000 grant last fall. Sexual Health Education, Inc. (doing business as Equipping Youth) also has received a $600,000 grant. Since this federal funding stream is not administered by the state, today's decision by Culver will not impact these two programs.

It isn't unusual for Iowa high school students Stacey Hoch and Venessa McDole, both peer advisors, to speak with their classmates about sensitive subjects. Thursday morning, however, they took their advocacy one step further by speaking in front of policymakers at a meeting hosted in Des Moines by FutureNet, an Iowa network for adolescent pregnancy prevention, parenting and sexual health. The goal of their talk was to request that Iowa youth be given adequate information to make informed personal decisions about sexual activity.

"[It was important to come today] just so we could keep adults informed," McDole, a junior at North High School in Des Moines, said. "There just aren't very many teen voices. We don't have a voice in the community. We don't have a voice for anything. Adults go and make decisions for us. So, coming here gives us a voice."

Hoch, a senior at Scavo High School in Des Moines, nodded her head as McDole spoke about the importance of allowing Iowa's youth a voice in the sex education policies that affect them.

"Also, there is so much more than just teen pregnancy prevention," Hoch said. "We also need to pay attention to sexually transmitted infection [STI] prevention. That's something that abstinence-only sexual education doesn't really cover, because it doesn't cover anything except 'be abstinent.' It's important for [Iowa teens] to know that there are STIs that can be really dangerous and really deadly."

McDole and Hoch spoke to an audience of advocates, policymakers, state elected officials and other interested parties.

When asked to provide an estimate on the number of their classmates who were already sexually active, both teens were hesitant to respond. McDole said she didn't think she could provide an accurate estimate. Hoch provided an estimate with a qualifier.

"I would say half, if not more, of our total school population," she said. "But, we have a lot of teen parents at my school also."

McDole nodded in agreement before adding, "At my school, there are a lot of teen parents, there's a lot of freshmen coming in and not knowing -- there's a lot of everything at my school. You have some kids that will shy away from [sexual activity]. But then you have other people who are coming into this new environment and it's a big environmental shock for them. ... Many of them end up doing what the crowd does without realizing that, as a teenager, they are making very crucial decisions. It's a decision of whether or not you're going to get pregnant, whether or not you're going to get an STI, or even whether you are going to college or not.

"Teens are making these very important decisions. When a wrong decision is made, unfortunately, they usually can't go back and reverse it. For instance, if you contracted HIV, you can't just go back and say 'Well, I shouldn't have done that and I take it back now.' So, when adults make these decisions for us, when they think they know what is best for us without asking us, it doesn't make any sense. We're the ones who are going through this. We want our own voice."

During their public remarks, the two young women encouraged adults to trust Iowa students with the truth about a wide variety of topics.

"We deserve to have all the information we can," Hoch told those in attendance. "We need that information -- all of that information -- if we are going to be able to make appropriate and good choices."

In addition to comments by the two teens, those in attendance were given an overview of a study completed by Doug Kirby, an adolescent health researcher commissioned by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Of the 48 programs included in his study, he said the only programs that had strong evidence for delaying sexual initiation were comprehensive programs.

FutureNet staff members now plan to work with various state agencies to encourage Gov. Chet Culver to make Iowa the 17th state to refuse Title V, Section 510 (federal) monies for abstinence-only sexual education. Currently, the Iowa Department of Public Health administers roughly $319,000 in matching funds from that funding stream.

Iowa parents of young children are being asked by the Iowa Department of Public Health to take extra precautions to help prevent the spread of respiratory disease. The suggestions come as the department launches an investigation of a cluster of approximately 20 deaths since December of children under the age of four.

Most of the affected children had mild to severe respiratory symptoms prior to death. Multiple viruses have been isolated in laboratory tests, including influenza A and B, adenoviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV). However, it is unknown at this time if these viral infections were the principal cause of death. This number of deaths is higher than expected for this time of the year, which is why health officials are investigating.

"Some of the children have died at home, without ever making it to the hospital," said Dr. Patricia Quinlisk in a phone interview Friday. "So, in some cases, this has been a very sudden illness and death. That just makes it more concerning. Right now we really just want to make parents aware of the steps they can take to help protect their children from contracting respiratory viral illnesses."

Quinlisk added that the IDPH is working with other states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL) in this investigation. Roughly three of the laboratory tests in conjunction with the cases have shown the influenza virus. Several more have shown RSV. Other tests, most of which are done during autospy, have not shown any of the respiratory viral illnesses.

To help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses to young children, the IDPH has recommended the following:

• Keep children away from people with respiratory diseases or symptoms.
• Keep ill children home from child care or school.
• Maintain good hand hygiene when caring for young children.
• Wash your hands frequently, especially if you are ill.
• Avoid situations where large numbers of people gather, because some may be ill.
• Vaccinate all children with the flu vaccine.

Although this year's vaccine is not a perfect match to the circulating viruses, according to state officials, it still provides some protection against the three strains of influenza virus circulating this year in Iowa.

At a state policy briefing scheduled for Thursday morning, Iowa legislators and other state officials will be asked to end federally funded abstinence-only sex education in the state. The move would make Iowa the 17th state to reject Title V abstinence-only funding.

Rep. Mary Mascher, a Democrat from Iowa City, sponsored and floor managed a bill during the 2007 session that required all sexual education taught in accredited Iowa schools to be medically- and scientifically-based. Signed into law last spring, the bill did not necessarily put an end to abstinence-only sex education teaching in Iowa, but it did ratify standards and guidelines that directly conflict with those associated with federal funding streams.

"There's been discussion on whether or not we should be accepting these federal monies at all because the criteria for abstinence-only programs at the federal level is not medically accurate," said Mascher, who is sponsoring Thursday's policy briefing. "The standards that [organizations] have to abide by for the federal money do not call for scientifically-based information. In essence, [the guideline conflicts] would prevent schools from getting those monies. They could still teach abstinence-only sexual education, but they can't use the federal dollars in order to do it."

Representatives from FutureNet, the Iowa Network for adolescent pregnancy prevention, parenting and sexual health, are scheduled to speak at the briefing and to call for the complete refusal of Title V abstinence-only education funding. Iowa currently receives roughly $319,000 from the program, which is administered by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Prior to Bethany Christian Services of Northwest Iowa being awarded a $600,000 non-matching grant last September from the Administration of Children, Youth and Families (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), the Title V monies were the only such federal abstinence education funding in the state. Nationally, Title V provides more than $40 million a year in matching funds to states.

"Iowa must end this poor fiscal and public health policy now," said Rhonda Chittenden, executive director of FutureNet. "There is no reliable evidence to date that these abstinence-only programs impact the long-term behavioral outcomes at which they aim, such as the delay of sexual initiation and reduction of adolescent pregnancies and STI/HIV infections."

Chittenden's sentiments regarding abstinence-only education were echoed by Mascher.

"I've been a classroom teacher for the last 30 years," Mascher said. "I taught sex education programs in the Iowa City School District for most of those years. One of the things that I think is critical in anything that we do with kids is being honest and accurate. If we expect to have credibility, I think it is extremely important that information we give them be scientifically and medically accurate.

"It comes down to best teaching practices. We know that scare tactics don't work with young kids and that, if anything, it has a very limited kind of effect. What you want to do is give them good information, and be able to help them with decision-making skills. Those are the problem-solving skills that we want kids to be able to develop at an early age so that when they get to the age where they are making those kinds of choices, they're making good choices. Of course, we would like all kids to be abstinent until they are ready and mature enough to be able to handle those types of relationships."

Doug Kirby, an adolescent health researcher commissioned by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, will present his findings on the effectiveness of abstinence-only programs versus comprehensive sex education in reducing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in adolescent populations. Of the 48 programs included in his study, the only programs that had strong evidence for delaying sexual initiation were comprehensive programs.

"We know that a lot of the programs that are out there are very much religious based and may not have a scientific base to them," Mascher said. "That leads to doubts on whether the information is accurate, and whether it will withstand the test of time in terms of helping kids make good choices. We examined a lot of curriculum and found that some of them are using scare tactics. Some of them are using outdated information. Things are changing so rapidly in the medical world and I think one of the things we want is to be able to give the best information possible and the most current."

Abstinence only education is defined in Title V, Section 510 as an educational or motivational program which:

1. Has as its exclusive purpose, teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity;
2. Teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school age children;
3. Teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems;
4. Teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity;
5. Teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects;
6. Teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents, and society;
7. Teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances; and
8. Teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.

When Grinnell College Russian language and literature Professor Kelly Herold began blogging about children's literature three years ago, she had no idea that she was about to help create a grassroots literary sensation.

"I was interested in blogging and I read blogs in many different areas," Herold said. "I'm a big fan of academic blogs and I considered starting one of those, but realized it would be a complaining blog instead of something more targeted. So, I thought, 'Oh! I'll start a children's book blog.' There were only a couple of us out there at that time."

One of the posts on her blog, Big A little a, lamented the fact that there was no awards program for children's books that combined book/author popularity and literary value. The idea of having an award contest that wasn't as lofty as the existing Newbery Award and a step above the recently defunct Quills caught the attention of many. Another children's literature blogger, Anne Boles Levy, read the post and left a comment indicating that she thought the two women could develop such an award. Herold and Levy, having never met face-to-face, began planning what would eventually become the Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils).

Now in its second year, the Cybils unveiled its 2007 winners on Feb. 14. There were eight categories in 2007: picture books, non-fiction picture books, middle-grade fiction, poetry, young adult fiction, non-fiction (young adult and middle-grade), fantasy/science fiction and graphic novels. The award recognizes both literary merit and "kid appeal."

Books considered for Cybils are nominated by the public at large. Works are not limited to large publishing houses and the group even accepts books that have been self-published. Once the nomination deadline has come, roughly 90 literature bloggers, divided into the eight genres, set to work reading all the nominated books. Following their review, the Cybils posts short lists on Jan. 1. Books on the short list are then reviewed a second time to determine the award winner. The reviewers are children's literature bloggers who represent parents, home-schoolers, authors, illustrators, librarians and even teens.

"We've noticed a big surge in both participation and attention in conjunction with this year's awards," Herold said. "There are more people following the awards. Publishers are starting to list the awards when their books have won them. Because this is a grassroots movement and a newly established award, we've been surprised by how quickly they've been accepted by the industry."

During the Cybils' first nomination process in 2006, more than 480 books were nominated and reviewed. When nominations ended last fall for the 2007 contest, the total number of nominated books had grown by 25 percent. Herold admits that the logistical aspects alone have, at times, been a little overwhelming.

"We're going to have to -- unfortunately -- probably have to professionalize things a little bit. We're going to have to probably incorporate and become a nonprofit entity," she said. "In the end, Anne and I are just two people, and we had an incident this year where there was a possibility there could be legal action against one of our panelists. We don't want that to happen to anyone just because they blogged about something an author didn't agree with. It looks like we're going to have to take some steps to protect ourselves."

Because the Cybils have limited financial resources, incorporating could pose a threat to the awards.

"We are the only awards process I know of that doesn't require any sort of entry fee," Herold said. "So, we really run on a shoestring budget. We send a small gift to the actual authors and illustrators who win the awards -- those are paid for by the small commissions and ad sales on the site. We definitely run on recognition more than money."

When it comes to the Cybils, recognition is definitely a two-way street. Not only are publishers reaping the rewards of having their books reviewed and discussed in passionate online communities, but the awards themselves are gaining notoriety.

"We've found that parents, teachers and librarians use our lists," Herold said. "Even though we name a winner, the short lists seem to be most popular. On those, there is a range of five to eight books per category. People like to chose several of the books on those lists or all of the books on those lists for their kids, their grandkids or their library and classroom. Those lists are often used as purchasing lists."

One of the award panelists has followed sales on Amazon to determine if the awards were having any impact on the marketplace.

"There definitely are related sales jumps associated with the winning titles," Herold said. "But, beyond the marketplace, I find the Cybils to be really indicative of what blogging can be. Anne and I started this after never having met each other, because of our similar tastes -- something we found out about online. We have since met and she turned out to be the same in person as she is in text. That's something I find interesting about the blogging community: Anytime I travel now for conferences or for work-related reasons, I always get to meet one of these people from all over the country. I haven't yet once been surprised by their real-life person."

Iowans are encouraged to submit their comments about the 17 individuals who have applied to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Iowa Supreme Court.

The State Judicial Nominating Commission will meet on March 6 and 7 to interview applicants. Those who wish to provide written comments should do so by writing State Court Administrator David Boyd, who will serve as the commission's secretary. Comments should be mailed to Iowa Judicial Branch Building, 1111 E. Court Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50319 and should arrive by March 5.

Immediately following the interviews, the commission will select a slate of three nominees from the group of applicants. Those nominees will be presented to Gov. Chet Culver, who makes the final appointment to the court.

Applicants are:

• Connie Alt -- Age 47 of Cedar Rapids; attorney with Shuttleworth & Ingersoll P.C.; 1985 University of Iowa
• David Baker -- Age 55 of Cedar Rapids; Court of Appeals Judge (appointed 2006); 1979 University of Iowa
• Hugh J. Cain -- Age 52 of Norwalk; attorney with Hopkins & Huebner, P.C.; 1982 University of Washington
• David Ray Danilson -- Age 53 of Boone; Second Judicial District Judge (appointed 1997); 1979 Creighton University
• George F. Davison Jr. -- Age 57 of Des Moines; attorney with Davidson Law; 1979 Drake University
• Arthur E. Gamble -- Age 55 of Clive; Fifth Judicial District Chief Judge (appointed 1995; appointed District Judge in 1983); 1978 University of Iowa
• Michael R. Hoffmann -- Age 60 of Clive; attorney with Hoffmann Law Firm, P.C.; 1972 Drake University; 1973 George Washington University
• Andrew B. Howie -- Age 36 of West Des Moines; attorney with Hudson, Mallaney & Shindler, P.C.; 1996 University of Iowa
• Bruce Kempkes -- Age 52 of Earlham; Assistant Attorney General; 1980 University of Iowa
• Mark O. Lambert -- Age 47 of Polk City; Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Administrative Law Judge; 1995 University of Iowa
• John Lloyd -- Age 58 of Osceola; Fifth Judicial District Judge (appointed 2002); 1974 Drake University
• Michael L. Mock -- Age 38 of West Des Moines; attorney with Bradshaw, Fowler & Fairgrave, P.C.; 1995 Drake University
• Michael R. Mullins -- Age 55 of Washington; Eighth Judicial District Judge (appointed 2002); 1982 Drake University
• Timothy O'Grady -- Age 52 of Council Bluffs; Fourth Judicial District Judge (appointed 1995); 1980 Creighton University
• Deborah Tharnish -- Age 52 of Des Moines; attorney with Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts, P.C.; 1980 University of Iowa
• Jeanie Kunkle Vaudt -- Age 54 of West Des Moines; Assistant Attorney General; 1991 Drake University
• Thomas Waterman -- Age 48 of Pleasant Valley; attorney with Lane & Waterman L.L.P. of Davenport; 1984 University of Iowa

Elected members of the commission are Jean Dickson Feeney of Davenport, Steven J. Pace of Cedar Rapids, Mindi M. Vervaecke of Mason City, Beth Walker of Newton, Guy R. Cook of Des Moines, Joseph L. Fitzgibbons of Eastherville and John M. French of Council Bluffs. Members appointed to the commission are Madalin A. Williams of Iowa City, Mary Beth Lawler of Iowa Falls, David C. Cochran of Dubuque, Coleen A. Denefe of Ottumwa, Charles B. Follett of Clive, Arthur P. Silva of Sioux City and Timothy Mikkelsen of Grimes.

The vacancy will occur when Justice Jerry L. Larsen retires on May 17, due to the mandatory retirement age. Larson, who joined the court in 1978, is the longest serving justice in Iowa history.

The Iowa State Patrol has closed down the south bound lanes of Interstate 35, near the 204 mile maker in Worth county, due to a serious injury accident. Eye-witnesses report that a semi-trailer has jack-knifed across both lanes.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety is reporting that all roads in north central Iowa are "generally 100 percent ice covered" and that travel is not advised. There is also a tow ban in effect for Hwy 3 and north. The area includes Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth and Wright counties.

Iowa road conditions can be followed via a state website. Traveling conditions in most of Iowa are expected to deteriorate throughout the day and into the night.

Two earworms this week -- both by the amazing Ella Fitzgerald. The first is from a live performance in Berlin in 1968, I Can't Stop Loving You. I'd cut off my big toe to be able to swing loose and beautiful like Ella in this number. Such beautiful, rich, easy vocals.

Next is Ella and Louis Jordan singing the tune that's on all Iowans' lips -- Baby, It's Cold Outside. So, break out the flannel sheets and tuck in with your sweetie.

Flying over the Iowa blogs:

• Coy Bundy has an interesting take on Michelle Obama' comments that she was "proud of my country."
• Don McDowell picked up on a news item posted this week by my Iowa Independent colleague Douglas Burns that announced Western Iowa Democrat Joyce Schulte will make another run for the 5th District Congressional seat. The seat is currently occupied by Steve "Brown People Scare Me" King. I'm pleased that Joyce is running again, but the part of these links you don't want to miss are all the anonymous comments on Cyclone Conservatives.
• Speaking of King, Charlotte Eby reports he's keeping his comments about the recent Iowa GOP leadership change to himself. Meanwhile Dave Price says that Caleb Hunter is the frontrunner for the job as RPI's executive director. (By the time this is published the blog, the RPI's state central committee should have already made the decision, since they were scheduled to meet.)
• Claire Celsi poses a question: Are Americans hostile to knowledge? The evidence says yes.
• Moe at Iowa Voice has a ton of beautiful photos of American bald eagles.
• Iowa Voters reports that Rep. Mary Gaskill wants computerized ballot scanners to be double-check with hand counts.
• Lisa has the latest on Iowa women's music and events.
• Mainstream Iowan says that Mitt Romney spent $97 million on his unsuccessful bid for the White House.
• It appears as if my friend Chris as Red Hog Diary is contemplating hanging up his blogging cap. There's a notice on the top of his blog that the site's for sale. Say it ain't so, Chris!
• Ted Sporer made me physically ill this week when he told me that Bill O'Reilly and I shared a similar thought. (I know! UGH!) Basically, why did the NY Times endorse Arizona Sen. John McCain given their scoop on his sordid affair... or nearly sordid affair... or whatever?
• Author and businessman Michael Richards has a guest blog at Women for Peace Iowa: The Pervasive Economic Infrastructure of War.
• Grant Young at Questions, Comments & Insults wants you to relax and grab a warm beverage while he spins the tale of the Legend of the Button Guys.
• And, yeah, I know Happy to Be from Iowa is actually in Minnesota. But, she'll always be an Iowan as far as we're concerned. Not to mention that if she hadn't crossed the state line, she probably would not have found this odd news item about a convicted felon riding a bicycle around in this crappy weather with a shotgun alternating between his lap and back. Yikes! I'd like to order a case of whatever he took to keep warm.

A Wright County Sheriff's Deputy, arrested yesterday for first degree harassment and domestic abuse assault, was released on his own recognizance this morning.

Jeffrey Donald Mericle, 39, of Goldfield, was arrested following a complaint by his wife relating to a domestic disturbance that morning at the couple's residence. Due to Mericle's ties to the law enforcement agency, the investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Mericle made his initial appearance before a Wright County Magistrate this morning and was subsequently released on his own recognizance. He has been placed on paid administrative leave from the county department.

Although the 2007 school-climate survey released by the advocacy group Iowa Pride Network doesn't reflect the impact of mandates made by the Iowa Legislature last year, IPN Director Ryan Roemerman said there is evidence that just the open conversations leading up to those changes made a difference in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth across the state.

"We did see some improvement from 2005 to 2007," Roemerman said. "One of the reasons for that was the fact that we had the discussions going in the state about the need to protect LGBT students and help them have a successful future. I think because of that, students are reporting that they are talking to their teachers more about LGBT issues, that they felt more comfortable having those conversations. There was also a 10 percent increase in students reporting that when they did speak with teachers, it was a positive experience. We found that students feel resources and support systems in schools are getting stronger."

The organization's first school-climate survey was completed in 2005. At that time, the survey indicated that a majority of Iowa schools were failing in relation to providing a safe learning experience for LGBT students. The discovery that over 60 percent of the state's LGBT youth reported not feeling safe at school because of violence and harassment linked to their sexual orientation was combined with other survey findings to prove to lawmakers that the plight of gay and lesbian students in Iowa was something that had to be addressed.

"As an organization serving high school and college LGBT youth, we really wanted to know what the students were experiencing," Roemerman said. "Also, when we began to speak with legislators about the need for safe-school policies, we were getting feedback that LGBT students didn't exist in Iowa, that this was a West or East Coast problem. All the data that we really had at that time was from the coasts or from other parts of the nation. There had never been an Iowa school-climate survey. We set out to do so, and, of course, the results were very disheartening."

The data from the 2005 survey was one of the things that prompted lawmakers to make changes last year to both the Iowa Civil Rights Act and school anti-bullying policies to include references to sexual orientation and gender identity. While IPN's 2007 survey wasn't completed in time to reflect the full impact of the changes, many of the gathered statistics point to improving conditions for gay and lesbian students.

In the 2005 survey, 33.6 percent of Iowa LGBT students reported some incident of physical harassment, such as being pushed or shoved, because of their sexual orientation. In addition, nearly 18 percent of students two years ago reported some incident of physical assault, such as being punched, kicked or injured with a weapon, because of their sexual orientation or gender expression. In 2007, students reporting physical harassment rose slightly to 36 percent of all respondents, but the incident of physical assault dropped to 16 percent.

Anti-harassment and non-discrimination policies with enumerated categories such as "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" do work to end bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools, according to survey findings. In schools with inclusive policies, students were three times more likely to report never being verbally harassed. Students have also found support through gay-straight alliance organizations. Students who have such organizations in their schools report decreased absenteeism as well as lower rates of name-calling, harassment and assault.

Despite the gains, the IPN director says, Iowa's LGBT students continue to feel unsafe in school and face verbal and physical harassment or assault daily. Nine out of ten students, or 91 percent of those completing the 2007 survey, reported hearing homophobic remarks frequently in their schools.

"There has definitely been some progress made in certain areas," Roemerman said. "The areas I would highlight would be the change in LGBT resources and support. That has been a key improvement area. Also, there has been a positive change in relation to the incident of homophobic remarks in which other students intervene on behalf of other students. Some of the negatives are, of course, safety -- a lot of students are still not feeling safe at school -- and there are still teachers who are not intervening. Those are some things that need improvement.

"While there has been some positive change, there's still more to go and, in 2009, we are going to be checking to make sure that things are continuing to move in this positive direction and that the laws are working. These two surveys -- 2005 and 2007 -- have provided the Iowa Pride Network with the baseline data so that we can know whether or not the changes that have been made are working on behalf of Iowa students."

Eleven financial awards announced today by Gov. Chet Culver and the Iowa Department of Economic Development could create 1,078 new jobs and retain more than 200 science-based careers in Iowa.

The state incentives totaling $4.235 million impact proposed expansion projects in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Earlville, Eddyville, Fort Madison, Grimes, Lucas, Osage and Urbandale. The grants are primarily being awarded in the economic sectors of renewable energy, bioscience and insurance technology.

"This announcement serves as another example of Iowa's strong economy," said Culver in a prepared statement. "Our strategy to aggressively recruit high-quality companies and careers to Iowa is getting results. These stimulus funds are expected to create over 1,000 new high-quality jobs and ignite new economic growth across the state."

Fort Madison

Wind energy jobs could more than double at Siemens Power Generation after a $33 million manufacturing expansion this year. To increase production of giant wind turbine blades, Siemens is expected to add 75,000 square-feet to an existing facility and construct a separate 125,000 square-foot building for manufacturing, warehousing and offices. An additional 287 people are expected to be hired at an average of $17.14 per hour.

IDED awarded $1.4 million from the Physical Infrastructure Assistance Program for the expansion, which also will receive tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation and Targeted Jobs Withholding Tax Credit programs.

Urbandale

Seabury and Smith's expansion into a new 215,000 square-foot facility currently under construction is expected to bring 450 new jobs to Iowa as a part of a two-phase expansion scheduled to end next year. The second phase in 2009 includes a second facility for a total of $20 million in new capital investment.

The insurance services firm, which operates as ConsumerConnexions and is a part of Marsh and McLennan Companies, was awarded $1 million from the Community Economic Betterment Account and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation program. Among the jobs to be created, 61 pay an average of $44.33 per hour and 245 pay an average of $26.54 per hour.

Worldwide Integrated Supply Chain Solutions, a firm providing shipping and distribution management services, iexpects to create 101 jobs paying an average of $18.40 per hour. The company was awarded $300,000 from the Community Economic Better Account.

W.R. Berkley Corp. plans to acquire and renovate a 122,00 square-foot building to serve its property and casualty insurance businesses. The project potentially creates and retains 215 jobs, 76 of which are anticipated to pay an average of $35.77 per hour. The company was awarded $350,000 from the Community Economic Betterment Account and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation program. Existing employees at the Johnston facility would be moved to the new Urbandale site.

Ames

Ag Leader Technology Inc. plans a 98,000 square-foot addition at the facility where the company manufactures and distributes precision farming hardware and software systems. The $6 million project is expected to create 58 jobs, with 40 of them paying an average of $24.76 per hour. IDED awarded Ag Leader $150,000 from the Value-Added Agricultural Products and Processes Financial Assistance Program. The company will also have tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation program.

Eddyville

Wacker Chemical Corp. will invest $15 million at its plant to expand production of cyclodextrins, a stabilizer ingredient made from corn and used in pharmaceutical and other products. Enlarged Wacker operations at the Iowa Bioprocessing Center is expected to create and retain 25 jobs. Four new jobs pay an average of $26 per hour. The project was awarded $250,000 from the Value-Added Agricultural Products and Processes Financial Assistance Program and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation program. Wacker is the global market leader in cyclodextrins.

Cedar Rapids

Addition of a second yest culture building at Diamond V Mills is expected to create and retain 54 jobs. Sixteen new jobs will pay an average of $28.70 per hour. The new $12 million facility will have a 25,000 square-feet of production and 3,000 square-feet of offices. A manufacturer of yeast culture and feed ingredients used in animal nutrition worldwide, the company was awarded $250,000 from the Value-Added Agricultural Products and Processes Financial Assistance Program and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation program.

Earlville

Adding new product lines, S&R Manufacturing is embarking on a $1 million expansion to create 22 jobs paying an average of $14.99 per hour. IDED awarded the project $85,000 from the Community Economic Betterment Account. S&R has developed new products related to the ethanol industry including a bagger for cornstalks and gluten, and a high volume rake.

Lucas

Custom Rest Bedding is leasing 33,000 square-foot building to manufacture and distribute mattresses to Midwest and East Coast customers. The $1.2 million project is expected to create 40 jobs, 37 of the jobs paying an average of $13.35 per hour. Custom Rest was awarded $150,000 from the Economic Development Set-Aside program to develop the jobs and manufacturing in Lucas.

Osage

As part of the acquisition of Cardinal Brands, RR Donnelley will move four product lines from Cardinal's plant in Mexico to Osage, where Donnelley owns the Moore Wallace office forms plant. New products in Osage are expected to create and retain 20 jobs, twelve new jobs paying an average of $15.85 per hour. IDED awarded the printing expansion $100,000 from Economic Development Set-Aside program and Enterprise Zone tax benefits.

Grimes

Creativision, Inc., which does business as Performance Display, will consolidate three facilities into a new 35,000 square-foot building in the Grimes Business Park. A growing producer of retail and point of purchase displays, Creativision was awarded $50,000 from the Community Economic Betterment Account and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation program. The nearly $3 million expansion is expected to create 12 jobs, six of the jobs paying an average of $33.09 per hour.

"New jobs mean new opportunities for workers across Iowa," said IDED Director Mike Tramontina. "With support from the state, Iowa's economy and our targeted industries - advanced manufacturing, biosciences, renewable energy and financial solutions - are continuing to grow."

A newly formed state task force is poised to issue recommendations next month on how to address Iowa's nursing shortage, but one of Iowa's congressmen believes that isn't soon enough.

Rep. Tom Latham has announced plans to hold a series of roundtable discussions throughout the state with nursing professionals, visiting nurses and hospitals, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. He also plans to work on an information talk show about the crisis. The information gathered, he said, will be taken back to Washington in order to "make sure that Iowa's nurses and Iowa patients are represented in Congress."

The 4th District Republican says that the lack of nurses in Iowa is only a symptom and not the core problem.

"America's nursing schools are working as hard as they can to certify registered nurses, nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses," he said. "[They are working] so hard, in fact, they don't have any more room. They can't cram any more nursing students into their programs even though they want to. There is no more space. There are no more qualified teachers. In our nation's nursing crisis, this is the root of the problem. This is what needs to be addressed."

Last year more than 118,000 nursing jobs nationwide remained open. According to Latham, nursing schools throughout the nation turned away more than 40,000 applicants last year due to lack of classroom space. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports that Iowa's nursing shortage stands at just over 8 percent. That statistic, Latham said, is expected to rise to 27 percent in just over a decade.

"In light of all the health care talk coming out of Washington these days -- socialized medicine, malpractice lawsuits, health insurance -- it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the greatest support structure of America's health care system is damaged and about to head into a tailspin if we don't act now," he said.

Exact details on Latham's upcoming meetings with Iowa health care workers and providers have not yet been announced. The state task force is chaired by Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, a former nurse, and is scheduled to provide both short-term steps and extended goals to state lawmakers in early March.

A Burlington casino worker who lost his job after posting a "Dilbert" comic strip at work has now had the incident immortalized in the very same strip.

A series of comic strips by "Dilbert" creator Scott Adams set to begin syndication this week outline the case of Dave Steward, a 50-year-old Fort Madison resident, whose security supervisor employment at Catfish Bend Casino ended after he posted one of Adams' comic strips. In the strip Steward posted, Dilbert compares his bosses to a bunch of "drunken lemurs."

While the latest series does not mention Steward or the casino by name, the correlations cannot be denied.

"I know good comic fodder when I see it, and any chance to mock the humorless is worth the effort," Adams told the Associated Press.

Steward, who had been an employee of the casino for over seven years, posted the cartoon on an office bulletin board shortly after management announced that the business would be closing and 170 employees would be laid off. Management used security cameras to determine who had posted the comic strip. During a subsequent trial to sort out unemployment benefits that made national headlines, Steward testified that he posted the cartoon because he believe it "would cheer some people up."

Human resources director Steve Morley disagreed and testified that Steward "was accusing the decision-makers of being drunken lemurs," something that management considered "misconduct."

Administrative Law Judge Lynette Donner ruled in favor of Steward, calling his action a "good-faith error in judgment."

Artist Adams said at the time of trial that the case involved the first confirmed instance of a Dilbert-related firing.

[Commentary] There's something disingenuous about the cigarette conversations taking place in Des Moines. On one hand, Iowa residents are being told that the statewide ban currently under consideration -- recently passed through the Iowa House of Representatives -- is in direct response to public health concerns. On the other hand, we're learning that the word "ban," much like the word "sex," has several different levels of meaning.

The proposed statewide ban isn't really a ban at all. It will effectively remove tobacco use from most public spaces -- except casinos. The "ban" also allows for cigarettes to be smoked at private clubs such as local veterans' halls. People can still smoke in their cars, in their homes and on private property. In an effort I'm sure was designed to keep the Democrats boosting this"ban" from looking like over-protective insert ethnic or religious modifier here mommies, those in control have decided to deal only with the public health hazard and not the private -- again, except for casinos.

Frankly it's disappointing in a wide variety of ways.

The biggest flaw in all of this is the fact that despite all the evidence lawmakers have been expounding on the dangers of smoking, I can walk into nearly any store in the state and purchase a pack or carton of cigarettes, various cigars and other smokables. Call me crazy, but I always thought a ban was something akin to an excommunication. I even pulled out the dictionary to check:

ban, banned, ban-ning -- noun --

1. to prohibit, especially by official decree
2. forbid the public distribution of
3. under the former system of apartheid, to deprive (a person suspected of illegal activity) of the right of free movement and association with others
4. to curse (archaic)

I guess, as far as Des Moines goes, one out of four shouldn't be considered a failure.

If Iowans are to believe those in Des Moines who expound on the public health hazard of smoking -- how sitting beside someone eating unhealthy food doesn't affect the public, but how sitting beside a lit cigarette is a dangerous situation -- then Iowans must also consider why the Legislature hasn't chosen to take its stance to the logical conclusion. After all, how long would it take the state to truly ban any other product proven to cause adverse health effects and death?

As with most things in politics, we can trace the legislators' failure to act back to the money. The state simply does not believe it can function without the taxes and fees that have been associated with cigarettes or without the taxes and fees associated with organized gambling. Despite the health hazard, despite the medical evidence, despite the strong rhetoric of calling for a "smoking ban," our state lawmakers stand poised over an arterial bleed with a Dora the Explorer Band-Aid. No doubt the cartoon cover will make some smile, but the bandage will do little to stop the flow of blood money from Iowa residents into state coffers.

The logical outcome of the so-called ban is the further -- and finally state-codified -- condemnation of smokers as health risks to themselves and others. It opens to the door to a host of new legal challenges. For instance could parents who smoke be found negligent in providing a safe environment for their children? Could a nonsmoking parent use another parent's habit as evidence in a custody dispute?

Anyone who has been around a smoker, especially one who smokes in confined areas such as homes or automobiles, is aware that at least the scent of the smoke clings to clothing as well as other fabrics. Do the dangers of secondhand smoke cling as well? Could a person following this proposed ban be fired from a job because of the danger their smoke-absorbed clothing holds?

Although I've not been asked, I'd like to offer some advice to our state lawmakers: Piss or get off the pot. If secondhand smoke is truly a health hazard that must be addressed by government, don't nickel-and-dime the issue, leaving the harder implications of your Band-Aid approach to the Iowa judiciary. Don't let your want of blood money from any industry or special-interest group stand in your way of doing what logically must be done to protect Iowa residents. Ban them without exception: No cigarettes in private homes. No cigarettes in casinos. No cigarettes in cars. No cigarettes for sale at any location in the state.

Take what's left of the blood money in the state coffers and use it to provide mental health care for those smokers who self-medicate. Use it to purchase smoking cessation programs for any Iowan who cannot quit without assistance. Until you are ready to sever ties with your own addictions, it's more than a little hypocritical for you to be wagging your finger at Iowa smokers.

A 10-month investigation has ended with the arrest of a self-proclaimed radical male feminist and member of the Iowa blogging community for allegedly assaulting an 18-year-old woman in her dorm room.

Kyle Payne, 22, of Ida Grove, was arrested Feb. 13 and charged with second-degree burglary, invasion of privacy and simple assault. The charges stem from a January 2007 incident on the campus of Buena Vista University. Payne was employed at that time as a dormitory resident adviser at the university and, while serving in that capacity, according to police reports, he allegedly physically assaulted an intoxicated and unconscious female student. He allegedly videotaped the assault and, following a tip to campus security, the files were found on his confiscated computer.

Search warrants for Payne's RA quarters and vehicle were issued by the Storm Lake Police in April, and a computer and camera were seized. Police reports indicate that files implicating Payne in the assault were found on the hard drive. The electronics were submitted to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation forensic crime laboratory for further analysis.

The following month, law enforcement issued a search warrant for Payne's Ida Grove residence. Additional items, including another computer, were taken as a result of the warrant and sent to the state crime lab.

Mark Prosser, public safety director and police chief for the City of Storm Lake, declined to offer further information regarding the evidence obtained from the computers, indicating such information would be presented at trial. Law enforcement officials report that the investigation is ongoing.

After his arrest, Payne posted the court-imposed $11,300 bond on Feb. 14 and was released.

Payne has been posting to a personal blog, The Road Less Traveled, since November 2007 and has made violence -- especially sexual violence against women -- a focus of his writings there. In his introductory post dated Nov. 15, 2007 he wrote:

"I am a dedicated activist working against racism and sexism, war, poverty, environmental degradation, imperialism, as well as sexual violence and other forms of abuse. I am perhaps most active applying radical feminist critiques to pornography and prostitution, as well as other systems that eroticize the subordination of women. ... I see it as a primary goal in life to promote peace, compassion and mindfulness."

Payne goes on to document his degree from Buena Vista University, numerous honors and awards he received while at the school and his current goal of obtaining a master's degree in adult education through Capella University, a Minneapolis-based accredited online university.

In the latest post to his blog, dated Feb. 15, Payne urges readers to be compassionate toward both him and his family.

"For a variety of reasons, there is very little I can say about the recent news. So, unfortunately, I cannot give you the answers that you might seek. Worse yet, I can do little in the way of defending myself against a whole host of claims about my character that are both irrational and damaging. What I can tell you is that this may be a situation that demands a great deal of patience and a departure from our expectation that everything in life will make perfect sense. In fact, it may demand that people give me some room to breathe as I try to make sense of the situation myself."

Payne, who identified with radical feminists like Andrea Dworkin, attended a training for feminist anti-pornography activists in January at the University of Texas in Austin. An article in the Ida County Courier stated that Payne had "written papers and given several public presentations on feminist critiques of pornography, prostitution, and the 'rape culture,' in addition to serving as an advocate for survivors of sexual violence." According to the resume posted on his blog, he has attended many such conferences since 2004.

Cathy Grothe, director of communications for Buena Vista University, said that anytime such an incident occurs on a college campus, it is appropriate to review policies and procedures.

"As soon as the information came to our attention, we acted swiftly by contacting local authorities," she said. "As with any other legal matter, it is in the hands of authorities and we have a responsibility to assist them in their investigation."

This week's earworm -- "Keep Young & Beautiful," by Annie Lennox:

What's cute about a little cutie
It's her beauty -- not brains.
Old father time will never harm you
If your charm still remains.
After you grow old, baby,
You don't have to be a cold baby.

I had no idea that Annie Lennox sang that song until this morning. It's one of the songs my mom used to sing on the radio ages and ages ago -- and, of course, would often hum and sing while working around the house when I was a child. I guess I don't like the song nearly as much as I like the memory.

I celebrated another of those "years I've walked the earth" milestones this past week and it was a big one. (You know, one of those that ends in a zero, marking the passage of another decade.) Interestingly enough, it hasn't affected me at all like I thought it would. Strange how that sometimes happens...

No doubt in an effort to help me smile my way past the milestone, the following was emailed to me by a college friend:

Throughout my life I have valued mature women most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

• A mature woman will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" Not only does she already know what you're thinking, she's also been around long enough to appreciate both a good night's sleep and better ways to wake her lover.
• If a mature woman doesn't want to watch the game, she won't pretend while wishing she was somewhere else. She'll do whatever she wants to do -- usually, its something much more interesting.
• A mature woman knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few mature woman could give a damn what you might think about her or what she's doing.
• Mature women are dignified. They seldom have screaming matches with anyone. However, if a lover deserves it, they are much more likely to shoot you -- and have enough life experience to probably get away with it.
• Mature women are generous with praise -- for themselves, and for others of either sex.
• Mature women introduce you to their friends without fear. Although they have enough experience to know you can't be trusted, they've picked their friends wisely.
• You never have to confess your sins to a mature woman. She already knows.
• You will never have to wonder where you stand with a mature woman. If you act like a jerk, she's going to tell you.

Patrick has an interesting guest blog at Geeks are Sexy. (Just so you know, I personally think the blog's header should sometimes feature a hunky male geek like Dr. Drew Pinsky -- you know, someone real.) The post discusses the 10 reasons bloggers hate blogging. Granted that these are mostly geared toward commercial bloggers, but there is one golden nugget in there for all of us: "Blogging about a subject you are not passionate about is not fun. It becomes work and it sucks."

Another "10 reasons" post you might want to read while you're visiting is Why Geeks Should Blog, authored by guest blogger Chris Garrett (who may want to consider himself for the blog banner).

Another really thought-provoking post I read this week was by Jonathan Fields on Strip Blogging. For those of you old newspaper writers like me, you'll recognize this better if I use the old school name of LAMJ or Look At Me Journalism. This is something that, if I'm completely honest, I'll have to confess to doing here on EE even if I haven't taken it nearly to the extreme of some others.

One of the things that Jonathan noticed in researching his post, and that I've noticed from reading blogs, is that women have much more of a tendency to bare all for inspection. I can say that I've shared things here that I would have never considered sharing in the newspaper. By that same token, I've shared things in the newspaper that I'd never consider sharing here. It's different when you "know" your readers. That is, I wrote a column for the better part of a year while working at the newspaper that detailed the craziness of my life -- home, husband, kids, pets, etc. There have been times that I've been tempted to write a post here or elsewhere that details something funny or personal from my life, I've always pulled back before hitting the button. Why? I guess it boils down to the nastiness.

It's one thing for me to put myself out there for international inspection. It's quite another for me to place my family under the same microscope. I've shared my feelings on the anniversary of my son's death, but did so because I hoped it would bring needed information to someone else. (I still get email messages nearly weekly from women who have been given my name and email address after suffering a pregnancy loss or stillbirth, and I've spoken publicly about the decision to terminate a pregnancy following a fatal diagnosis.)

I have to believe, like everything else in the world, that women touch it differently. We see it differently. That's not to say that we do it the right way -- or even that there is a right or a wrong way. But no one can deny that women bring a different dimension to everything they touch, especially when they come to it with passion.

There is an excellent book review by Carolyn McConnell that published as a part of the Iowa Review, but can be read in full on the Powell's Books site. The review is of "The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden Story of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade," written by Ann Fessler. While long, the whole review is well worth the time you'll spend reading. The last paragraph hit me the hardest:

... Fessler doesn't delve into the crucial question of what the point of this punishing social practice was. At first glance, it was to keep girls from engaging in sex outside of marriage. But it so spectacularly failed to achieve that purpose, as Fessler's statistics bear out, that it seems to have functioned instead as a profound message to American women of their disposability and powerlessness. Though the messages are cast more subtly now, our culture is still unsettled about the role and proper power of women. I hope Fessler's book is only the beginning of a long-overdue conversation about our recent history, about sex and who pays the price for it. ...

I'm not quite sure how I feel about the interview with a former Tyson meatpacker in Iowa that is featured at Truth & Progress. Obviously, the author has a bias, although, truth be told, all writers do. Because this is a blog post, however, the author makes his/her feelings well known before the post comes to a close. That always bothers me about blogging style. I still believe that if the piece is well-written, I should be able to draw my own conclusions -- if the writing is really good, I'll probably be encouraged to draw the conclusion the author wanted all along.

I found a post, The Danger of Labels, over on Pentecostal Revival in Iowa, a blog authored by Pastor Rex Deckard. Despite the Reagan quotation at the top, I will admit to having read and digested the entire post. A highlight on the way was this paragraph -- although I'm still trying to wrap my head around why this was included as it adds no significance to the piece:

In my home district I prefer that our adult women wear their hair up, while other pastors insist it should be down, and still others think women should wear hats and scarves. Who decides which is most conservative?

What I think is that Pastor Deckard has recently read the book "Bias" by Bernard Goldberg and has yet to completely form an opinion of it or the content it contains. On one hand, you see, Deckard appears to be pushing away from the use of labels because they can be deceiving. Then, in the final two paragraphs, he flips around and offers a list of Biblical labels (i.e., ungodly, wicked, effeminate, righteous, pure, lovely, faithful, whoremonger, carnal, joyful, shameful, holy). He ends with this:

The solution is clear. Because labeling is divisive and misleading, it serves no beneficial purpose in the Kingdom of God. We need to avoid non-Scriptural terms that have secular connotations attached to them, and have no common definition. Furthermore, we should attempt to identify the position someone holds on specific issues, rather than make general assumptions about them on other issues.

I agree with the last sentence. It always better to know than to guess as to where someone stands. The part that bugs me is that while Deckard seems more than willing to toss several commonplace descriptors overboard, he isn't willing to give them up all together. Instead, he advocates replacing such "secular" and "non-Scriptural terms" with adjectives from the Bible. The point he has missed throughout his entire essay is that labels -- even those derived from Scripture -- are bad and dangerous. We cannot base the whole of any one person on a single incident, stance or belief. To do so is to disregard humanity, the very thing that Deity is credited with creating.

The battle of words rages on in Iowa's 3rd District, with the campaign for incumbent U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell issuing a letter to Democratic primary challenger Ed Fallon railing on contributions from Democracy for America, a national progressive political action committee founded in 2004 by current Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.

"In light of your criticism of Leonard Boswell for accepting support from Political Action Committees (PACs), I was rather dismayed to see you accepting support and soliciting money for your candidacy from a PAC," wrote JoDee Winterhof, a senior adviser for the Boswell campaign.

Her words in the letter were echoed by one of Iowa's state lawmakers.

"You can't bash PACs and then enlist their support in your campaign," said Des Moines State Rep. Bruce Hunter. "It's like having your cake and eating it too. By keeping the money, Ed is being disingenuous."

Fallon has refuted the charges that he took PAC money.

"I've never taken contributions from lobbyists or PACs, and I won't in this campaign either," Fallon said. "We're pleased to receive the endorsement of DFA, which urged its individual members to make contributions to my campaign through ActBlue, an online clearinghouse for donations to Democratic candidates."

Fallon was endorsed by DFA on Thursday. The national grass-roots organization encouraged its membership to contribute $20.08 to Fallon's campaign and to "support a Democrat with the backbone to stand up for progressive values." More than $10,000 was raised within two hours of the DFA's e-mail announcement to 675,000 supporters. Within the first 24 hours, according to Fallon, contributions neared $19,000.

Referring to Boswell as a "Bush" Democrat, the e-mail from DFA contrasted the two candidates' stands on the issues, citing favorably Fallon's record of opposition to the Iraq war, his refusal to take money from lobbyists, his consistent stand on the climate crisis and opposition to coal, his opposition to warrantless surveillance on Americans and his opposition to No Child Left Behind.

DFA is credited with helping Donna Edwards defeat incumbent Democratic Rep. Albert Wynn in Maryland's 4th District on Tuesday. In highlighting the newly organized DFA support, the Fallon campaign pointed to Winterhof's assertion in the Des Moines Register that Fallon "will not enjoy the backing of progressive organizations" that helped Edwards defeat Wynn.

In the letter to Fallon, Winterhof called upon Fallon to uphold his pledge not to accept donations from PACs and lobbyists by returning all DFA-generated funding. She also wrote a sample letter for Fallon to send to the DFA, requesting the organization stop all fund-raising efforts on his behalf.

"I'm disappointed that Boswell spokesperson JoDee Winterhof made a false accusation against me," Fallon said and noted that 75 percent of the money Boswell raised last year came from PACs. "Perhaps she wants to divert public attention from Boswell's support this week of immunity for telecom companies that cooperated with the Bush administration's spying on American citizens. Once again, Boswell is voting with Bush against his fellow House Democrats. This is bad news for the public and good news for Boswell's PAC contributors, such as AT&T, which contributed $5,000 to Boswell last year."

Boswell is also taking shots on the internet for co-sponsoring legislation introduced by Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich last spring. The legislation, which Boswell co-signed on Thursday, calls for the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney.

"It's a little late to start impeachment proceedings," said Fallon. "The time to impeach Cheney and/or Bush would have been when we first discovered the administration had misled us into the Iraq war. This current attempt by Kucinich was introduced in April of last year. If Rep. Boswell were serious about impeachment, why did it take him 10 months to sign on to the measure? It's clear to me that Boswell is trying to act more like a Democrat now hat he has an opponent."

Such sentiment was also echoed on the Internet Friday, with one journalist noting that Rep. Wynn also co-sponsored the legislation prior to his defeat in Maryland. Other journalists, however, pointed to Boswell's record of support on a variety of progressive issues.

"Unlike Ed Fallon, Congressman Boswell has been consistent in his positions, he clearly agrees with the legislation," said Mark Daley, adviser to the Boswell campaign. "Ed Fallon, on the other hand, rails against PACS and then takes their help. That's the height of hypocrisy. If he wants voters to believe a word of what he says he really must give that money back."

If you (or your child) either gave or received Pokemon branded Valentine cards yesterday, you'll probably want to toss them.

Sherwood Brands LLC is voluntarily recalling approximately 400,000 packages of the Pokemon branded "Valentine Cards and Pops," because of reports that metal fragments were found in two of the lollipops. The products being recalled are packages of 10 and 30 cards and lollipops featuring a variety of characters. The product was sold at retailers nationwide.

Consumers who have purchased the products are advised not to consume them and to return them to Sherwood Brands LLC (Attn: Product Recall, 350 Shaw Dr., Keysville, VA 23947) for a full refund.

Of course, unlike other products, it is likely that the cards and lollipops have already been distributed. For those who happened to receive one, enjoy the card and toss the pop.

The Iowa Library Association knows it is in the midst of a battle when it comes to state funding, but the organization is hoping its grass-roots call will motivate thousands of library patrons to join the front lines.

Gov. Chet Culver has proposed an 18-percent cut in library funding in his 2009 budget. The ILA is quick to point out that while the overall budget has increased by 6 percent, the cuts facing Iowa's libraries are percentagewise among the deepest in the budget. Culver has proposed cuts to library funding totaling just over $1.19 million -- $135,000 from the state library, $259,442 from Library Service Areas, and $725,000 from Enrich Iowa. The cuts could also affect school media centers, although the exact impact has not yet been determined.

"The Iowa library community is really disappointed with the cuts that are in the governor's proposed budget," said Sheryl Bissen, ILA immediate past president, during a phone interview on Friday. "When you look at the total dollar amount proposed -- the $1.19 million -- that's really a small dollar amount in terms of the entire budget. But, to Iowa libraries, in terms of percentages of our budgets, it is a pretty significant amount. Iowa libraries have always been known to be really conscientious and conservative with their money so that every dollar counts. So to cut 18 percent from the the support structure that allows Iowa's libraries to continue to provide services is really a severe cut."

In response to the proposed cuts, the ILA has made available through its website and membership e-mail list informational postcards and information sheets for library patrons. Librarians throughout the state have been encouraged to distribute the materials to patrons who use a computer, check out books or visit their library. The goal is to have 100 messages sent per library per week until the budget issue is resolved.

"To those of you that have not yet contacted your legislators and the Governor yet about the proposed cuts in the Governor's budget for libraries, this should explain the urgency of the situation the library community is up against," Amy Campbell, lobbyist for the ILA, wrote in a newsletter to supporters.

Campbell then described why enacting a balanced budget this year will be "especially tricky" for legislators:

1. The budget already has $570 million in increased expenditures built-in because of actions taken last year on school funding and teacher pay increases. If all other programs and employee salaries were frozen at current levels, the budget would need to increase by $570 million.
2. The Revenue Estimating Conference has estimated that revenues to the state will grow by much less than $570 million. In fact, after factoring in the state's spending limit of 99 percent of revenues, there is a hole of about $350 million.
3. The governor's budget has more than $100 million in revenue enhancements, many of which legislators are unsure they have the votes to approve. Failing to approve those suggestions will increase the hole in the budget.
4. The federal government is cutting back on several funds the state has previously relied upon.

"Let's be adamant, yet polite," advised a memo from Mike Dargan, government affairs committee chair of the ILA, while encouraging librarians to voice their displeasure with the proposed cuts. "Politely remind [Culver] that Iowa's libraries are a key component of our education system. School libraries teach Iowa's students to locate and evaluate information ... and public libraries provide community-based opportunities for life-long learning."

Dargan, who works for the Waterloo Public Library, has a personal stake in this fight. The Waterloo and Cedar Falls public libraries combine their current Enrich Iowa distributions to subsidize a popular outreach program to the elderly known as Third Age Project. The program provides book discussion groups and nostalgia kits to local nursing homes and shut-ins. If the proposed cuts are taken directly from this stream, the result would be a loss of $12,2688 for Waterloo and $7,449 for Cedar Falls, effectively gutting the program.

Libraries throughout the state use Enrich Iowa funds for a variety of purposes. Some, like Waterloo and Cedar Falls, use the money to fund local programs. Some of Iowa's more rural libraries -- more than 70 percent of Iowa's libraries are in communities of fewer than 2,500 people -- spend their allocations on additions to their existing book collections. The ILA has developed a spreadsheet that shows, community by community, how the proposed budget cuts will impact libraries throughout the state.

"It is every voter's responsibility to let his or her elected officials know how we feel about these things," Bissen said. "We need to let them know the direct impact on each of our independent communities."

While Bissen said she could not provide an exact number as to how many postcards and calls had been made to Des Moines by library patrons and staff, she added that both she and others associated with the ILA have been told that state legislators and the governor's office have been contacted by many who are concerned about the cuts.

In the last 10 years, visits to Iowa libraries increased by 30 percent, with more than 16 million visiting a public library last year. Nearly 63 percent of all Iowans have and use a public library card. In 2007 more than 27 million items were checked out of public libraries.

In an opinion released today, the Iowa Supreme Court stated that an interpretation of the Iowa Code by the Iowa Utilities Board was "irrational, illogical, or wholly unjustifiable." The high court upheld the decision of the Polk County District Court that telecommunication carriers -- MCI Worldcom Inc., in this particular case -- are required to obtain verification of a change in service and not verification of the terms and conditions of that new service.

The case stemmed from the experiences of Dr. Syam Kilaru. He was contacted by a telemarketer on behalf of MCI during the fall of 2002. The telemarketer offered Kilaru certain international calling rates and promotions before switching the man to a third-party verification company. Kilaru agreed to transfer his phone service to MCI during a recorded conversation that contained only the verification to switch services and not the terms and conditions as outlined by the telemarketer.

Although MCI sent a welcome packet that outlined the new terms of service, Kilaru did not review it. The rates contained in the welcome packet were very different from those described by the telemarketer and additional promotions of free international calls for a certain period of time were not included. Kilaru noticed the changes upon receiving his first bill and he subsequently filed an informal complaint with the Iowa Utilities Board, which was required to forward the complaint to MCI.

MCI agreed at that time to refund a portion of Kilaru's billing, but stated that all future calls would be billed at the higher rate. The Utilities Board submitted this as a proposed resolution to the case. The Office of Consumer Advocate, however, filed a petition with the board to impose civil penalties against MCI for committing an unlawful slam, one of three telecommunications actions prohibited by Iowa law.

In July 2004 the case was heard before an administrative law judge, who ruled that because MCI did not verify the terms of service, there was no valid contract. Kilaru would not have to pay any bills to MCI and MCI would not be penalized for the action because "there was no evidence MCI intended to mislead." Both the Office of Consumer Advocate and MCI appealed this decision.

The Polk County District Court reversed the administrative law judge's ruling, returning the case to the initial partial payment offered by MCI. Both the Iowa Utilities Board and the Office of Consumer Advocate appealed.

The Supreme Court opinion, penned by Justice David S. Wiggins, outlined the key issue in the case as whether or not the verification provisions contained in Iowa law and agency rules require agreement on both the switch to a new carrier and the terms and conditions related to that switch. After an extended review of both the Iowa Code and rules adopted by the Utilities Board to implement the code, the Supreme Court found "none of the permissible verifications require the customer to verify the terms and conditions the customer consented to when agreeing to change service carriers."

"Had the Board wanted to require such a verification it could have done so by writing that requirement into its rules," Wiggins wrote. "After all, one of the purposes of rulemaking is to express the policy of an agency in a rule in order to give any affected persons fair notice of the law before they engage in conduct, which may be governed by those rules."

Iowans -- especially those who live in the districts represented by Congressmen Steve King, Tom Latham and, yes, even Leonard Boswell -- need to let their voices be heard about retroactive telecom immunity.

The U.S. Senate was unsuccessful in keeping the provision that granted such immunity to the large telecom corporations who were complaisant in Pres. George W. Bush's domestic spying program out of the FISA reauthorization bill. Pressure is now being placed on the U.S. House of Representatives by the White House to pass a similar bill.

Today in the House a bill calling for a 21-day extension of the existing law was considered and subsequently rejected. Although Bush has stated that he would veto any such extension passed by Congress, he has also stated that any lapse in his domestic spying program would threaten national security. The existing law under which the spying is being done is set to expire Feb. 16.

So-called "Blue Dog" Democrats were encouraged today to break ranks with Democratic leadership and reject the extension. Boswell (once again) chose to side against party leadership and vote mostly with Republicans to bury the extension. It failed by a vote of 199 to 229, with 34 Democrats voting against.

Democratic Congressmen Dave Loebsack and Bruce Braley both voted in favor of today's extension; however, it is still important that they hear from constituents that do not want the telecom corporations to have retroactive immunity.

The death of the extension leaves the House with few choices. If they do not act, the provision expires. Some legal experts argue the expiration could force any future wiretaps to be handled as they were prior to Bush's domestic spying program. That is, law enforcement could tap for up to 72 hours before it would have to seek a warrant from the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court. (Proceedings carried out in private to ensure security.)

The other House option -- and the option those serving are being pressured to do -- is to pass a bill similar to the Senate, which would not only extend the current program (wiretaps without FISA warrants), but would provide retroactive immunity to telecom corporations. Immunity language would allow the telecommunications companies facing lawsuits to walk -- without the cases ever being heard in a court of law.

The Iowa Court of Appeals has reviewed two lower-court criminal verdicts and found them lacking. Both cases were reversed today and ordered back to their respective district court for a new trial.

A case from Scott County District Court involves the jury conviction of Gregory Glenn for assault and domestic abuse assault. In the appeal Glenn contended that he was denied the right to confront his accuser. During the trial the alleged victim did not appear or testify. The court allowed prior statements from the alleged victim to be admitted as evidence against Glenn.

The appellate court reversed both the conviction and sentence against Glenn, stating that the admission "of this evidence was erroneous" and "violated Glenn's Confrontation Clause rights."

In a similar case in Black Hawk County District Court, Earl Denson Mosley Jr. appealed his jury conviction for two counts of second-degree and one count of third-degree sexual abuse against his stepdaughter. During the course of the trial, the state allowed an older stepdaughter to testify of "suggestive remarks, slaps on the clothed buttocks, and a claim that Mosley saw [the girl] naked through a keyhole." The state argued that the testimony would serve as proof of Mosley's modus operandi, or defining characteristics of a criminal pattern.

The appellate court dismissed that assertion and ruled that the testimony, being dissimilar to the level of abuse claimed by the younger stepdaughter, was provided only "to bolster" the younger stepdaughter's credibility and "to paint Mosley as a lewd man with a general propensity to commit wrongful acts." The appellate court decision called upon a 2001 Iowa Supreme Court ruling on a similar case, which stated that "such testimony spoke to no legitimate fact besides [defendant's] propensity to abuse young girls."

"We conclude this evidence served little more than to appeal to the jury's sympathies and provoke its instincts to punish," wrote Judge Gayle Nelson Vogel in the ruling.

A wood shop teacher at Pocahontas Area Community High School was transported Tuesday afternoon to Pocahontas Hospital before being airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics following burns he received from a flash fire on school property.

Emergency services were called to the high school at nearly 2 p.m. Tuesday, responding to reports of a fire and an injury. Students had all been evacuated when fire fighters arrived. Heavy smoke was coming from the technical education building on the east side of the school. According to fire investigators, a spark from a hammer being sanded ignited sawdust in the shop area. The fire traveled into the sawdust collection unit. When the unit was opened by teacher Brian Blomker, 60, a flash fire resulted in burns to his hands and arms.

The fire was contained to the wood shop and smoke damage was minimal. The school opened on time today. There is currently no additional information on the status of Blomker or the severity of his burns.

Carrie Giddins, recently departed Iowa Democratic Party communications director, was named the top political operative to watch by the Politico. Giddins, 33, left the IDP after a year stint there where she coordinated press coverage for the Iowa caucus -- an endeavor that had her working with over 3,000 journalists from around the globe. She is currently heading into the beltway, where she plans to start her own political communications consulting firm.

...Giddins' role in Iowa wasn't strictly limited to communications. She also helped manage the three major political events in Iowa — the Hall of Fame dinner, the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and the caucuses — all of which attracted a huge media presence.

"The burden all falls on the state party for the caucus," Giddins said. "From creating primers on how to run a caucus, to raising the money to put them on, to picking the site, to reporting the numbers — ... that's all something that happens with the 20 people in the state party here."

She also worked closely alongside the Iowa Republican Party's communications director, Mary Tiffany, and they jointly organized the press filing center at the Polk County Convention Complex, where thousands of reporters filed live on caucus night.

"We became friends and were able to vent to each other about our own jobs even though politically our views were different," Tiffany said.

"I've never seen someone who's so on top of everything. She's extremely detail-oriented," said Tiffany. "It was never competitive. Reporters would call me to ask if a candidate had come to Iowa; I would always tell them to talk to Carrie."

And after the Iowa caucuses, when many of the weary staff members just wanted to take a break, Giddins hopped on a flight to Las Vegas, where she helped the Nevada Democratic Party organize its own caucuses, acting as an assistant to the state party's communications director. ...

In all, the Politico listed 50 people in various areas of politics that are up-and-coming.

In the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, many of us missed an important event -- Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Luckily, every month is a good time to spread the word about preventing cancer.

We often hear about breast cancer and prostate cancer, but one type of cancer that deserves some extra attention is lung cancer. I know it's hard to believe, but this deadly disease claims the lives of more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, and kidney cancers and melanoma combined!

Despite these sobering statistics, we've seen some good news in preventing lung cancer. Rates have started to decline among men and are now holding steady in women. Yet, the death toll from lung cancer remains alarmingly high. In Iowa alone, 2,290 people were diagnosed with lung cancer last year. This terrible disease also claimed the lives of 1,750 Iowans during that same time period.

Lung cancer is hard to detect, so it's important we do what we can to prevent the disease. Healthy lifestyles that include exercise and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables are a good start. The most important prevention tactic is avoiding tobacco. Tobacco use is related to 80 percent of lung cancer cases.

Please allow me to share a story about a staff member of Chuck's. Mary Jo was on the staff in Washington, D.C. before moving back to Iowa with her husband and children. Less than a year ago, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Although her father smoked as she was growing up, Mary Jo herself never did. Now, you can often hear her telling others to think about what they might be doing to their kids. Mary Jo has been fighting this horrible disease everyday since her diagnosis. Her positive attitude and faith is an inspiration to Chuck and me and her many friends and family. We know she's going to beat this.

Mary Jo is one of the 13 percent of all cases who has never smoked. It's why all of us should learn to recognize the symptoms. A nagging cough was the only symptom she had. Be sure to see your doctor if you've got a persistent cough; constant chest pain; shortness of breath; recurring pneumonia or bronchitis; unusual or unexplained fatigue; swelling and redness of the neck or face; or loss of appetite and loss of weight.

She's permitted me to tell her story because she understands how important it is to spread the word and to remain vigilant in the fight against cancer. We can all make a difference.

Randy Lee Blanchard, originally charged with child endangerment in an alleged shaking incident involving his infant daughter, is now being charged with first degree murder.

The 12-day-old infant, Aliya Blanchard, died Monday while being treated in the intensive care unit of Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn. She was the child of Blanchard and Annette Eilderts, both residents of Nashua.

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, law enforcement responded to a call from Covenant Hospital in Waterloo. Hospital security reported that an infant had been transferred there from Floyd County Memorial Hospital with injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome. The infant was immediately transferred from Covenant to the medical facility in Rochester, where she remained until her death. An autopsy is being conducted today in Rochester.

Blanchard, 31, was arrested on Feb. 8 in Rochester and charged with felony child endangerment causing serious injury. He was transported to the Olmstead County Sheriff's Office. This morning, he was additionally charged with first degree murder. He waived extradition back to Iowa.

Hawkeye Labor Council, a coalition of unions in seven Iowa counties, has suspended both members of its two-person staff and requested a government investigation of its finances.

Alan Bernard, 54, has served as the council's executive director since 2005. Lin Chavez, 21, has been the council's administrative assistant. Both were suspended last Wednesday, but the action was not made public until a news release late Monday.

In the news release, Justin Shields, labor council president and Cedar Rapids city councilman, was portrayed as confronting Bernard about "payments made by the staff on behalf of the council" immediately prior to the suspensions. Shields, a man who many perceived as being a close friend as well as working colleague with Bernard, would not offer further comment except to say that the matter is under investigation.

The matter, like most internal union conflicts, might have remained out of the public eye, except that Bernard was refused a United Airlines commercial flight on Monday from Cedar Rapids to Chicago. Bernard, prior to his suspension, had been scheduled on the flight as a part of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City corridor lobbying delegation to Washington, D.C. He was no longer part of the delegation and, amid concerns from members of Hawkeye Labor Council that he was leaving the area during an investigation, Bernard was asked by the airline to leave the plane. A United Airlines spokesperson has not yet responded to an information request as to the exact reason for Bernard being asked to leave the plane.

Bernard, who also owns and operates a political consulting firm, has not responded to a request for comment. Labor interests held a special meeting Monday night that was not open to the press. At this time, no actions or discussions from that meeting have been made public.

Hawkeye Labor Council, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, is the official organization of the national American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations of East Central Iowa. The council represents union employees in Linn, Iowa, Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Delaware and Jones counties.

Two of Iowa's federal lawmakers, working on opposite sides of the aisle and in different houses of Congress, are taking steps to help ensure stability in the federal tax policy affecting wind energy.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, authored the Wind Energy Incentives Act of 1993, which established the first wind energy production tax credit. Although the production tax credit has come under scrutiny by Congress, especially in recent years, the program has been reauthorized -- mostly in one or two year increments. It is currently funded through Dec. 31 and provides a 2 cent-per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) credit.

On Wednesday, a Senate vote on an amendment to the economic stimulus bill (HR 5140) that would have extended the production tax credit for an additional year fell one vote short of the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster. Both Grassley and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-IA, voted in favor of the extension. Before the final count was taken, Sen. Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, switched his vote from yea to nay in order to maintain the option of reintroducing the proposed legislation.

Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat representing Iowa's 1st District, is hoping his newly introduced bill will once again provide longterm stability for those considering an investment in wind as an alternative energy source.

"One of the things this bill will do is to provide a more predictable market for producers and investors who know that there's going to be a longer term tax credit," Braley said during a conference call on Thursday.

Braley's Clean Energy Investment Act of 2008 would extend the production tax credit for seven years, providing wind energy producers with the incentive to expand their operations.

"Iowa has the potential to be the wind energy capital of the Midwest," he said. "Wind energy is good for the economy, good for the environment and good for farmers. That's why we need to do more to encourage the development of Iowa's wind energy industry."

On Friday, after reading the press release on the proposed legislation, Grassley wrote a letter of appreciation and caution to Braley.

"I'm sending this letter today because of news reports this morning indicating that House leaders may schedule action -- both in committee and on the floor -- next week on an energy tax package," Grassley wrote. "I'd rather sit down and talk with you about these issues, but there's so little time that I wanted to get word to you and others in the Iowa delegation right away about what's at stake with this legislative debate for wind energy in particular."

Grassley, who also expressed his doubts that the production tax credit could be extended for more that a couple years due to "House rules requiring paygo," explained how he was able to diffuse an attempt last year to cap the wind energy credit and his concern that such a cap might be proposed again.

"I want to do everything possible to make sure another effort to cap this credit is stopped," he continued. "Although I believe our Senate action was heard loud and clear over in the House and another attempt to limit the wind energy production credit is unlikely, I urge you to make your views known direction to Ways and Means Committee Chairman [Chuck] Rangel. ... Wind energy tax policy has been one of my most successful initiatives, and I look forward to your continued support for proven tax policies that help to develop wind and other home-grown sources of alternative energy.

Iowa's wind energy production currently ranks fourth in the nation. According to the American Wind Energy Association, however, Iowa could product over 62,000 megawatts of wind-generated electricity. Currently the state is producing 1,273 megawatts -- or roughly enough to power 315,000 homes. Braley's bill does not call for an increase of the 2-cent credit, and, in a press release, Braley explained that since a wind farm produces electricity at about 7.6 cents per kWh, the existing credit "helps make wind competitive with convention production" such as coal plants, which produce at about 5.4 cents per kWh.

A 31-year-old Iowa man was arrested in Minnesota tonight while his 6-day-old infant remained in an intensive care unit there.

On Tuesday, Nashua law enforcement officials were contacted by security personnel at Covenant Hospital in Waterloo. Police were advised that an infant suffering injuries consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome had been transferred there from Floyd County Memorial Hospital.

The infant, daughter of Randy Blanchard and Annette Eilderts of Nashua, was subsequently transferred to Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, where she continues to be treated in the intensive care unit.

At roughly 5:30 p.m. Blanchard was arrested in Rochester. He was transported to the Olmstead County Sheriff's Office, pending his return to Iowa.

The Nashua Police Department was assisted by the Chickasaw County Sheriff's Office, the Chickasaw County Attorney and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

When it comes to making family planning services available and accessible to low-income women, Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa has a question for Iowa officials and taxpayers: "Do you want to pay $1 now or $4 later?"

Iowa has roughly 100,000 low-income women -- 12.3 percent of all women of childbearing age -- who need, but are not receiving, publicly assisted family planning services. The lack of access has been costly to Iowa, a state where half of all pregnancies are unintended. Planned Parenthood is advocating for the development of a state fund that would be used in conjunction with Medicaid, the Medicaid Waiver, Title 10 and other federal funding streams to provide low-income women with the birth control they need.

Kyle Carlson, staff attorney for PPGI, says that creation of the fund is the agency's No. 1 legislative priority.

"Iowa ranks 39th in terms of state assistance and 48th in terms of access to birth control for low-income women," he said. "As we've known for a while, that just isn't good enough."

The legislative priority received a boost at the beginning of the legislative session when Gov. Chet Culver tentatively earmarked $1 million for the fund. With legislators poised to tighten the state's belt, the climate in Des Moines is not necessarily conducive to new appropriations.

"We looked at other states around us and found many of them already had these types of state funds," Carlson said. "The interesting thing about this program, and the programs we've modeled it after, is that they are showing a significant return on investment."

Neighboring Minnesota, according to Carlson, has determined that for every dollar placed in the family planning fund, the state experiences a $4 Medicaid cost savings. Similar programs have also met with success in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.

"Whenever I'm approached and told that the state has a really tight budget, I say that the governor has given us $1 million to help make this fund happen, and, if we're successful, we're going to get you four back," Carlson said. "It's actually a cost-saving mechanism for the state. It's just a question of whether we want to pay a $1 now or $4 later. We know we could significantly save a lot of Medicaid spending by putting this money into prevention."

The hope is that the family planning fund, once created, would be a pool that would grow over time. With the initial $1 million from the governor, an additional 2,500 Iowa women could be served -- $6 million could serve 15,000 women.

"Our goal is to progressively increase the fund over time as much as we can," Carlson said. "For now, however, getting the fund created is a step in the right direction."

Planned Parenthood is also advocating on behalf of a bill that would require health insurance companies to provide coverage for the human papilloma virus vaccine.

"We are incredibly optimistic about the HPV insurance language because it is moving in the House and it is moving fast," Carlson said. "It came through the House Human Resources Committee before Feb. 1. I believe that is very telling about the type of support behind this."

For the most part, insurance companies have remained neutral about the bill. Carlson says this stems from the fact that most insurers who cover vaccinations have already included the HPV vaccine.

"Really this is about the state making a long-term commitment to women," he said. "This is the state saying that it is going to prevent cervical cancer as a matter of policy rather than leaving it to market forces."

While other states have used such measures as one stop along a path to mandating the vaccine for girls attending school, Carlson said that is not the case in Iowa.

"I know that there are some other places where that approach has been taken," he said. "That has never been an approach for us."

An Ames man was arrested today and will face charges of possession and receipt of child pornography.

Karl Ronald Kluender, 40, was taken into custody by officials with the U.S. Marshals' Service and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation after a federal indictment was issued against him. The indictment, obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa, resulted from a join investigation of the IDCI, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the 2nd Judicial District for the Iowa Department of Corrections.

Pornographic images of children were located on computers owned by Kluender, who was on probation for an April 2006 conviction of indecent contact with a child. The images were discovered by a probation officer as part of a routine home check on June 8, 2007. No information has been provided regarding the time span between discovery of the images and today's arrest.

Kluender was arrested at 509 Main St. in Ames late this morning and transported to Des Moines. He is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate this afternoon.

The Iowa Legislature has begun what will prove to be a very exciting year for health care reform in the state. This Tuesday legislators presented a health care bill that would bring universal coverage to Iowa's approximately 45,000 uninsured children.

This would be accomplished by expanding already existing programs to afford covering 25,000 more eligible kids, and providing subsidies to cover a remaining 19,000 in private plans.

This goal is to be reached within three years, but in order for it to reach the Governor's desk it will need legislative support. SEIU and Iowa for Health Care are setting out to assure this support by holding its 5th Annual Lobby Day at the Capitol on February 14th. Here our Union Members and Health Care Voters will be urging state legislators to support this landmark bill and stand up for the children of this state that go everyday without the access to health care they need and deserve.

In 2007, the U.S. Congress failed to override Bush's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP, or HAWK-I as it's known in Iowa). This is just further proof that the people of this county cannot rely on the current administration to reform our broken health care system. If Iowa wants to see a positive future for its children, it must act on this bill. For just one child to not have access to a doctor when s/he is sick is too many, and the longer we wait, the worse it's going to get.

Beyond this necessary health care bill, SEIU and Iowa for Health Care will also lobbying for nurse-friendly legislation.

Currently, many nurses in Iowa have no protection from employer retaliation when they speak out against actions or conditions in the workplace that are unsafe or illegal. Nurses should not be punished for advocating in the best interest of their patients, this is why we'll be pushing for a Whistleblower Protection Bill that has been introduced by Rep. Mary Mascher.

Another major issue facing this state is nurse wages, where we rank 50th in the nation. Ranking last in nurse pay is unacceptable and action much be taken immediately to bring these valued bedside workers up to a competitive average wage. Governor Culver vowed to push for legislation to boost these wages in his Condition of the State address, after SEIU expressed its concern for this issue. We can except a bill to be presented by March 1st.

So, with our help, 2008 should turn out to be the year of health care reform, and the year of the nurse for the state of Iowa. And, like everything in politics, there is power in numbers. So if you'd be interested in helping make 2008 a landmark year for these issues by joining our Lobby Day, please give us a call at 319.338.0353, or email us at iowaforhealthcare@gmail.com.

Sarah Swisher is a Registered Nurse, Political Director of SEIU Local 199, Director of Iowa for Health Care, and currently sits as a member on Iowa's Nursing Taskforce and Legislative Commission on Affordable Health Care for Small Businesses and Families, working to bring much needed health care reform to the state of Iowa.

A statewide smoking ban was approved Tuesday by the Iowa House Commerce Committee. The bill, managed by Rep. Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids, was approved with two additional exemptions -- casinos and federally chartered veterans organization that are closed to the public.

"Secondhand smoke contains 60 chemicals that cause cancer, asthma and other respiratory diseases," said Olson, a Democrat. "There is no risk-free secondhand smoke exposure for Iowans or workers. This creation of smoke-free places will protect Iowans in 99 percent of public places and workplaces, including bars and restaurants."

The bill, House Study Bill 537, creates smoke-free areas in public places such as workplaces, outdoor sports arenas, stadiums, bars and restaurants, public transit stations and within 50 feet of school grounds. Private residences are not required to be smoke-free.

"Food service workers have a 50 percent greater chance of dying from lung cancer than the general population," said Rep. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines and chairwoman of the House Commerce Committee. "This is about protecting the health of Iowans visiting public places and workers who often don't have a choice where to work."

The bill was approved on a bi-partisan 16 to 6 vote and now goes to the House floor for consideration.

Google and Twitter have partnered to provide this map of real time Super Tuesday commentary and reactions throughout the world. Enjoy!

The University of Northern Iowa V-Day Committee is seeking pieces of artwork relating to women's empowerment, gender equality and prevention of violence against women. The pieces will be auctioned off during V-Week with profits going to the V-Day Program and its beneficiary, Violence Prevention Services.

The program, along with Violence Prevention Services, is working to end violence against women of all ages and create connections between men and women to advocate that violence against women isn't just a women's issue.

The auction will be held on Friday, Feb. 22, during the V-Day performance of the Vagina Monologues in the Bertha Martin Theatre on campus. The performance, written by Eve Ensler, compiles real women's stories of intimacy, vulnerability and sexual self-discovery. Ensler premiered her work in a solo performance of the monologues in 1997.

All artwork for the auction must be submitted to Jessica Lieb, project coordinator, by Tuesday, Feb. 15. All genres are accepted. For more information, contact Lieb at (563) 580-3422.

Funding for many domestic programs is on the chopping block as President George W. Bush's 2009 federal budget proposes increased military spending and permanent status for earlier tax cuts. The budgetary cuts take aim at Child Care and Development Block Grants, Community Development Block Grants, Improving Teacher Quality State Grants, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and the Social Services Block Grants.

Congressman Dave Loebsack, a Democrat representing Iowa's 2nd District, announced his disapproval this morning at Bush's attempt to slash funding for Iowa's law enforcement and drug prevention efforts in the recently released fiscal year 2009 budget. Included in the $3.1 trillion budget was a severe cut in Edwards Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding and the complete elimination of Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) funding.

"The President's proposed cuts in law enforcement funding are simply not acceptable; they will decimate Iowa's local law enforcement and halt our state's drug prevention efforts," Loebsack said. "To ensure the safety of our communities, we must given local law enforcement every tool necessary to protect our families. Instead the president is cutting the very funding our state relies upon to protect our neighborhoods, families and children."

The funding allows law enforcement and local drug task forces to locate and close meth labs, take drug dealers off the streets and help prosecute those charged. The proposed 2009 federal budget eliminates all formula funding for the grants, and replaces it with $200 million in the form of competitive grants. This funding level, said Loebsack, is $174 million below the needed level to maintain services at the 2008 level, which was also a decrease from previous years. He added that Iowa stands to lose $1.6 million in law enforcement funds, resulting in the loss of 39 police officers across the state.

COPS, a component of the Department of Justice, advances the practice of community policing as an effective way to improve public safety. The grants are awarded to local law enforcement agencies to "hire and train community policing professionals, acquire and deploy cutting-edge crime-fighting technologies, and develop and test innovative policing strategies." In the 2008 budget, Loebsack secured $423,000 in COPS funding for Henry, Lee, Linn and Wapello counties. All such funding has been eliminated from the proposed 2009 budget.

If the proposed budget stands, Iowa's law enforcement won't be the only organization facing difficult choices. The budget, according to analysis done by the Massachusetts-based National Priorities Project, slashes $386,000 in Child Care and Development Block Grants, nearly $10.5 million in Community Development Block Grants, over $1 million in Improving Teacher Quality State Grants, nearly $6 million in the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, over $2 million from Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, and $5.3 million from Social Services Block Grant. And those are only the cuts that will have a direct impact on Iowa. Overall, the proposed budget cuts discretionary domestic programs not related to security by $2.4 billion.

In other funding, the White House proposes $70 billion in war-related spending -- on top of the $102.4 billion the administration continues to pursue for 2008. Thus far, the Iraq ware has cost taxpayers $522 billion.

The non-war military budget is also slated for a 5 percent increase from 2008, reaching $541 billion. This includes funding for nuclear weapons under the Department of Energy budget.

Finally, the budget request makes permanent the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003. According to the Center on Budget Policy Priorities, the wealthiest 1 percent would receive 31 percent of the windfall over the next 10 years, the top 20 percent would receive 74 percent, and those in the lowest 60 percent of households would receive 12 percent.

Sandwiched between two of Iowa's more rural counties, the Louisa-Muscatine Community School District and its centralized campus, nuzzling Highway 61 and currently barren crop fields, may not seem like the type of educational facility that would gain international notice for technological advances. Looks, however, can be deceiving.

Next week, when elementary students in the district sit down to take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, some will have the added assistance of an Apple iPod at their side. The event will be a technological breakthrough in standardized testing that will likely produce ripple effects throughout the state and nation.

The district's iPod Project began in 2005 when the district's technology team, facing a very basic problem, came up with a very innovative solution. Special-education students, mainstreamed into traditional classrooms, needed help taking tests. Often, the students were being pulled from their classrooms to have tests read to them or entire classes were being forced to work at a slower pace as teachers read questions aloud. While brainstorming possible technology projects for upcoming grants on a conference call, Scott Grimes, the elementary school principal at the time, recalled hearing about a new media player from Apple that could handle video. The team came up with the idea of recording test questions for playback on the device, allowing the district's special-education students to remain in the classroom while continuing to work at their own pace.

"At that time, the idea was more centered around using a laptop for access for students and communications with parents," said Grimes, who now serves as superintendent of schools. "But as we started talking about the idea, it just didn't gel. We also felt it wouldn't be adequate for the state grant -- that it wasn't far enough out-of-the-box."

Escaping the Box

Grimes said that when the idea of using the iPods to assist the special-education students was formed, the entire group had an "ah-ha" moment. Although other school districts around the nation had dabbled with using iPods for language fluency purposes and for students learning English as a second language, the idea of using them as assistive technology for special-education students was new.

The district initially purchased two iPods for a pilot project while the grant was submitted to the Iowa Department of Education. Unfortunately, the state agency declined grant money for the project.

"We were told at that time that the project wasn't innovative enough," said Andy Crozier, elementary technology instructor. "We were shocked by the response. No one had ever done this before. It was a new idea on how to use technology in education and it was very practical."

Because the pilot project had been such a great success, the district's board of education appropriated $10,000 from general funds for the purchase of 32 iPods and other needed items (devoted laptop, software, USB ports, headphones, etc.) to set the project in motion. The district began by serving special-education students in third through sixth grades.

"If we can keep the students in their classrooms with their peers -- whether test scores shoot up or stay the same -- the iPod Project is being effective," Crozier explained.

Providing students with what they need to reach their personal potential while within a core classroom environment, said Grimes, has always been the focus of the program. The added bonus, which hasn't gone unnoticed as students have progressed from grade to grade within the district, has been an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence.

"The students' confidence levels have definitely gone up," he said. "They don't feel as isolated. They don't feel like they're different. A lot of the feedback we've received is from people who have already graduated, who went through school as a special-education student. They are very supportive and express how they wish they would have had a similar option when they were in school."

Taking the Next Step

Grimes says he is asked frequently how he anticipates test scores, especially those from the ITBS, to change now that the students have more self-confidence and are able to work more independently.

"In my mind, it's not about raising the test scores," he said. "I mean, yes, we hope that's going to happen because we want to use tools that enhance students' lives so they can make larger gains and they can hopefully get the skills they need so they no longer require special-ed services. But the ultimate goal is to provide students a less restrictive environment.

"Right now, we are going to have 35 students take [the ITBS] independently. That's really what all the other students have been doing. They sit at their desk and they take the test. The special-education students have never had opportunity to do it that way. This will be the first time that they do."

Although the district is contacted weekly by educational institutions throughout the nation and overseas that want to learn more about the iPod Project and the district has been featured on the Apple website, the ITBS testing has brought even more excitement and scrutiny to the project. Grimes said he initially contacted the University of Iowa's College of Education to assure them that the district was not currently using the iPods for standardized testing.

"There were some who thought we were," he said. "Of course, that wasn't the case, because you can't do that without special permission."

It wasn't until after David Frisbie, director of the Iowa Statewide Testing Program, visited the district and learned more about the program that Grimes, Crozier and special education teacher Michelle Ryan were given permission to allow the school's special-education students to use the iPods during the test.

"The students were engaged in the testing process, and they seemed comfortable using the iPod and headphones for this purpose," Frisbie wrote in his approval letter. "Using this approach will allow for a more standard administration of the tests and will allow students who work at different rates to complete the test without being hurried." Frisbie added that he hoped the work being done by Louisa-Muscatine would benefit other school districts.

The district has since worked with Frisbie and his office to ensure the existing high standards of security for the test have been maintained while the information is prepared for upload to the iPods.

While the primary focus of the iPod Project has been and continues to be with the special-education students, the district has found opportunities for broader use of the technology -- an option made possible when the board of education elected to fund the project with money not specifically earmarked for special-education. A video shown to a class of 20 or more students, for instance, can be uploaded onto the iPods so that each student in the class can have his or her own unit and work at his or her own pace.

"We're always looking for new ideas," Crozier said. "There's no one use for any single piece of technology we have in our district. If there is multiple uses, and if it is beneficial to our students, we'll use it."

One of Iowa's congressmen is continuing to raise eyebrows in Washington. Bruce Braley, a Democrat elected in 2006 to represent the 1st District, was recently named as one of three chairpersons to lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue Program for the 2008 cycle.

Braley will co-chair the program with Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Arthur Davis of Alabama. The appointment marks only the second time a freshman member of Congress has been invited to serve on the board. Schultz, who was elected to Congress in 2004, was the first freshman member to serve in this capacity.

"Congressman Braley will serve as a mentor to the many Democratic candidates nationwide who are running for Congress to change the direction of our country," said Carrie James, Northeast Regional Press Secretary for the DCCC. "As a former member of Red to Blue, he brings firsthand knowledge that will serve our candidates well this cycle."

Chairman Chris Van Hollen selected Braley because he is a "well-respected leader" in the freshman class who has "proved he knows how to win tough elections" and will "be a helpful resource" to Democratic challengers.

"I think the fact that Congressman Braley was named co-chair of the Red to Blue Program is a reflection of his growing reputation among his colleagues in Congress as an effective legislator and campaigner, especially given that he's the only freshman congressman named to a leadership position at the DCCC," said Jeff Giertz, spokesman for Braley. "Congressman Braley bring experience in close, tough races and brings a familiarity with the Midwest. There are a considerable number of open seats and top races here in the Midwest, and Mr. Braley's understanding of Midwestern politics could be of particular benefit to these candidates."

The Red to Blue Program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots and strategic support. The effort helped raise over $22.6 million for 56 Democratic candidates last cycle.

The first slate of Red to Blue open seat and special election candidates were recently announced by the DCCC. The targeted candidates are seeking to represent a total of 11 congressional districts located in New Jersey, Ohio, California, Illinois, New York, Wyoming, Indiana and Louisiana.

When the state's newest task force on nursing meets for the first time today, the vast majority of those in the room will be female. Women currently hold 26 seats on the 30-member commission.

While the percentage may seem high, only about 6 percent of all nurses nationally are male. Iowa's percentage of male nurses ranks below the national average. Call it gender stereotyping with an unusual twist. Also call it something the commission, charged with addressing the many challenges facing Iowa's nurses, may very well discuss in the coming weeks.

The commission will be chaired by Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, a former nurse, and is scheduled to provide recommendations in early March. In addition to discussing the obvious gender bias currently in the profession, the commission will also tackle such challenges as low wages and an overall declining workforce.

"As a former nurse, I know the difficulties that direct care workers face," Judge said. "I am looking forward to working with my fellow task force members from across the state, and providing a report that outlines the problem and presents some short term steps and also long term solutions for some of the challenges our nurses currently face."

The commission, something Gov. Chet Culver called for in his Condition of the State Address in mid-January, is comprised of 22 organizational representatives, four state legislators and four gubernatorial appointees.

Members of the new task force and their affiliations are:

• Jennifer Steenblock of Des Moines, Department of Human Services
• Michelle Ficken of Independence, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
• Lorinda Inman of Des Moines, Nursing Examiners Board
• Cindy Baddeloo of Des Moines, Iowa Health Care Association
• Rachel Setz of Ames, Nursing Student Association
• Aaron Pierson of Urbandale, recent graduate of a four-year program
• Sara Swisher of Iowa City, Service Employees International Union
• Cheryl Jones of Bloomfield, Iowa Board of Public Health
• Connie Boyd of Fort Dodge, Iowa Community Colleges
• Julie McMahon of Des Moines, Iowa Department of Public Health
• Laura Malone of Des Moines, Iowa Hospital Association
• Ginny Wangerin of Des Moines, Iowa Nursing Association
• Barb Decker of Des Moines, Iowa Private Colleges
• Rita Franz of Iowa City, University of Iowa College of Nursing
• Beverly Zylstra of Des Moines, Department of Inspections and Appeals
• Di Findley of Peosta, direct care worker
• Dr. Brian Mehlhaus of Boone, Iowa Academy of Family Physicians
• Heidi Goodman of West Des Moines, Iowa Medical Association
• Kim Cisna of Ankeny, Iowa School Nurse Association
• Mary O'Brien of Tiffin, Iowa Association of Nurse Anesthetists
• Linda McCabe of Burlington, Iowa Association of Nurse Practitioners
• Mary Ann Osborn of Cedar Rapids, gubernatorial appointee
• Sheryl Barnes of Des Moines, gubernatorial appointee
• Teri Murphy of Dubuque, gubernatorial appointee
• Michele Kelly of Spencer, gubernatorial appointee
• Mary Mascher of Iowa City, Iowa House of Representatives
• Linda Upmeyer of Garner, Iowa House of Representatives
• Amanda Ragan of Mason City, Iowa Senate
• James Seymour of Woodbine, Iowa Senate

One slot on the commission, reserved for a recent graduate of a two-year program, remains vacant. The commission will meet for the first time today at 9 a.m. at the State Capitol. Comments from the public will be taken between 12:30 and 1 p.m.

There's always a bit of jostling when a member of a political party decides to enter into a primary contest against an incumbent, but the race in Iowa's 3rd District only began a few weeks ago and candidates are already exchanging blows.

On Tuesday, challenger Ed Fallon pledged to support the winning 3rd District candidate following the Democratic primary. He also went one step further by issuing a press release and challenging incumbent Leonard Boswell to make a similar pledge.

"Fallon believes it's crucial to have a strong united Democratic Party behind the June 3 nominee," read the press release. The release also indicated that Fallon has "a long history of commitment to working hard for Democrats and will continue his efforts to build a Democratic Party more in sync with its historic populist tradition." Highlighted in the notice to the press were Fallon's support of Sen. John Kerry and Congressman Dennis Kucinich during the 2004 presidential campaign, his support of Gov. Chet Culver following his own unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 2006, and his work in 2007 on behalf of numerous Democratic candidates.

Notably absent were Fallon's well-known actions during the 2000 presidential contest, a sin of omission quickly highlighted by the Boswell's campaign.

"Leonard Boswell has always had a solid history of supporting Democrats and does not believe his history and record within the party is the one in question," said JoDee Winterhof, senior adviser to the Boswell for Congress campaign. "Ed Fallon publicly supported Ralph Nader and we know who our president has been for the last seven years in part because of Ralph Nader."

In October of 2000, Fallon, a Democratic member of the Iowa Legislature at the time, was quoted by the New York Times as saying the presidential choice offered by the two major political parties was "between George W. Bush and a Democrat who is to the right of Bill Clinton."

As a result of his support for Nader, Fallon was ousted from his seat on the Polk County Democratic Central Committee. Later, in 2002, Fallon refused to sign a pledge stating he would support Democrats who won primaries in the county. He went on record, comparing the Polk County Democratic Party's loyalty pledge -- a document quite similar to the one he asked Boswell to sign -- to those used by the Nazi Party, the Soviets and the British during the American Revolution.

"I'm looking forward to a spirited race during the next few months," Fallon wrote in his letter that urged Boswell to sign the loyalty pledge.