The Good
The Iowa National Guard announced it will send a farm development team comprised of approximately 60 Iowa soldiers and airmen to Afghanistan to improve the value and sustainability of Afghan crops and livestock production. Scheduled to depart this fall, the team will spend about 10 months in a province near the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan providing expertise, advice and training in agricultural-related specialties and businesses to Afghan universities, provincial-level ministries, local farmers and agri-businesses. We’re not sure what crops grown in sand, but we are all for the effort.
Mediacom and Sinclair reached an agreement to allow the cable company to continue transmitting 22 Sinclair stations, including the Fox Station KDSM in Des Moines. The two companies had previously disagreed over how much Mediacom should pay to carry Sinclair’s channels. The original deadline was Dec. 31, but the two then pushed the date back until last Friday when it would have expired at midnight. Mediacom has more than 700,000 subscribers nationally, including approximately 250,000 in Iowa. It looks like the big boys can play nicely after all.
The Bad
Mother Nature has already slapped Iowa with a miserable winter, and now it’s beginning to take its toll on the city budget, too. The city of Des Moines’ Public Works Department stated that nearly $2.5 million of the allotted $3 million for snow and ice control has been spent. As a result, the budget crunch may force public work officials to scale back paving and curb improvement projects this spring and summer. Thus far, the city has spent approximately $350,000 on materials like sand and salt, $560,000 on equipment and $870,000 on labor. With more snow to come, cities will be forced to dig deeper into their pockets.
The National Bankruptcy Research Center released a report showing Iowa experienced a 25 percent increase in the number of people and businesses filing for bankruptcy last year. Jumping from 7,978 filings in 2008 to 10,041 in 2009, officials say the trend occurred because of fallout from credit tightening that began in late 2008. According to the Research Center, the number of bankruptcy cases nationwide increased 32 percent.
The Ugly
A criminal apparently became so excited about his upcoming robbery that he started while employees were still in the store. Juan Villegas was arrested after being found in a bathroom at La Tapatia, 1440 Des Moines St. Employees were checking the store after hours when they noticed the bathroom door was locked from the inside. After repeatedly knocking on the door, Villegas exited the restroom and said he was sick. Employees called police after finding the bathroom ceiling tiles disturbed and insulation on Villegas’ clothes and in his hair. Officers searched the ceiling and discovered a crowbar, a cell phone and car keys. Villegas is charged with second-degree burglary and possession of burglar tools.
It’s sad when an ousted former politician tries to stay in the spotlight by not keeping his mouth shut. Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich tells Esquire magazine that he’s, “Blacker than Barack Obama.” Seriously? He went on to say, “I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived.” The twice-elected Democrat was impeached and removed from office last year after federal prosecutors arrested him on corruption charges that included trying to sell Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat. The only thing black about Blagojevich is that mink he wears on his head. Go away, please. CV
