Winners

The National Science Foundation just announced that it would give $3.3 million to Iowa State University to recruit more women into male-dominated science and engineering majors and careers at the college. Women represent a paltry 25 percent of science and engineering jobs. It's another step toward shattering the glass ceiling that professional women continue to encounter. Now if we could just do something about that wage gap.

There's nothing wrong with building a tourist attraction if it brings visitors and money to Iowa, but have you noticed the lack of enthusiasm developers of the $155 million Earthpark received for last week when they announced it would be built in Pella? Don't get us wrong, if it had to be built in Iowa after 11 years of searching for a home, we're happy it's close to the metro - even though the project got a lukewarm reception in Des Moines in 1999. But a three-section rain forest with a 600,000-gallon aquarium and theater in Dutch Pella? First there was the $25 million cities were required to ante up to compete for the project, then there's the ridicule of funding the project with taxpayer money by Congressmen across the country and Charles Grassley's congressional approval last fall of a ban on the project using any more of the grant money until the first $50 million is matched with private donations. It's not the kind of confidence you want for a $155 million project, making this a pseudo "winner."

Losers

Faster than you can say "Archie Brooks," Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has announced he'll try to kick Brian Gilbert out of office, citing Gilbert's "habitual neglect," "willful misconduct" and "corruption." You may remember Gilbert as the Dallas County sheriff who was accused in March of pocketing more than $100,000 in cash that Dallas County authorities confiscated during a traffic stop. (Gilbert was supposed to transport the cash from the scene to the sheriff's office; however, he stopped at home, he said, because he noticed his garage door was open.) The AG's office cites a just-released audit that suggests Gilbert's alleged spring fling may not have been a one-time thing for the sheriff. He is accused of repeatedly maladminstering, misusing, losing, taking and/or generally screwing with everything from confiscated weapons to cash to drugs to 62 missing case files. In Miller's petition to remove Gilbert from office, he points to evidence that Gilbert failed to "properly report and dispose of five confiscated weapons" and that he "authorized a procedure whereby illegal drugs were improperly disposed of." As in former Councilman Brooks' case, however, the move by Miller comes as little surprise. In July, officers with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation arrested and charged Gilbert with first-degree theft for his alleged role in the unaccounted-for funds from the March traffic stop. His trial is set for Nov. 13 at the Dallas County Courthouse.

Media hounds and political pundits were abuzz last week analyzing Bill Clinton's temper tantrum with Fox News journalist Chris Wallace. Apparently Wallace's question to the former president about whether he did enough to kill Osama bin Laden during his eight years in the White House touched a nerve with Clinton, who was criticized earlier that week on an ABC television drama for allegedly not doing enough to hunt down the Taliban leader. Clinton's peeved, defensive tone with Wallace included uncharacteristic comments like, "you think you're so smart with that smirk on your face" and a lot of finger pointing as he accused Wallace and the Fox network of baiting him. Even Democrats were surprised by Slick Willie's behavior, considering his reputation as a savvy communicator. Seems like every time Clinton gets a little riled and starts pointing fingers we've come to learn he's hiding something. Anyone remember his, tone and gestures when he denied having an affair with Monica Lewinsky? Somewhere, Hillary Clinton's campaign manager is cringing. CV

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