Winners

The Drake University men’s basketball team grabbed at least a share of the mythical state title for the first time since the 1978-79 season on Saturday with a victory over the University of Northern Iowa Panthers, 74-61, at the Knapp Center. Most important for the last place Bulldogs, it was a much-needed Missouri Valley Conference win. Nobody knows how either team’s season will wind up, but one thing’s for sure: who ever the fool was behind the idea of prematurely presenting Drake the Big Four Championship trophy on Saturday should be required to personally cut the thing in two with his own hands and present each half to both schools should UNI beat Drake Feb. 8 in Cedar Falls.

The United States Department of Agriculture recently issued a report showing that federal food assistance to needy Americans has increased to $59 billion. That’s more than half of the USDA’s annual budget and an increase in aid of about 50 percent since 2001. Though the increased need for aid is alarming — considering the USDA now estimates that approximately 20 percent of Americans are receiving assistance from the government — you’ve got to hand it the Democrats who were able to get the additional funding while they were the minority in both houses of Congress. What can we expect with them in power? Free lunches?

Good news for those who contribute to a College Savings Iowa account — you’re eligible for a bigger tax break in 2007. Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald says Iowans who save money for their children’s college education can receive a bigger break on their state taxes as they can now deduct the first $2,595 they contribute to the account. Investment earnings for the state’s 529 savings plan are exempt from state and federal taxes, and qualified withdraws are also tax-free.

Losers

West Des Moines property owners will be stuck paying higher taxes if the West Des Moines City Council gets its way. A proposed levy would increase 10 cents to $12.05 per $1,000 of taxable value. The council is asking property owners to help support a $45 million city budget that includes additional costs for five new city employees (including a parks planner), higher health insurance costs for city workers, participation in a metro-area terrorism task force and money to pay for city employee gym memberships (about $150,000). A series of public hearings will be held before the council votes March 15. We suggest the council review its tax on hotel rooms, which is expected to generate $1.8 million, and the more than $1 million it gives to other metro-area groups like BRAVO before it passes on the cost to its residents.

Those of us who enjoy political humor and like watching the president and the White House press corps sweat each year on C-SPAN during the broadcast of the White House Correspondents Association dinner are losing out this year. We like it when the WHCA hires a witty comedian to crack outrageous jokes at the expense of every one in the room. Over the years comedians like Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Don Imus and Norm MacDonald have delivered classic bits not so much for the jokes they told in so much as for having the guts to say the things the country was thinking but didn’t have the courage to say. The awkwardness is what made them great. So we’re guessing you’re as disappointed as we are to hearing the news that the WHCA has hired blasé veteran comedian [and we use that term lightly] Rich Little to do the honors this year. Rich Little? Has anyone checked with Branson, Mo., to see if he’s still alive? We’re certain his career died during the Nixon administration. Looks like the WHCA is getting the last laugh this year.

We’re told by construction and city officials this is the sixth and final year of a $429 million project to reconstruct Interstate 235 in the Des Moines area, but is it the cure-all they promised us? Downtown workers still complain of bottlenecks during rush hour traffic in the morning and evening — especially when it comes to accessing limited entrance and exit ramps. Then there’s the whole confusion of where the hell you can and can’t turn right on a red light. Even worse, does adding a third lane really solve anything when in a few years the same officials likely will tell us a fourth is needed? How about a fourth lane just for out-of-towners, slow drivers, gawkers, those who can’t coordinate their cell phones and steer their SUVs at the same time and the clueless who drive for 10 miles with their turn signal on? The only good news is that the final phase of the project is underway. Officials say it will focus on downtown and already construction crews have closed the freeway’s eastbound exit ramp at Third Street — just in time for high school state tournaments. Joy. CV

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