Winners

Anytime you can get people to clean up after themselves and save a few taxpayers dollars in the process can’t be all bad as evidenced by the Downtown Community Alliance’s cigarette litter prevention plan titled “Walk your butt to the can.” Apparently there has been an increase in the number of cigarette butts on the ground in downtown Des Moines following a May 1 smoking ban in the Capital City’s parking garages. To help curb the problem, the city in the next few weeks is placing 20 receptacles where smokers congregate. The DCA says Operation Downtown workers spend about 6,000 hours annually to dispose of cigarette butts, equaling about $108,000 in salary each year. Sure, some smokers will continue to litter, but we hope the majority of them walk their butt to the can.

Those of you disappointed that Paris Hilton had to return to prison can take solace that another rich woman is eluding some much deserved jail time. The Philippines’ flamboyant former first lady Imelda Marcos was acquitted of tax evasion last week after a court ruled she didn’t receive any tax notices because she had fled into exile in Hawaii in 1986. Marcos, 78, had been charged with failing to pay 33 million pesos ($717,000) in income tax in 1985 and 5 million pesos in estate tax after her husband, dictator Ferdinand Marcos, died in 1989. During the Marcoses 20-year rule, they were accused of embezzling about 10 billion pesos from the state coffers. A mob that descended on their palace after they fled found a treasure trove in the first lady’s private chambers, including 1,500 pairs of shoes, paintings and jewelry. Over the years, the Marcoses have avoided prosecution in more than 500 civil and criminal trials. Ah, all’s right with the world again.

Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers threw a no-hitter June 12 against the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming only the second major league hurler to do so this year and the first ever to throw a no-no at Comerica Park. The Tigers won the game 4-0. Meanwhile, the Cubs, Sox, Cardinals, Royals and Twins continue to suck.

Old school Twinkie lovers rejoice! (And when we say old school, we mean really old.) Hostess has announced it is returning to its roots with banana-crème filling, the kind that made the golden spongy cake a hit more than 70 years ago. Hostess says the filling tastes just as sweet as the standard vanilla most of us grew up eating. A banana shortage during World War II forced Hostess to stop using the banana-crème and start using the vanilla flavor. Hostess sells more than 500 million Twinkies annually.

Losers

Iowa Rep. Leonard Boswell tried passing the buck when watchdogs sounded the alarms about a U.S. House subcommittee that approved language to the 2007 Farm Bill that would preempt state restrictions of foods or agricultural products deregulated by the USDA. The problem with Boswell’s alibi is that the Iowa representative chairs the subcommittee he tried to blame, essentially slamming his own hand in the cookie jar. The Center for Safe Food embarrassed Boswell into claiming that he didn’t know what was written into his subcommittee’s bill, which means Boswell got caught doing something he thought he could get away with. The bill his group submitted would overturn laws agriculture states like Iowa have passed to protect its farmers from contamination from genetically modified seeds. At a time when consumers’ displeasure with the social, ethical and environmental aspects of food processes and production is becoming more apparent Boswell’s actions are foolish and regrettable. They also make you wonder just how much attention Boswell is paying to his job.

James Bentley was found guilty in March on sexual exploitation and child pornography charges stemming from the kidnapping and murder of 10-year-old Jetseta Gage, and last week a federal judge sentenced Bentley to 100 years in prison for taking sexually explicit photos of Jetseta. Bentley will serve the rest of his life behind bars — where he belongs — without any chance for parole. Bentley’s older brother, Roger, was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Jetseta. Earlier, he was also sentenced to life in prison.

Jeremy James Peterson and Timothy Joseph Formaro, both of Des Moines, found they couldn’t outrun the law last week after a high-speed chase on the East Side ended in their arrest and landed a police officer in the hospital. Undercover and uniformed police stopped the suspects on East Douglas near the Four Mile Bridge. Peterson, the driver, was taken to a hospital after ingesting drugs during the chase. He also was arrested on two warrants from Missouri for nonsupport and charged with assault with a motor vehicle, interference with official acts and several traffic violations. Formaro was charged with interference. Officer Martin Seibert, who was injured when his car slammed into a utility pole, suffered serious injuries but authorities say they are not life threatening. CV

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