Winners

Still reveling in their win over Project Destiny, tax watchdogs must love the fact that the resounding defeat of the proposed 1-cent sales tax has swayed Polk County Supervisors to shelve its $180 million proposal to build a new county courthouse. Supervisors told judges they plan to back away from the bond referendum scheduled for December. The referendum could still come to public vote, but likely will be with a different plan and a smaller price tag.

In case you missed it — and judging by the number of people who showed up, you probably didn’t — our fair city hosted two successful entertainment events of late. First, the 10th annual Des Moines Arts Festival drew a record crowd of about 245,000 people during the final weekend of June — which goes to prove that even a slip in ranking doesn’t thwart art lovers and casual onlookers from flocking downtown to stroll the avenue of tents. Then on July 13-15, the folks at the Iowa Events Center estimate that approximately 30,000 people attended the first annual Rib America Festival held in the parking lot of the Iowa Events Center. The three-day shindig featured performances by musical acts like Buddy Guy, .38 Special and Big Head Todd and The Monsters. Food tickets were a bit pricey, but the $3 admission to see such acts helped balance the pocketbook. IEC officials were so encouraged by its success they tell Cityview they plan to bring the festival back next year.

We know money matters can be boring and difficult to understand, so we’ll keep this brief. State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald says that Iowa’s investment earnings are at their highest point in 10 years as the state earned more than $120 million on short-term investments made in the fiscal year 2007, up $38 million from last year’s total of $82 million. What does that mean to Joe Taxpayer? Hopefully a reduced tax burden — as long as the Democrats don’t spend it all.

Losers

It’s difficult to fathom that in a state like ours that is known for its abundance of food and farmers that an increasing number of Iowa families are going hungry. But somebody should call Norman Borlaug because those are the gut-wrenching facts, according to a new report by the Drake University Agricultural Law Center, which also shows that low-income households lack healthy food options and are more prone to obesity. The 2007 Hunger in Iowa Report shows that more Iowans are skipping meals or eating cheaper and less healthy food because of food scarcity, as compared with data from reports released in 2001 and 2003. The 2007 report shows that approximately 11 percent of Iowa households had “low” food security in 2003-2005, as compared to eight percent in 1996-1998. The study recommends 12 policies that would promote a healthy food environment in Iowa, including an increase in community gardens and farmers markets, and the development of mobile food pantries. To download the report, visit www.law.drake.edu/centers/agLaw/.

Adults who for years have tried to link violence with the influence of violent video games now have some rock-solid evidence thanks to two brothers in Philadelphia. Last week, 13-year-old Jahmir Ricks fatally stabbed Antwan Ricks in the chest with a steak knife after the 16-year-old refused to turn over a video game controller. Police believe the argument started when the older brother refused to turn over the game controller after losing a game to his younger brother. Police say that “the rules of the house were that the person who lost had to give someone else a chance to play,” but they should have included the disclaimer: “or risk being fatally wounded with a sharp object.”

Some students at McCombs Middle School in Des Moines got a lesson in just how paranoid our post 9/11 society has become. Partners Unlimited is conducting an art project this summer in which at-risk students decorate donated cars. One such project at McCombs Middle School, overseen by Des Moines artist Bill Hamilton, fueled some excitement. Students there decorated a car at the Des Moines Arts Festival, but when they returned it to school grounds, the school’s principal told Hamilton and the students to disassemble a portion of their work near the car’s gas tank because school security officers thought it looked like a bomb. To be sure it wasn’t, the same security officers called the police to investigate. The cops found that, indeed the handful of random car parts bolted on the car were decorative and not explosive. Nonetheless, the principal ordered Hamilton and the kids to disassemble it immediately, undoing hours of work.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and three other defendants face federal prosecution for charges that include hosting competitive dog fighting. If convicted, they face up to six years in prison and fines of $350,000. Disturbing video of such fights hit the airwaves last week. Regardless of whether or not a judge finds Vick and his cohorts guilty, they’re guilty in the eyes of animal lovers everywhere. CV

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