Winners

Whether or not it will be done is one thing, but hats off to Sen. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids who wants to save Iowa businesses and consumers $9 billion in the next 10 years through energy efficiency. Hogg, co-chair of the Legislature’s energy efficiency committee, says if Iowans can reduce energy use by at least 1.5 percent per year through energy efficiency, it will save billions of dollars. Admittedly, the idea of the Legislature advising taxpayers on how to be more efficient is somewhat ironic, but Hogg makes a good point when he says we need to get the word out on how Iowans can reduce energy use and save money by buying energy efficient lights and appliances, reducing our “plug load” and driving cars with high gas mileage.

More than 800 students who attend Perkins Academy and Windsor Elementary School in Des Moines have one more reason to take pride in their school. The National PTA has certified both schools as Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence, which recognizes schools that uphold the highest standards in parent involvement. Take a bow parents, teachers and administrators.

We realize such statistics are relevant considering our state’s ability to draw tourists when compared to metropolises like New York City or Chicago, but Iowa tourism-generated expenditures in 2006 grew 8.4 percent over 2005, outpacing the national average of 7.3 percent, according to the Iowa Tourism Office. That’s good news for Iowa businesses and tourism officials who work to attract visitors and dollars. The state’s tourism economic impact increased $400 million from $5.4 billion to $5.8 billion.

Three Drake University students — Erin Anderson, Sarah Arlien and David Ehresmann — presented the findings of their summer research projects at the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., as part of Drake’s Science Colloquium Series. To those involved — it’s a big deal. They presented research including “Lightweight Contingency Urine Recovery System and Osmotic Distillation System,” “Development of a Protein Based Nickel Sensor” and “Advanced Atmosphere Revitalization Technologies,” respectively. So, what did you do with your summer vacation?

Thanks to Prairie Meadows [and those of you who like to gamble], the clients of Mosaic have a new wheelchair lift van to help transport them to their jobs, homes, doctor’s appointments and families. Prairie Meadows’ gaming taxes helped pay for the van. Mosaic serves more than 170 people in Des Moines with developmental disabilities.

The heavily favored Boston Red Sox swept the streaking Colorado Rockies to win their second World Series title in four years last Sunday. Sox fans now find themselves in the precarious position of expecting their high-payroll team to win championships every year.

Losers

Say what you will about the reasons why Maytag closed last Thursday, but the bottom line is Iowa lost one of its most recognized icons when the last machine rolled off the assembly line in Newton. Maytag’s final chapter is now the latest entry in Iowa’s history books.

The Des Moines Register, which likes to think of itself as a pro-business newspaper [pro-Des Moines business, that is] once again offended its West Des Moines readers and advertisers with another ill-informed opinion piece on the construction of two hospitals in the western suburb and perpetuated an ignorant stereotype in the process. Last week’s humorless front-page Duffy cartoon portraying a couple walking down the sidewalk next to a development site was harmful to the tenuous business relationship between Des Moines and West Des Moines. In the cartoon, the man answers his own question “What are they building now?” with the response, “If it’s West Des Moines it’s either a pharmacy, a bank, or another hospital.” Sounds like sour grapes to us in light of last week’s news that West Des Moines will get two hospitals — though not at the expense of Des Moines facilities or patients. Astute readers, however, understand it’s yet another example of the divide The Register has helped create over the years between Des Moines and West Des Moines. It’s a curious position for The Register, which only a few months ago inundated its readers with copious amounts of pro-Project Destiny coverage that encouraged voters to embrace regionalism. In other words, West Des Moines is OK in The Register’s eyes when it comes to bailing out Des Moines, but not OK when it attracts businesses of its own. That’s when you can count on The Register to start pissing and moaning on behalf of old Des Moines and further widening the divide between the two cities. Regionalism, my ass.

Following up on a tip, Des Moines Police arrested Matthew Polson, 23, of Des Moines with several charges after he ran his car into some of the Capital City’s most beloved landmarks — the Anderson Erickson cow statues. Polson was charged with hit and run, no driver’s license, improper use of the curb, failure to stop in a safe and sure distance, prohibited plates and no insurance, but denied removing the statues. CV

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