Winners

A tide of anti-smoking sentiment is taking hold in Iowa, which is good news for non-smokers who work and learn in smoky environments, and customers who don’t like going home from work, restaurants and bars smelling like a dirty ash tray. Last week, the University of Iowa announced it would become the first of Iowa’s public universities to ban smoking on campus by July 1, 2009. Not to be outdone, the Iowa House Commerce Committee approved a statewide smoking ban designed to improve the health of Iowans. The bill was approved with exemptions — casinos and federally chartered veterans organizations that are closed to the public. “Second hand smoke contains 60 chemicals that cause cancer, asthma and other respiratory diseases,” said State Rep.Tyler Olson, D-Cedar Rapids, who managed the bill in committee. “There is no risk-free second-hand smoke exposure for Iowans or workers.” The bill creates smoke-free areas in public places such as offices, outdoor sports arenas, stadiums, bars, restaurants and limits smoking from within 50 feet of school grounds. It was approved by a bi-partisan 16-6 vote and now goes to the House floor for consideration.

The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation grew to $184 million in assets at the end of 2007. Foundation officials said the group’s pooled investment portfolio earned more than 11 percent. That’s good news for community groups that received funding from the Foundation, which last year doled out a record $26 million in grants. Among the recipients were the City of Des Moines for the Downtown Des Moines Digital Model to assist major downtown planning initiatives, the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition which will launch its 80/35 Music Festival in July, the Center on Sustainable Communities which will fund three affordable green demonstration homes, Restoration Ingersoll and Des Moines Neighbors, which will use it grant to fund an executive director to work with 35 low-to-moderate income neighborhoods.

Vatterott College hosted an open house last week to celebrate its new 43,000-square-foot building located at 7000 Fleur Drive. The building will house 18 classrooms, labs for trade, medical and computer programs, as well as faculty and administrative offices, a library, student lounge and conference room. The school also announced it is now offering two new trade programs for diesel mechanics and heating and cooling maintenance technicians.

Love him or hate him, Texas Tech University men’s basketball coach and former Indiana University coach Bob Knight got the last word when he abruptly resigned his post after 43 years of working as a head coach. He leaves with 902 wins, the most of any Division I men’s coach, and three national titles. His son and assistant coach, Patrick, will take over the team and chair-throwing duties.

John McCain was the big winner on Super Tuesday, garnering 395 delegates compared to 107 for challenger Mitt Romney, who a few days later suspended his campaign, conceding the race to McCain. With 719 delegates as of Monday, the Arizona senator is close to securing the 1,191 delegates needed to lock up the Republican Party’s nomination, while Romney had only 282. Voting among the 21 states last Tuesday, however, was split between Democrat hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Clinton gained 354 delegates, while Obama won 313. Clinton holds a slim lead with 1,136 to 1,108, but the race is far from over, as the winning candidate must secure 2,025 delegates to win the Democrat’s nomination.

Losers

There are many reasons people buy homes in West Des Moines, and low property taxes is one of them. But the luster of the western suburb lost some of its shine last week when the West Des Moines City Council announced that its residents will pay nearly $3 million more in property taxes to support next year’s City Hall budget. The council said its $44.7 million operating budget for 2008-09 would be the subject of discussion at its Feb. 25 meeting, before the March 15 budget certification deadline. West Des Moines property tax rates will remain at $12.05 per $1,000 assessed value, but homeowners will pay more on average because of higher assessments. The increase arrives on the heels of last year’s increased property valuations levied by Polk County, which socked those who own older homes — including West Des Moines — with double-digit assessment increases. Property taxes account for the majority of the city’s operating budget — and its quality of life — but a proposed tax increase to pay for increasingly expensive public safety programs and city worker insurance isn’t the answer. Citizens are encourage to attend the 5:30 p.m. council meeting on Feb. 25 to urge elected officials to work within their budget.

Regardless of what side of the argument you were on regarding the TouchPlay debacle two years ago, nobody won last week when state officials reached a $1.8 million settlement to end a lawsuit regarding the Iowa Lottery’s failed TouchPlay program. The State Appeal Board approved a settlement with Camden Inc., which owned 6,700 machines, and includes a decision by the Iowa Lottery Board to drop a claim for $497,963 that Camden allegedly owed the state when its TouchPlay machines were shut down in May 2006. The settlement also clears the state of any wrongdoing or further liability. Several other TouchPlay businesses, however, have lawsuits pending against the state. CV

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