West Burlington IA News-Sports-Opinion

“It is just foolhardy to place guns in developments of poor people, many of whom are unemployed...", says Missouri Democrat Emanuel Cleaver II.

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This curious flyer was handed out to students studying the history of the Cold War at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa.

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*-* UPDATE *-*

School District Issues Response:

RADIO TALK SHOW MISREPRESENTS CLASS LESSON ON COLD WAR

A talk show on WHO Radio has unfortunately misled listeners about a class lesson about the Cold War. The radio show posted, on its web site, only a selectively edited part of a class handout – entitled “The two sides of the Cold War” – in order to give a false impression that students were being taught to support communism.

In light of the misrepresentation caused by this talk show, we have posted the handout and assignments here on our web site so that people can see the complete document for themselves. Furthermore, the class, 20th Century History, was studying the Cold War and propaganda, looking at some of the arguments both sides made about why their system was best on a range of topics, including their economies. The handout simply highlights the differences between capitalism and communism, and some of the arguments made during the period of the Cold War.

It is unfortunate that a talk show host decided to mislead his listeners in order to generate false criticism of our schools and our teachers.

To see the unedited lesson and assignments, click here.

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News from the Hill…

Public Safety…This week HF 573, as amended, passed out of committee with a vote of 14 ayes and 7 nays.
House File 573, often referred to as the “Stand your Ground” bill, allows law abiding Iowans to protect themselves and their loved ones in three ways. First, the bill allows Iowans to defend their home, business and occupied vehicle. The bill establishes the presumption that when a criminal forcefully enters your home, business or occupied vehicle, they are there to cause serious bodily harm and possibly death. In this situation, HF 573 would allow Iowans to use reasonable force, up to and including deadly force, to protect themselves and their loved ones. Second, the bill allows Iowans to stand their ground if they are attacked in a location they have a legal right to be. I voted for this bill.

Ways and Means…Bills were passed out of committee this week. HSB 544, which is now HF 2150, passed out of committee unanimously. This bill is referred to as the IRC update. The federal government makes different changes to tax code each year and the IRC bill updates Iowa Tax Policy to the federal government. The bill does not couple with the Federal Government on Bonus Depreciation, but does on everything else. Thursday morning this HF 2150 was passed by the full House with 100-0 vote and moves to the Senate. HF 2086, that started in the Veterans Affairs Committee and exempts individual income tax from all pay received from the federal government for certain military service in support of the national guard and including retroactive applicability provisions. Representative Vander Linden chaired this bill. The bill passed 25 Aye to 0 Nay and now is eligible for full House debate. I voted for this bill.

Nullification of Lead Shot Rule…Thursday morning the House voted 73-27 on HJR 2001 which nullifies an administrative rule of the Natural Resource Commission prohibiting the use of lead shot for hunting mourning doves.

Last year the Legislature not only approved mourning dove hunting, but voted down an amendment that banned the use of lead shot in hunting mourning doves. Despite the Legislatures clear intent, the Natural Resource Commission created rules to the contrary. HJR 2001 was introduced in bipartisan fashion from the joint Administrative Rules Review Committee. The chief objection of the ARRC is the overreach by the executive branch. The Legislature writes and passes law, not the Natural Resources Commission. This bill has more to do with keeping law writing in the hands of the legislature. If the NRC is allowed to write and implement rules that do not and/or conflict with the will of the Legislature it could lead to a dramatic expansion of bureaucratic power. I voted for this bill.

Where a dollar of Tuition goes…
If you’ve ever wondered how the breakdown of a tuition dollar looks, the following chart gives a good representation of that. While not specific to tuition dollars, as they are co-mingled with state general university fund revenues, the chart shows what percentage of a dollar goes towards what expenditure by category at the universities.

Appropriations to the Regents have been a roller-coaster ride over the past 10 years. For FY12 they saw a decrease of $20 million from $542 million to $522 million. The Governor has recommended increasing that by $20 million, back to $542. The Regents have requested a $40 million increase. Tuition and fees for 2011/12 at the University of Iowa are $7,765, at Iowa State University $7,486 and at the University of Northern Iowa $7,350.

“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.”
-George Washington

-Tom Sands

Photo by Dan Hockett

Danville’s Allison Boyer drives to the basket around West Burlington’s Jamie Johnson Thursday night in Danville. West Burlington overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat Danville, 46-45.

Photo by Dan Hockett

Danville’s Danielle Haeffner takes the ball to the basket against West Burlington Thursday night in Danville. West Burlington defeated Danville, 46-45.

Blowout! Danville over W.B., 94-29

Photo by Dan Hockett

Danville’s Josh Stevens hits a layup against West Burlington Thursday night in Danville. Top-ranked (Class-1A) Danville dominated West Burlington, 94-29.

Photo by Dan Hockett

Danville’s Michael Soukup passes the ball to a teammate during Thursday night’s home game against West Burlington. Danville defeated West Burlington, 94-29.

Photo by Dan Hockett

West Burlington’s Dashon Johnson hits a jumper against Danville Thursday night in Danville. West Burlington fell to Danville, 94-29.

State by State numbers predict huge Obama loss

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Scientists patent self-guided bullet

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Photo by Dan Hockett

West Burlington’s Emma Shipley drives toward basket against Van Buren Tuesday night in West Burlington. Van Buren defeated West Burlington, 44-29.

Van Buren Tops WB, 67-41

Photo by Dan Hockett

West Burlington’s Jared Fogle grabs a loose ball against Van Buren Tuesday night in West Burlington. Van Buren defeated West Burlington, 67-41.

A prevalent new “moocher culture” is changing the character of this nation.

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So why does the government want to stop it?

Texas has more exotic wildlife than any place on Earth. More than 125 exotic species can be found, many of which are endangered in their native habitats. But on these animal resorts, populations seem to be thriving.

Why? They’re being hunted.

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Police are looking into the suspicious circumstances behind a now-withdrawn claim for a $14.3 million Iowa Lottery jackpot.

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The ideas the President outlined in the State of the Union are based on the very same model that is causing Europe to implode.

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Release of new temperature data shows Earth has not warmed for the past 15 years. NASA figures suggest a mini ice age coming.

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Falcon:

It doesn't bother Obama supporters that he constantly ignores the constitution, the congress and has his man in the judicial department circumventing the states by hauling them into court when they try to enforce federal laws already on the books and unenforced by the federal government. Obama is out to destroy our country and his actions speak volumes of what he is that reminds one of the situation in Europe back in the 30s and 40s. Is there any difference today in America?

His recent signing of an Internet Treaty by sneaking through the night and signing things in darkened rooms without due process is how this misfit runs our country and has since the beginning of his term. How many appointments, mandates and other illegal tactics will this nut case be allowed before congress does something about it or if not congress the people themselves. He's now telling religious employers they must support abortion, sterilization and birth control if they offer health insurance to their employees basically telling them their religious beliefs mean nothing and his approval of baby killing must be adhered to or else.

Obama has his brown shirts to control things but today their better known as the Justice Department, EPA, Health and Human Services along with several others including the Senate. Rather than call them Nazis outright he calls them by their department names or identifies them by their acronyms. Whatever they are their purpose is to enforce Obama’s mandates and other back door policies regardless of his denial of the Constitution and our due process of law.

This back door wonder must be defeated in 2012 it's our only hope of bringing sanity back to government and America.

MAD