MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH GLOBAL TRADING PARTNERS COULD BE GOOD FOR IOWA MANUFACTURERS, AND PARTICULARLY FOR FARMERS. CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY ECONOMIST ERNIE GOSS RECENTLY MADE THAT OBSERVATION. IN AN INTERVIEW THAT YOU CAN HEAR IN FULL THIS WEEKEND DURING THE IOWA BUSINESS REPORT, GOSS ANALYZED EASIER ACCESS TO SOME MARKETS EXPECTED FROM A JOE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. THE IOWA BUSINESS REPORT AIRS SATURDAY AT 7 A.M. AND SUNDAY AT 11 A.M.
A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA WILL HELP THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION COME UP TO SPEED ON A VARIETY OF ARTS AND CULTURE ENTITIES SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL FUNDS. DAVID SKORTON LED THE IOWA CITY CAMPUS BEGINNING IN 2003, CAPPING A QUARTER CENTURY AT THE SCHOOL. IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, SKORTON HELD THE TOP JOB AT THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. AS PART OF A VOLUNTEERS BOARD, HE WILL ADVISE THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION ON THE NEEDS OF SIMILAR CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS.
NEW CAPACITY LIMITATIONS WILL BE IN PLACE FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF GAMES AT THE UNI-DOME. EARLIER THIS WEEK, IOWA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION OFFICIALS SAID THEIR ORIGINAL SOCIAL DISTANCING PLAN WAS ADEQUATE. NOW, SEATING FOR SEMIFINAL AND CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES WILL BE SLICED TO 2,400. THAT NUMBER IS APPROXIMATELY 15 PERCENT OF UNI-DOME CAPACITY.
WATERLOO POLICE WERE CALLED TO A HOME NEAR THE SIX CORNERS INTERSECTION OVERNIGHT. THEY FOUND ONE PERSON WHO HAD BEEN STABBED IN THE 100 BLOCK OF HOME PARK BOULEVARD. INITIAL REPORTS INDICATED THAT THE INJURIES WERE NOT LIFE THREATENING.
SERIOUS INJURIES RESULTED WHEN A CEDAR RAPIDS WOMAN WAS HIT BY A CAR SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET WEDNESDAY. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF BOYSON ROAD AND C AVENUE. FIRST RESPONDERS NOTED THAT THE WOMAN WHO WAS HURT HAD INJURIES TO HER HEAD AND BACK.
A CHANGE IN FEDERAL RULES FOR MEATPACKERS IS DRAWING THE IRE OF GROUPS REPRESENTING WORKERS. THE UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS UNION IS HOPING TO STOP AN EFFORT TO SPEED UP PRODUCTION LINES WHICH WAS ANNOUNCED LATE LAST WEEK. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE UFCW ARGUES THE CHANGES SACRIFICE CORONAVIRUS SAFETY FOR GREATER PRODUCTIVITY. WATERLOO STATE REPRESENTATIVE RAS SMITH REMINDED OUR COVERAGE PARTNERS AT CBS2 ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC SPREAD IN MEATPACKING OPERATIONS THIS SPRING. LAST WEEK’S USDA POLICY CHANGE WAS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON POULTRY OPERATIONS.
IOWA SENATE DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE A NEW LEADER WHEN THE JANUARY SESSION BEGINS. STATE SENATOR JANET PETERSEN WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION AS MINORITY LEADER, A POST SHE HAS HELD SINCE 2017. SENATE DEMOCRATS RETAINED 18 SEATS IN LAST WEEK’S ELECTION. THEY WILL MEET SUNDAY TO SELECT CAUCUS LEADERS.
MEDICAL EXPERTS ARE LIKELY TO HOLD MORE INFLUENCE THAN ECONOMIC ADVISORS WHEN IT COMES TO HOW JOE BIDEN ORIENTS THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19. CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY ECONOMIST ERNIE GOSS SPECULATED ON WHAT THAT IS LIKELY TO MEAN FOR BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT. MORE FROM GOSS ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF POLITICS AND ECONOMICS DURING NEXT HOUR’S KXEL NEWSCAST. THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH ERNIE GOSS WILL BE FEATURED DURING THIS WEEKEND’S IOWA BUSINESS REPORT SATURDAY MORNING AT 7 AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 11.
AN ALLEGED SCAM BILKED MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HOSPITAL SYSTEM. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES CLAIM AN ILLINOIS MAN MOVED THE MONEY FROM ACCOUNT TO ACCOUNT AND CLAIMED THE FUNDS WERE NEVER RECEIVED EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HOSPITAL WAS ATTEMPTING TO BUY A HALF MILLION MASKS FROM A COMPANY MANAGED IN PART BY DENNIS HAGGERTY JR. HE IS ACCUSED OF SIPHONING OFF THE MONEY AND HIDING THE TRANSACTIONS. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY AT LEAST ONE OTHER HOSPITAL WAS VICTIMIZED BY SIMILAR FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA BASKETBALL PROGRAMS WERE ABLE TO KEEP RECRUITING CLOSE TO HOME. ON NATIONAL SIGNING DAY, THE PANTHERS OFFICIALLY ADDED LANDON WOLF AND CHASE COURBAT TO THE MEN’S PROGRAM AND ANAYA BARNEY ON THE WOMEN’S SIDE. ALL OF THOSE ATHLETES ARE FROM CEDAR FALLS. THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TEAMS ALSO ADDED PLAYERS FROM DUBUQUE AND MARION RESPECTIVELY.
