Find the Flip-Flop: Obama on the 2nd Amendment

Months ago Barack Obama predicted the SCOTUS ruling on handguns which was handed down last week in a 5-4 decision.

Here he is in December 2007 at an event in Mt. Vernon, Iowa:

Imperfect Weather: Ethanol Industry to Stay Propped Up by Renewable Fuels Standard?

Michelle Perez, senior agriculture analyst with the Environmental Working Group in Washington claims “Our ethanol policy requires perfect weather, and not surprisingly, we aren’t getting it.”

Corn prices closed at $7.91 per bushel on June 13, 2008.

The Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) mandates 9 billion gallons of ethanol production this year, boosted to 10.5 billion gallons in 2009 and increasing to 15 billion gallons by 2015.

On June 30, the U.S.D.A. will release a corn crop assessment for 2008.

What do you think of the RFS?

Is corn ethanol all that?

Rafael Robinson Named as Suspect in Suppressed 1996 FBI Report

Someone asked me to post the FBI interview that was released last week by the Des Moines Police Department. This document is part of the open file on the murder investigation of Rafael Robinson.

It appears to be a key piece of evidence for David Flores.

The interview took place on May 22, 1996 between Calvin Tyrone Gaines and FBI Special Agent Terry Bohle. The DMPD received the report on August 1, 1996.

Gaines is the third person to come forward and state that Robinson was person who killed Phyllis Davis on April 12, 1996.

David Flores is serving a life sentence without parole in the Iowa State Penitentiary.

You can get a copy of this document from the clerk at the Polk County Courthouse.

12 Years Later, DM Police Give Up Report

The Des Moines Police Department acknowledged the existence of a key piece of evidence that may assist David Flores’ post-conviction suit against the state. Flores is serving life in prison for the 1996 murder of Phyllis Davis.

An FBI interview that the DMPD hadn’t disclosed was entered into the court records after today’s emergency meeting between Judge Don Nickerson, Flores’ attorney Mary Kennedy, and Assistant Polk County Attorney Joe Weeg. In the report, Calvin Gaines identifies Rafael Robinson as the shooter in the accidental drive-by shooting of Phyllis Davis.

(Weeg and Kennedy Discuss the FBI Report)

Although the FBI interview took place on May 22, 1996, it wasn’t until August 1, 1996, that the DMPD reported receiving the information. The FBI interview took place in the Polk County Jail between Calvin Tyrone Gaines and FBI Special Agent Terry Bohle (retired).

From the 1996 interview:

GAINES was shown a photograph of RAFAEL ROBINSON and he stated that was the individual in the Blazer involved in the shooting in which the woman was accidentally killed. GAINES said that the Iowa 90 CRIPS have a contract out on ROBINSON…

A bank executive, Phyllis Davis was driving home from work on April 12, 1996 when she was killed by a .22 caliber bullet.

Rafael Robinson’s murder remains unsolved.

During the hearing, Polk County Judge Don Nickerson said he felt “dismayed” and “queasy” when he opened the newspaper on Tuesday to see:

“what I discussed with counsel as early as yesterday morning on the front page … it makes me nervous when hours after I’ve talked to counsel, in attorney-client or judge-counsel confidentiality, I find what I’ve said … in the media the next day.”

Although he said he would not issue a gag order, Judge Nickerson asked the Flores family not to “try this matter in the press.”

Afterwards, Anthony Flores, whose brother has been behind bars for 12 years, took issue with the judge’s lecture, saying, “They tried him in the press the first time, why shouldn’t it be the same way today?”

(Anthony and Angel Flores listen to Judge Nickerson)

Floodwaters on Normandy Avenue in Iowa City

Andrew Sherburne wrote on the Little Village blog:

“As soon as the waters die down, there will be many questions that need to be asked:

Why can’t the corp accurately predict the inflow of water into the reservoir? Why didn’t the city give homeowners the time they needed to save their belongings? Where was the foresight after a record snowfall to empty the reservoir at an earlier date?”

Good questions.

Rain Running: The Middle Iowa Watershed

It’s two miles from my house to the stop sign and back.  I’m not one of those everyday runners, but there is something about gray skies and soft rain that gets me outside.  I like to sweat in it and feel the gathering moisture as I go.  It’s raining today in Middle Iowa.

My hood is up and I tie it down as I go, knowing that after I’ve heated up, I will pull it off and let the rain run down my face. I start slow, head down with a breeze spritzing my face.

Rainwater washes over the empty, dark fields into ditches and tributaries and, as I run, ideas continuously flow through my head.

Music Video: “Clap Jordan” by CHRASH

This video, “Clap Jordan,” is from the Quad City band Chrash. Watch for their forthcoming album, The Name May Change.

Enjoy!
[We had a lot of fun shooting this and got help and ideas from Kara Toal.]