ISU is getting another $8.4 million from the National Science Foundation to support their Engineering Research Center. The extra funding brings the total amount from the foundation to more than 35 million dollars…the center will help biochemists and engineers work together to solve common problems and improve technologies to make biorenewable chemicals.
Not everyone in the U of I community is happy with the new president. The union representing more than 2,300 graduate employees at the university sent out a critique of the new president and former IBM exec Bruce Harreld. The group says Harreld isn’t qualified for the position and did not know enough about higher education to hold the job. Harreld won over the Iowa Board of Regents’ vote yesterday…beating out candidates from Tulane, Ohio State, and Oberlin Universities.
A few streets around the downtown area will be closing today in preparation for the Des Moines Triathlon. Grays Lake Park is now closed…along with Finkbine Avenue and John Grubb Lane today. George Flagg Parkway from Ingersoll will also be closed starting tomorrow morning. More closures can be found online.
Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Martin O’Malley are stumping in Iowa this Labor Day weekend. Clinton will headline six events, including in Newton and Cedar Rapids O’Malley, meanwhile, will visit Des Moines tomorrow night before heading over to the eastern part of the state on Sunday and Monday.
Though the University of Iowa-ISU game is sold out, you can tailgate with at least one Republican presidential candidate next weekend in Ames. Rand Paul has RSVP’d to Story County’s tailgate next Saturday afternoon…all other Republican contenders have been invited, though no one else is confirmed to attend the festivities yet.
Ridership on DART buses increased 2 and a half percent in the year that ended in June…the gains reportedly come from a new route going to Valley West Mall and Jordan Creek…as well as the fairgrounds route that ran during the state fair. DART officials have said that lower gas prices are likely to blame for the less-than-expected increase.
Law enforcers are keeping an eagle eye on the roads as we head into the holiday weekend…and not just on the interstates. West Des Moines police say they’ll be looking for drivers who are not using seatbelts or who drive under the influence.
Some parents of Waukee High School students are keeping their kids home, after a pair of bomb threats this week and no arrests. Police and other state agencies are investigating the threats. The person behind them is likely to face harassment and terrorism charges, which will possibly mean five years in prison.
Nearly every sector of UNI’s student population numbers are up this fall…at least according to preliminary reports. Figures show an increase in new freshmen, transfer, and graduate studetns for this fall…it’s the first time the university has reported an increase in transfer students…with numbers up nearly 8 percent.
Iowa’s two largest utility companies are asking customers to plant trees. Alliant Energy is reaching out to 25 communities in the state as part of its “Branching Out” program that plants trees in barren areas. MidAmerican Energy is also encouraging its customers to plant trees in their yards for a steep discount….it’s in an effort to get homeowners’ air conditioning costs down with more shade.
