Lolo Jones loves social media. She loves it too much. The immediacy and attention lead Lolo to sometimes tweet before she thinks, but I don’t see this Vine video about her bobsledding paycheck being a big deal. Lolo’s making a joke, it’s not funny, but I see no intent to belittle her teammates, or the sport of bobsledding. She just didn’t think through how it would look for someone making big money in endorsements to jokingly whine about paying the rent. Misfire, not malice… (For more on Lolo and her social media trials and tribulations, Bryce Miller does a nice job here.)

Lolo’s twitter avatar.

The self-reported NCAA athletics violations by the University of Iowa amounts to little more than another glimpse at how random and silly many of the NCAA rules are. Iowa’s 14 violations, as first reported by the Iowa Press Citizen, will not lead to serious trouble. ISU apparently had far more difficulty obeying the rules of texting and calling recruits–nearly 1,500 violations in three years–but I don’t think ISU fans should worry either. I believe the NCAA will accept Iowa State’s self-imposed penalties, perhaps adding an additional symbolic slap on the wrist…

Glad to see Missouri hire Mark Phelps. Phelps couldn’t coach Drake out of mediocrity, but he sure tried hard…

The Smithsonian shows more good taste. It refused the donation of the suit OJ Simpson wore for his acquittal…

I understand why Bob Costas is called a curmudgeon for his Cubs-Mets commentary during Sunday’s U-S Open, but I loved it. Sure it’s over the top, but we need more of people calling it like they see it, not less. If you want a replay, click here…

The Bengals are back on Hard Knocks. This tells us few teams are interested in the scrutiny that comes with cameras everywhere. I’m just glad the show returns. And despite the collective yawn, HBO will again make the Bengals interesting…

Don’t look now, the Iowa Cubs are just a game out of first place. On second thought, look…

Oklahoma Joe’s in Kansas City lived up to the considerable hype. The 55 minute line was even worth it, partly because we were hungry enough to chew off our own arms by the time we finally got food…

Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial High Schools have the best of intentions with just one booster club. The sincerity of ensuring a “friend rivalry” comes through. Good luck with that. It won’t be easy. Human nature tells us parents at one school will eventually raise concerns that kids at the other school are getting something better than their kids…

Johnny Manziel seems to enjoy many of the perks of being a really big fish in a small pond. Have to take the negatives too, Johnny Football…

-Keith Murphy

Young talked about his work in Grassley’s office where he said he and other native Iowans would, “Work together, advocate for Iowans, advancing Senator Grassley’s principles and emulating his work ethic.”

Young admitted to using Grassley’s name. “Just a little bit but not so much. I’m my own person and gotta stand on my own two feet,” he said.

Referencing Grassley’s popular name is to be expected, according to David Oman, longtime Republican activist and 1998 candidate for governor. Oman said, “Well, of course. He’s spent years helping Senator Grassley. Senator Grassley is an extraordinarily good senator, well-known, loved, in our state. He’s had to opportunity to work for and with him. Why wouldn’t he mention it a few times?”

“You’re gonna have a lot of Olympians here, world record holders here, it’s a big, big event,” says Greg Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Athletes had a chance to get a feel for the track at Drake Stadium before fans from near and far take their seats.

“Everything was booked.  We booked a month and a half ahead,” says Mandy Modine.

Modine traveled from Bend, Oregon to see her son, Mitch, compete in just his fourth decathlon.

“I basically am the support crew.  They say show up here and Mom shows up with the goodies to eat and food to drink,” she says.

Mitch Modine got into the sport following some encouragement from high school pal and decathlon World Record holder, Ashton Eaton.

Organizers are counting on those big names to fill the seats, but it will take more than the out-of-town crowd to get the job done.

“This track and field event will be nationally televised Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon on NBC sports.  So we need to show that Des Moines supports these big sporting events,” says Edwards.

Drake Stadium holds just over 14,500.  So far, organizers have sold more than 12,000 tickets.  They’re especially trying to fill the seats across from the finish line on the east side of the stadium.  That’s the area that will be shown on TV.

Tickets are still available for all five days.  For more information, go to http://www.catchdesmoines.com

“We’re very goal oriented,” Ami explains, “so I’m always asking, how many times you got here, what you did, what you liked or what you would not go back to.”  Sarah says it’s a key part of the program. “For me – that’s helped a lot – to have a goal and work toward it and do it.”

Now Sarah’s working out at least three times a week, getting her kids involved in exercise, and making healthier food choices.  It’s a holistic approach. “My goal was to be healthy…for me, my kids, my family…and I feel like I’ve grown spiritually and mentally as well and the weight loss is like a bonus!”

Sarah had another goal – getting over her fear of group fitness. “I never realized how intimidated I felt going to class before, so I’ve been trying new things.”  Amy has seen Sarah try everything from Zumba to cycle classes – all things that were way outside her comfort zone.

Zumba is way outside Ami’s comfort zone … but doing it with Sarah is her way of making a point. “I think it’s a good lesson. I don’t like it! It is a struggle and it’s not enjoyable for me, but I will suck it up and do it today,” she says with a laugh. The point is, sometimes you have to be uncomfortable if you want to change.

Sarah says she’s more confident in who she is and what she’s capable of doing. “I feel happier too,” she says with a huge smile, “it’s been a journey and I know there’s still a lot more to go.”  Ami says she’s witnessed Sarah experiencing some big self-discoveries over the past six months. “It’s branched out beyond fitness and I think it’s personal growth for her, which is amazing to see.”

It’s change that seeping into every aspect of Sarah’s life, and that was the point of this partnership from the beginning. “I can do this!  I have this whole ‘I can do this!’ mentality that I didn’t have before and it’s so empowering.”

If you’d like information on the YMCA’s Wellness coaching programs – click this link:

http://www.dmymca.org/en/y_programs/health_wellbeing_and_fitness/wellness_coaching/

Take a look at the Iowa State Fair’s webpage to learn how you can help feed the needy on the opening day of the fair.

Chrysler stated last week that it would not comply with the recall demand, arguing that the vehicles do not have a high risk of catching fire when struck from behind. It continued to claim Tuesday that the vehicles — 1993 to 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002 to 2007 Jeep Libertys — are safe.

Its statement said it will recall the vehicles for inspection and, in “some cases,” will “provide an upgrade to the rear structure of the vehicle to better manage crash forces in low-speed impacts.”

“Chrysler Group recognizes that this matter has raised concerns for its customers and wants to take further steps, in coordination with NHTSA, to provide additional measures to supplement the safety of its vehicles,” the company said.

In a statement, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which had asked for the recall, said it was pleased that “Chrysler has agreed to take action to protect its customers and the driving public.” It went on to say that “consumers impacted by the safety recall and customer satisfaction campaign should have their vehicles serviced promptly once they receive notification from Chrysler.”

NHTSA says it will continue its investigation into this issue.

Public safety advocate Clarence Ditlow, who has pushed NHTSA to demand a recall, said he was pleased that Chrysler was agreeing to some form of a recall, but said he would wait to see the details before he called it a clear win.

“The inspection part troubles me,” he said. “Until I see the details, the question I have is ‘is it window dressing or a real fix?’”

If Chrysler had not agreed to act by the end of Tuesday, it faced the prospect of high-profile public hearings. There would have been testimony from both car safety advocates such as Ditlow who have pushed for the recall, as well as the parents of children who burned to death in fires. Experts say the hearing would have caused Chrysler’s reputation to take a hit, even if it had avoided the recall.

“It strikes me that Chrysler underestimated the negative publicity they’d get out of fighting, and that they decided it was better off to go ahead and do the recall,” said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst at Edmunds.com. She said fighting the recall would have been “a very risky gamble,” even if Chrysler had eventually been proven right.

“It’s still an uphill battle for Chrysler in the perception of quality and [a hearing] could [have] set it back.”

While neither Chrysler nor NHTSA has given an estimated cost of a recall, the Center for Auto Safety says it could cost Chrysler no more than $300 million to install a 3 millimeter steel skid, a fuel tank check valve and better fuel filler hose and address the problem.

The J.D. Power & Associates survey of car owners found that the number of problems reported by Jeep owners has fallen by about a third between 2008 and 2012. It has moved up in approval rankings from dead last out of 36 brands in 2008 to 23rd out of 34 last year.

An online survey by Kelley Blue Book last week found 64% of those answering the survey would not consider any vehicle from an automaker who fights a recall.

However, a week of used car auctions tracked by Kelley shows no measurable change in average pricing or sales volumes of the affected vehicles. Used car site AutoTrader.com also reported no change in interest in the affected vehicles by potential car buyers visiting its site.

Chrysler still faces liability risks in numerous wrongful death suits. NHTSA says there have been least 37 accidents that caused fires and resulted in at least 51 deaths.

Krebs said she was surprised by the reversal by Chrysler, saying it appeared that Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne and other executives at the automaker had dug in and prepared for a fight.

Ditlow said many of the recalled cars will probably never be brought in for the inspection. He said in the case of the recall of older model cars that are no longer covered by warranties, somewhere between 50% and 60% of recalled vehicles are typically brought in by owners.

About 52% of Ford Pintos were brought in, even though that late-1970s recall — which also involved gas tank fires — was very high profile, according to Ditlow.

If there had been a public hearing by NHTSA, the agency could either agree with Chrysler’s argument and drop the request for a recall or order an involuntary recall. If the automaker again refused to issue a recall, NHTSA could go to federal court to force a recall, though that process could take years.

There have been 17,000 recalls involving over 500 million vehicles since NHTSA started the recall process in 1966. It is rare that automakers challenge NHTSA on a recall and even rarer that one wins. Chrysler — under different management than it is now — was the last automaker to win such a challenge when it fought a 1996 recall of 91,000 cars in a dispute over its seat belt system.

Fifty soldiers with the 2211th General Support Aviation Battalion left for Afghanistan last July. Tuesday they were welcomed home in a ceremony in Waterloo.

The soldiers in the unit provided medical evacuation flights. They flew more than 3,200 hours in Blackhawk helicopters, helping with more than 650 evacuations and other missions.

Channel 13 News at 5 statistically tied for #1

WHO-HD airs 15 hours of top-rated newscasts each week compared to just 8 for KCCI

DES MOINES, IA – The May television ratings have just been released and WHO-HD is now the undisputed #1 newscast in the morning and 6:00 PM.  Today in Iowa continues as the undisputed #1 morning news leader by nearly five share points. Channel 13 News at 6 now has more than a 7 share point advantage in the top spot.  And, Channel 13 News at 5 is statistically tied for #1.

WHO-HD’s share for Channel 13 News at 5 is up 23% and Channel 13 News at 6 up 43%. The only newscasts in which Channel 13 News on WHO-HD is NOT #1 is Monday through Friday at Noon & 10PM and Sunday nights at 10.

WHO-HD has 15 hours of top rated newscasts each week compared to just 8 hours for KCCI when comparing head-to-head newscasts.

“Our determination to serve central Iowa viewers’ needs has never been stronger,” says WHO-HD President and General Manager Dale R. Woods.  “Viewers have told us it’s about choosing good stories and telling them well.  It’s about a team you like and trust.  And more than ever, it’s about a commitment to Iowa weather.  That’s why we’ve expanded our team to 5 full-time meteorologists, have the only 24/7 weather channel and mobile apps to warn and inform with live streaming.”

Ratings estimates are according to Nielsen Media Research’s May 2013 measurement period for the Des Moines/Ames Designated Market Area (DMA).  The four week measurement period was April 25 through May 22, 2013.  Ratings estimates are for Adults 18-49.  A share is the percentage of all TV households with sets in use in the Des Moines/Ames DMA (Designated Market Area) tuned to a particular program.  All ratings comparisons are on a May 2012 to May 2013 basis.

For more information contact:
Dale Woods, President & General Manager
515-242-3701

No farm bill votes were taken Monday – as the House Rules Committee had not yet set the rule on the farm bill. House Ag Committee Chair Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson are expected to ask for a rule that allows debate on all subjects House members want to discuss – but limits the number of amendments on each subject.

The Rules Committee will meet Tuesday to issue a rule on how farm bill amendments will be handled on the House floor.

Police arrested 24-year-old Bryan Vilcone in April. He is charged with first degree murder for the death of seven-week-old Raelynn Hart.

An autopsy revealed the infant died of abusive head trauma. Investigators say during police interviews Vilcone admitted to shaking the baby.

Vilcone entered his not guilty plea Monday. His trial date hasn’t been set yet.

The bridge carries a rail line across the Mississippi River between Davenport and Rock Island, Illinois.

The accident happened at about 10:00 p.m. The barge got stuck under the bridge and crews had to pull the barge and tugboat away.

Workers from the barge company have not commented on what they were transporting down the river or the condition of the person who was injured.

The Iowa Park Foundation also announced a new app, or application, for users to download directions, maps and information about the state parks. The app is called the Iowa State Parks and Recreation Guide. The foundation acknowledges users may not have cell phone service or internet access in some parks. But board member Joe Gunderson said there is a plan in the works to fix that. He said, “Without getting into details, we actually have something we’ve been tracking down on that. So more to come later. But that is on our map.”

Gunderson wouldn’t say if that means installing wireless internet access in state parks or couldn’t yet offer a timeline about when Iowans can expect the change. He did say, for now, Iowans could simply download the application before they get into the parks, so that they would have the information while they still had internet access.

A crash report by the Iowa State Patrol says 33-year-old Matthew Lavender was driving a motorcycle on Highway 14, two miles north of Marshalltown, around 11:00 p.m. Troopers say the motorcycle ran off the road, into a ditch and rolled.

Both Lavender and his passenger, 32-year-old April Stanley, were thrown from the bike. Lavender was pronounced dead at the scene.

Stanley had minor injuries.

The State Patrol is still looking into the cause of the accident.

Highs tomorrow will be back in the middle 80s.
There will again be just a slight chance for storms popping up in the afternoon.

Better chances for storms with heavier rainfall come back on Thursday.
It will be warmer with highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s.

Friday will be partly cloudy with highs in the lower 90s. Again…chance storms will pop up late in the afternoon.

The weekend is going to be hot. Highs in the middle 90s. It will feel like 100.

Jeremiah Mumford and William Clayton faced 35 felonies, including eight counts of attempted murder and 16 counts of assault on a peace officer in Bremer County.

The charges are connected to a bank robbery in Maynard in Fayette County last October. A chase and shootout following the bank robbery ended in Bremer County.

Mumford showed no regret as he walked to the courthouse Monday.

Both Mumford and Clayton pleaded guilty to 30 counts in Bremer County.

Sumner police chief Dennis Cain was one of the victims injured in the shootout. He made an impact statement during both hearings.

Cain was one of the officers chasing Mumford and Clayton following the bank robbery and was shot in the neck, hand and finger.

“I guess my biggest thing is, why? I can see bank robberies nowadays, but not the shooting. Where were they going to go? They made the statement in Fayette County when they were surrounded (that) they were going to shoot it up. What did they do? Act like cowards and didn’t,” Cain told the court.

Mumford and Clayton already pleaded guilty to attempted murder and robbery charges in Fayette County where the bank robbery took place. They’re scheduled to be sentenced on those charges next week.

Fans will be traveling from across the country to cheer on their favorite athletes, but Iowa kids are getting a chance to see the action live for free.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced Tuesday that free tickets to the events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are being offered to K-12 students. The complimentary tickets are being paid for by Principal Financial Group.

If you’re interested in getting tickets, they can be obtained at the Iowa Hall of Pride at 330 Park Street in Des Moines from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Students will have to show a school ID to get tickets and the limit is two tickets per student.

Drake last hosted the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2010.

The Grow Greene County Committee is trying to get a referendum vote on a bill to build a new casino on the ballot.

The group says the project could bring 250 new jobs to the area.

The state could add a new casino down the road. Earlier this month, the Racing and Gaming Commission voted in favor of a study looking at the best areas of the state for a new casino.

Once it’s complete early next year, the commission could decide to issue new casino licenses.

Linn County is also looking to build a new casino.

Iowa currently has 21 casinos.