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THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA POLICE REPORT A DRASTIC INCREASE IN ALCOHOL RELATED ARRESTS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST. THE DEPARTMENT REPORTED 534 LIQUOR LAW INFRACTIONS DURING THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.

BUT WITH THE NEW CRIMINAL CHARGES IMPOSED ON THE CITY'S SIDE OF THINGS MAKING IT EASIER FOR POLICE TO ACTUALLY WRITE A CITATION WE MAY SEE AN INCREASE IN THE SMOKING FINES IN DOWNTOWN IOWA CITY.

IOWA CITY'S DOWNTOWN HAS SEEN SOME CHANGES EVEN THOUGH THE IOWA CITY POLICE AREN'T HAVING TO DEAL WITH AS MANY DISORDERLY PEOPLE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

PKG 1 SMOKING -- 1:30

IOWA CITY SMOKING VIOLATIONS ARE GOING CRIMINAL. POLICE NOW HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SITE DOWNTOWN SMOKERS WITH CRIMINAL MISDEMEANORS. SMOKING USED TO ONLY CARRY A SIMPLE CIVIL INFRACTION. ALTHOUGH THIS CHANGE CARRIES A CHEAPER FINE IT COULD MEAN A HEFTY INCREASE IN SMOKING ENFORCEMENT. REPORTER KATIE STINSON HAS THE DETAILS.

Downtown Iowa City's Tobacco Bowl is a safe haven for smokers being the only establishment in downtown Iowa City where indoor smoking is permitted, but take a couple steps outside the bowl and suddenly you're facing a $50 fine on top of newly imposed criminal charges.

At last week's Iowa City City Council meeting councilor's approved changing the city's smoking citation from a civil to criminal offense. Police will issue cheaper tickets of 50 dollars but also warn that they will have a heavier patrolling presence.

"This allows them to do it with the same pad they were doing for a PAULA, for jay walking, for whatever else they are writing tickets for downtown, so I think that's a valuable reason, so now we may see more smoking tickets being given out."

Police say the old civil penalty process was confusing and inefficient, offenders could even refuse their smoking citation, but now that the offense is criminal police can make smoking arrests and the city pays less to cite.

"There's also filing fees associated with that, that the city incurred, so, in order for us to cite someone we were actually paying to cite people."

This year, police have issued only nineteen smoking citations but are hopeful the simpler and cheaper criminal citation process will allow these words to resonate with downtown smokers, Katie Stinson, Daily Iowan TV.


PKG 2 ECO FAIR -- 1:18

THOSE THAT ATTENDED SUNDAY'S FARMER'S MARKET IN IOWA CITY SAW MORE THAN PRODUCE STANDS. THE CITY SELECTED THE MARKET FOR THEIR FIRST EVER ECO FAIR. NOT ONLY DID ATTENDEES WALKAWAY WITH ARM FULLS OF VEGETABLES, BUT INFORMATION ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL. REPORTER KATIE STINSON HAS THE STORY.

"There's just, there's a ton of group's here today who are helping people do even better things environmentally."

Many market regulars purchase only locally grown and organic foods, these green fanatics were ecstatic to see the city's first ever environmental information extravaganza.

" I think it's wonderful that you people are teaching, eh, some of us things that we don't know."

And there were plenty of things not to know. These booths had an almost overwhelming amount of information ranging from pamphlets on water conservation, to green cleaning products for sale and even gardening tips for first time growers.

"It's called forest gardening when you create, um, layers like a forest you have canopy trees,and then you have smaller trees and berries below that, vines growing up and herbs underneath and, uh, when you, when you plant these perennial systems you can get a lot of food out of a small space with not a lot of work."

If you missed out on this year's green event, no need to worry, Iowa City market goers can look forward to at least two more Eco Fairs on top of the already fresh produce they always expect, Katie Stinson Daily Iowa TV.


PKG 3 Gameday Ron -- 1:50

HIS NAME IS RON CHRISTENSON, AND HIS BRAN IS GAMEDAY IOWA. HE'S A SALESMAN, AN INVENTOR AND A RETIRED ENGINEER. QUITE THE QUIRKY COMBINATION, BUT THIS RETIRED MAN COMBINED HIS TRADES INTO A BUSINESS THAT IS ALL IOWA. REPORTER KATIE STINSON HAS THE STORY ON THIS MAN'S CRAZY CONCOCTIONS.

It all started with a seat cushion. Fifteen years ago Kinnick's first ever stadium seat cushion was introduced to Hawkeye fans and still sells out every year at Ron Christenson's Hawkeye store, Gameday Iowa.

Many fans, though, aren't aware that the store manager that sells them their comfy cushion isn't just a retail man, he invented and patented the handy seat more than fifteen years ago.

"I went to the University of Iowa and am actually a mechanical engineer, which is a little different when you figure I'm running a retail store, but, again, I spend my days meeting and visiting with Hawkeye fans and it's a lot of fun."

But from seat cushions to shavers? Christenson took on his most unique endeavor yet, his own line of patented, environmentally friendly shaving products.

"We've had extremely good success, the least amount of shaves any guy has gotten has been 300 with any blade and we haven't had a gal turn a razor back in yet, so I know I've got hundreds of ladies out there who've gotten over one thousand shaves with the same blade."

His product is different from the average shaver, he says. His special oil he designed to store the razor in protects it from water, rust and corrosion preserving the blade for more than 300 shaves.

But at the end of the day his true love still remains the university,the Hawkeyes and their loyal fans. Today, Christenson himself is still a Hawkeye, He enrolls in business classes every year and set up a project for students to market his shaving system.

"They're hungry for knowledge, they have a lot of questions and they want to know what's going on in the real world, and that interchange is a lot of fun and it's very helpful for me too to help keep my engine going.

For a retired engineer Christenson's wheels are still turning, and his customers say they always look forward to his next big thing, Katie Stinson Daily Iowan TV.

Game Day Ron

1:22 timed

FOR IOWA CITY'S NOTORIOUS GAME DAY SALESMAN, RON CHRISTENSEN, HIS BUSINESS MODEL WAS FOUNDED ON HIS INCREDIBLE INVENTING INTUITION. FROM A REGULAR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER TO HAWKEYE BUSINESS MAN, RON COULDN'T COMPLETELY PULL AWAY FROM HIS INVENTING WAYS OR HAWKEYE DEDICATION, EVEN POST RETIREMENT.

Ron Christensen left Iowa City with a mechanical engineering degree and plans to pursue car part inventing. Years later he transitioned into a retirement stocked full of black and gold, literally.

"Instead of retiring when I sold Purathane I decided to kick Game Day Iowa into gear."

His sudden career swap stemmed from the stadium seat cushion he invented and patented more than 15 years ago.

"In Iowa City I went to the University of Iowa and am actually a Mechanical Engineer which is a little different when you figure I am running a retail store, but again I spend my days meeting and visiting with Hawkeye fans and it's a lot of fun."

But his quirky inventions didn't stop at Hawkeye merchandise Christensen went on to patten his own line of shaving products in 2009, but his own razor is set to be released later this month.

Christensen says his product is simple to use and entirely green. The consumer stores the razor in his patented oil product blocking water from rusting and corroding the blade, which keeps the water off the blade and allows it to last for over 300 shaves.

But, at the end of the day it's still all about Iowa. Christensen even hires UI business students to do the marketing for his shavers.

"You know I've been there for an hour, two hours after class because they're hungry for knowledge they have a lot of questions and they want to know what's going on in the real world and that interchange, it's a lot of fun and it's very helpful for me too.. to help keep my engine going."

Katie Stinson, Daily Iowa TV.

ECO Fair Package 3

GOING GREEN IS ALL THE BUZZ. LAST SATURDAY THE IOWA CITY FARMERS MARKET WRAPPED UP ITS FIVE MONTH SEASON WITH THE CITY'S FIRST EVER ECO FAIR, AN ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. REGULARS OF THE SATURDAY MARKET MAY BE SAD THE PRODUCE SEASON IS OVER, BUT THESE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FOLKS WALKED AWAY WITH A PLETHORA OF GREEN INFORMATION. KATIE STINSON HAS THE STORY.

For some, Saturdays aren't just about Hawkeye Football, they're about giving back and protecting the community too.

"You know people are really excited about recycling about things like salvaging old materials at the salvage barn, salvaging materials through the re-store, there are just a ton of groups here today who are, who are helping people do even better things environmentally."

Despite the cold weather, hundreds of people came out to 2010's last market, not only to support local foods, but to participate in an environmental extravaganza, equipped with thirteen green information booths, handouts and environmentally friendly products.

"I think it's wonderful that a, you people are are teaching a some of us things...that we don't don't know, how to dispose of some things that are harmful to the environment."

"I think that at the farmers market here people are looking for things that are local, are a healthy, um to take care of their families and that's green. I think it's an awesome way to wrap up the farmer's market season, to have an Eco Fair and actually we are talking about having a presence here more than just the end of the year... next year."

Katie Stinson, Daily Iowan TV.

THE OUTDOOR FARMERS MARKET SEASON MAY BE OVER, BUT THE CITY WILL BE HOSTING TWO HOLIDAY MARKETS FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE GREEN INITIATIVES PRESENT AT SATURDAY'S ECO FAIR OR EVEN PARTICIPATE, CONTACT IOWA CITY'S RECYCLING COORDINATOR JENNIFER JORDAN THROUGH THE CITY OF IOWA CITY'S WEBSITE.

Smoking

IOWA CITY SMOKING VIOLATIONS ARE GOING CRIMINAL. THOSE WHO RECEIVE A SMOKING CITATION FROM POLICE WILL NOW FACE A CRIMINAL MISDEMEANOR INSTEAD OF A CIVIL INFRACTION. ALTHOUGH THIS CHANGE CARRIES A CHEAPER FINE, IT COULD MEAN AN INCREASE IN SMOKING CITATIONS IN DOWNTOWN IOWA CITY. DAILY IOWAN TV’s KATIE STINSON HAS THE DETAILS.

Downtown Iowa City’s Tobacco Bowl is a safe haven for smokers being the only establishment in
downtown Iowa City where indoor smoking is permitted. But take a couple steps outside the bowl and suddenly you’re facing a $50 fine on top of newly imposed criminal charges.

At last week’s Iowa City City Council meeting councilor’s approved changing the city’s smoking violation from a civil to criminal offense. Violators will now see a cheaper fine of $50, but also an increase in ticketing since police now only carry one citation pad instead of two.

“This allows them to do it on the same pad they were doing for a PAULA, for jay walking, for whatever else they’re writing tickets for downtown, and so I think that’s a valuable reason. So now we may see more smoking tickets being given out.”

Police say the old civil penalty process was confusing and inefficient. Offenders could even refuse their smoking citation, but now that the offense is criminal police can make smoking arrests and the city pays less to cite.

“There’s also filing fees associated with that that the city incurred. So, in order for us to cite someone we actually were paying to cite people.”

This year, police have issued only 19 smoking citations but are hopeful the new criminal process will help them to more efficiently curtail smoking. Katie Stinson, Daily Iowan TV.

Package 1: UI Family Accommodations

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[WHEN THE MAJORITY OF COLLEGE STUDENTS START LOOKING FOR HOUSING THEY USUALLY CONTEMPLATE THEIR OWN COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, NOT NECESSARILY THE NEEDS OF THEIR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN. BUT HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA THEIR ARE A FAIR AMOUNT OF STUDENTS NOT JUST FOCUSING THEIR ATTENTION ON ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITIES BUT FAMILY LIFE AS WELL. WE SENT OUT DAILY IOWAN TV REPORTER KATIE STINSON TO UNCOVER THE TYPES OF RESOURCES THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES FOR STUDENTS WITH FAMILIES TO TAKE CARE OF.

PACKAGE

[AS IF JUGGLING CLASSES, SCHOOL AND WORK WASN'T HARD ENOUGH IMAGINE THROWING FULL-TIME PARENTING ON TO AN ALREADY VERY BUSY SCHEDULE.]

[AT LEAST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FAMILY SERVICES AND HOUSING DOES THEIR BEST TO HELP OUT, OFFERING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DAYCARE REIMBURSEMENTS AND EVEN FREE CHILD CARE OVER FINALS BY PARTNERING WITH A LOCAL CHURCH'S DAYCARE CENTER.]

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[BUT HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS ARE PRETTY LIMITED FOR FAMILIES SEEKING UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT.]

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[NOT ONLY ARE THEY LIMITED BY THEIR TWO APARTMENT CHOICES, BUT THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE PRETTY RUNDOWN AND IN NEED OF SOME ATTENTION, THEIR TENETS SAY.]

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[ALTHOUGH THE APARTMENTS MAY BE A LITTLE OUTDATED THE RESIDENTS DO AGREE THAT THE GREEN SPACE AND SINCE OF COMMUNITY THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES IS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE. KATIE STINSON DAILY IOWAN TV.]

Package 1: Family Housing