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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.