A DECISION BY THE OBAMA ADMINSTRATION THAT FORCES CHURCH AFFILIATED EMPLOYERS TO COVER BIRTH CONTROL ON THEIR HEALTH CARE PLANS HAS OUTRAGED RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT MEANS CHURCH AFFILIATED HOSPITALS SUCH AS SIOUX CITY'S MERCY MEDICAL CENTER WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY FOR INSURANCE THAT COVERS CONTRACEPTIVES AND STERILIZATION.
MERCY SPOKESMAN JIM WHARTON SAYS THE DECISION MAKES NO SENSE:
WHARTON SAYS ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T ABIDE BY THE NEW MANDATE RISK LOSING FEDERAL FUNDS:
THE NEW RULES WOULD TAKE EFFECT IN AUGUST OF2013.
U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER IS ALREADY CALLING ON THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO RECONSIDER THE ORDER, CALLING IT A GOVERNMENT MANDATE THAT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION.
THE OBAMA ADMINISRATION IS SAYING THEY WILL NOT BACK DOWN FROM THEIR DECISION ON THE MANDATE.
SIOUX CITY IS BEING CONSIDERED AS A SITE FOR A FLIGHT SCHOOL....STARTING PERHAPS AS SOON AS THE FALL 2012 SEMESTER.
AIRPORT BOARD PRESIDENT DAN KAPLAN SAYS A LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND AN ACCREDITED FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY ARE EXPLORING AN AVIATION RELATED PARTNERSHIP:
KAPLAN SAYS THERE FIRST NEEDS TO BE ENOUGH PUBLIC INTEREST SHOWN FOR THE SCHOOL TO BE ESTABLISHED:
KAPLAN SAYS ONCE THE PROGRAM BECOMES ESTABLISHED, IT COULD EVEN LEAD TO AVIATION RELATED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
A TRUST FUND DONATED TO SIOUX CITY FOR A PROPOSED DOWNTOWN PARK WILL CONTINUE TO EARN INTEREST UNTIL A SITE PLAN FOR THE PARK IS APPROVED.
CITY MANAGER PAUL ECKERT SAYS THAT'S PART OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT FOR CONE PARK, WHICH WAS PLACED ON HOLD TUESDAY BY THE CITY COUNCIL:
ECKERT SAYS THE COUNCIL PUT THE PARK ON HOLD OVER SEVERAL CONCERNS, INCLUDING COST:
ECKERT SAYS THOSE ELEMENTS INCLUDE AN AMPHITHEATER AND ICE RINK AMONG OTHER AMENITIES.
THE PARK SITE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SOUTH OF THE OLD BATTERY BUILDING AROUND 2ND & WATER STREETS. THE ORIGINAL FUNDS WERE DONATED TO THE CITY BY RUTH CONE.
