Iowa's "brain drain" might be a thing of the past, according to recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates show Iowa now ranks 37th among the states and the District of Columbia in the percentage of population with a bachelor's degree, up from 42nd 10 years ago.

The Iowa Supreme Court has overturned a nearly $17 million award against BRK Brands, Incorporated, manufacturers of the First Alert smoke alarms, in a case involving the death of a three-year-old Davenport boy. Nathan and Jennifer Mercer had sued BRK Brands, claiming the BRK model 83R ionization smoke detector was defective and failed to go off in time when a fire, sparked by a faulty baby monitor, killed their three-year-old boy Bradley and severely burned their 18-month-old son Travis in January 1993.

Coincidentally, Scott County Republicans had a meeting on the eve of Vice President Al Gore's campaign trip floating down the Mississippi River. The keynote speaker was former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, and U.

Joseph "Little Joe" Van Hecke was recently sentenced in U.S. District Court in Des Moines on federal charges of disposing of stolen weapons and money laundering to a mere seven and a half years in prison. Van Hecke had faced numerous charges, including felony possession of firearms, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, illegal possession of firearms, and trafficking in stolen property.