William Penn University announces academic honors:

Oskaloosa, Iowa - William Penn University is pleased to announce that Ivy Rostenbach of Davenport, Iowa, has been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2011 semester. To be included on the Dean's List, a student must complete at least 12 hours of credit with a grade point average of 3.5 - 3.89 on a 4.0 scale.

William Penn University is also pleased to announce that Dania Bebber, Etaf Elkhatib and Sophia Farooqui, all of Bettendorf, Iowa, and   have been named to the President's List for the fall 2011 semester. To be included on the President's List, a student must complete at least 12 hours of credit with a minimum grade point average of 3.9 on a 4.0 scale.

William Penn University was founded by Quakers in 1873 and is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa. William Penn has one of the most diverse student populations in Iowa and has recently expanded both programming and facilities. For more information, visit the university's website at www.wmpenn.edu or call 1-800-779-7366.

Tonight's host Amy Kremer

Joining Amy will be Ali A. Akbar. Mr. Akbar is currently the Vice President of Digital Strategy with Vice and Victory Agency, a new firm specializing in political marketing on the digital medium as well as general public affairs and coalition building.  Mr. Akbar will be giving us a wrap-up and commentary about this weekend's CPAC.

Matt spent his youth on a horse farm and joined the National Guard in college. After graduation, he was posted to Iraq and served as a Cavalry Scout Platoon Leader. Upon returning from military service, Matt went to work for a construction company in South Carolina. He works hard to pay the bills and help care for his wife Kimberly and their two sons. But Matt dreams of owning and operating an environmentally sustainable livestock operation producing pasture-raised meats.

Matt - a driven, self-reliant veteran coping with the upheaval of returning from combat to civilian life - wants to work for himself, create something valuable and independent, and build a solid future for his young family.

But getting started in farming isn't easy. Neither land nor financing is readily available, and gaining experience is also a challenge. Matt and Kimberly's search for programs that could help them get started came up empty, until recently.

With our partners we formed the Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Project so veterans like Matt can receive personalized professional consultations on farm production, business and finance as well as attend workshops and farm tours to access guidance from a variety of experts.

This project, alongside the Center for Rural Affairs' Land Link program, Farm Bill Helpline (402.687.2100 or tracib@cfra.org) and the Farmer-Veteran Coalition's Helpline (530.756.1395 or chris@farmvetco.org) can and will help veterans like Matt realize their dreams of farming or ranching while creating a better future for both their families and for America's rural communities.

For more information: www.cfra.org/veteran_farmers_project. For a picture of Matt, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cfra/6871657661/in/photostream

Dear Friends,

Besides being a hard worker and all-around great guy, Gabriel de La Cerda is an awesome chess player. Applying his penchant for deep analysis to last week's big news stories, Gabe postulates that President Obama's Catholic Contraception Controversy, the Attorneys General Bank Settlement, and Rick Santorum's three primary victories are all connected.

Gabe writes: "By leaking the bank settlement along with the contraception news, Obama was able to dictate which story would be at the fore of the national dialogue and which would be buried. Many talking heads, who would have asked questions as to why a $26 billion settlement could not have been more, were instead busy chasing the juicier story of women's contraception."

Furthermore, "Thursday was the beginning of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Friday, Obama announces a compromise in the contraception case nearly at the same time the main speakers where taking the CPAC stage."

In terms of its political impact on the President, "the contraception issue should be negative. Normally when bad news is coming, administrations try to dump it on a Friday, so the talking heads don't have an entire week to dissect the story."

"So why activate the far right on a prime news day? Because Obama wants the primary process to go on as long as possible. If he could pick an opponent to run against, Rick Santorum is his huckleberry."

"The contraception news was fire for Santorum to add to his rise going into CPAC. This political play forced Romney to step away from his strengths - economy and business - and step into his weakness - morality, an issue which plays to Santorum's strengths."

Wow, Gabe! You and I need to play a game of chess! But seriously, though one doesn't want to believe that the forces of Big Government and Big Business are this sinister and conniving, it's hard not to think Gabe's got some good points.

Monday, we talk about the ongoing foreclosure crisis and recent bank settlement. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is declaring victory. Others aren't so sure. Still others claim government sold out to the big banks. If you've got a foreclosure tale to share, give me a call tonight at (515) 312-0983.

Tuesday, we talk about Komen's corporate connections. As Laurence Lewis writes in a recent Daily Kos column, "One example is Komen's recent partnership with KFC to raise millions of dollars, and of course, just coincidentally, to associate the junk food giant with the promotion of health." I'd like to thank an anonymous listener with an immediate family member who died of breast cancer for helping sponsor this show.

Wednesday, consumer advocate Mark Cooper talks about nuclear power. Each week, some new information surfaces to make it even clearer what a bad idea is MidAmerican's ratepayer money grab. And is Warren Buffet really the friend of the people that the media like to paint? Thanks to Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility for helping to sponsor this show.

Thursday, State Rep Dan Kelley (D-Newton) joins us, as does comedian-activist Lee Camp. This week's Fallon Forum Freebie is a gift certificate to Leap Day Special at Mojo's on 86th. We'll also give away two tickets to "Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom," performing at the Des Moines Social Club this week and next.

So, join the conversation Monday - Thursday from 7:00-8:00 pm at 98.3 FM and online. Call-in at (515) 312-0983 or toll-free at (866) 908-TALK. You can download the Fallon Forum as a podcast, too. Thanks! -- Ed