Iowa
Mandela fellows return to University of Iowa
College of Iowa’s Dimy Doresca (proper) talks to Mabety Soumah (left) of Guinea and Abbevi Elie Abbey of Togo following a enterprise pitch follow session June 22 on the College of Iowa’s MBA workplace in Cedar Rapids. The College of Iowa is internet hosting 24 younger entrepreneurs from 17 sub-Saharan African international locations as a part of the U.S. Division of State’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Younger African Leaders. That is the sixth yr the college has been host to the Fellows. This system was canceled in 2020 as a result of pandemic. The 2021 program was held nearly. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Deliwe Alipo Makata of Malawi laughs as she provides her enterprise pitch presentation throughout a follow session June 22 on the College of Iowa’s MBA workplace in Cedar Rapids. The College of Iowa is internet hosting 24 younger entrepreneurs from 17 sub-Saharan African international locations as a part of the U.S. Division of State’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Younger African Leaders. That is the sixth yr the college has been host to the Fellows. This system was canceled in 2020 resulting from COVID-19. The 2021 program was held nearly. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Thulise Mhhlanga of Zimbabwe provides his enterprise pitch presentation throughout a follow session June 22 on the College of Iowa’s MBA workplace in Cedar Speedy. The College of Iowa is internet hosting 24 younger entrepreneurs from 17 sub-Saharan African international locations as a part of the U.S. Division of State’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Younger African Leaders. That is the sixth yr the college has been host to the Fellows. This system was canceled in 2020 resulting from COVID-19. The 2021 program was held nearly. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Carmen Maria Pereira of Mozambique provides her enterprise pitch presentation throughout a follow session June 22 on the College of Iowa’s MBA workplace in Cedar Rapids. Pereira is one in every of 24 younger entrepreneurs from Africa taking part within the U.S. Division of State’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Younger African Leaders. That is the sixth yr UI has been host to the Fellows. This system was canceled in 2020 resulting from COVID-19. The 2021 program was held nearly. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Mandela Fellows colleagues hear as Naa Aklerhh Okantey of Ghana provides her enterprise pitch presentation June 22 throughout a follow session on the College of Iowa’s MBA workplace in Cedar Rapids. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
College of Iowa’s Gregg Barcus listens to a enterprise pitch presentation by one of many Mandela Fellows throughout a follow session on the College of Iowa’s MBA workplace Cedar Rapids on June 22. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Mabety Soumah of Guinea applauds a Mandela Fellows colleague after they gave their enterprise pitch throughout a follow session June 22 on the College of Iowa’s MBA workplace in Cedar Rapids. The College of Iowa is host to 24 younger entrepreneurs from 17 sub-Saharan African international locations as a part of the U.S. Division of State’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Younger African Leaders. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
IOWA CITY — Assembly with native dignitaries like Iowa Metropolis’s mayor, becoming a member of space households for dinner, visiting cultural websites and companies, and convening for conversations on entrepreneurship contact on the lengthy listing of actions lined up for a brand new crop of Mandela fellows again on the College of Iowa this summer season.
The college final was host to fellows as a part of the U.S. Division of State’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Younger African Leaders — a flagship program of the Younger African Management Initiative — in 2019, earlier than COVID-19 canceled plans in 2020 and moved 2021 programming on-line.
The revitalized cohort of 24 younger entrepreneurs from 17 sub-Saharan African international locations arrived on the UI campus June 9 for six weeks of “management in enterprise” programming. The UI-based “Management in Enterprise Institute” is one in every of 10 supplied this summer season at American universities, together with Drake College in Des Moines and Northwestern College in Evanston, In poor health.
The Mandela Fellowship’s enterprise management institutes are tailor-made to fellows aspiring to turn out to be leaders within the non-public sector or to begin their very own enterprise ventures in Africa.
Via coursework, mentoring, networking and different skilled and management coaching, the institutes introduce fellows to American enterprise and entrepreneurial techniques and assist them develop management expertise in innovation and expertise, marketing strategy improvement, monetary administration, enterprise ethics, public-private partnerships, and enterprise intersections with authorities and society.
UI needed to apply by a aggressive bidding course of to host the fellows, who’re staying in residence halls whereas on campus.
The fellows — younger sub-Saharan African leaders with established information selling innovation and alter of their organizations, communities, and international locations — are positioned with host establishments primarily based on their pursuits, in response to Dimy Doresca, director of UI’s Institute for Worldwide Enterprise.
The UI-based Management in Enterprise Institute entails entrepreneurial education schemes like “Enterprise College,” supplied by UI’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Heart and the worldwide enterprise institute Doresca leads.
Fellows will tour companies and manufacturing corporations in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Williamsburg. Additionally they will expertise regional tradition and historical past by journeys to Kalona and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Department.
The objective is to equip fellows with American financial information that they will deliver residence to their companies and communities.
“They are going to be Iowa’s ambassadors to Africa, studying our manner of doing issues and bringing Iowa values again to their properties,” Doresca mentioned. “The visits may also have an economic-development impression, because the fellows will construct connections with Iowans who need to conduct enterprise in Africa.”
UI has been internet hosting Mandela fellows for the reason that summer season of 2016.
Though final yr’s digital UI institute “went effectively,” Doresca mentioned, it wasn’t the identical as in particular person.
“The fellows that did digital final yr mentioned undoubtedly they’d have most well-liked an in-person expertise,” he mentioned.
The 2 dozen fellows visiting Iowa this summer season are amongst 700 chosen from 49 sub-Saharan African international locations to take part in an array of college- and university-based applications. The fellows have been chosen from greater than 38,000 candidates.
Since its institution in 2014, the Mandela fellowship has dropped at the USA almost 5,100 enterprise homeowners ages 25 to 35 from each sub-Saharan African nation.
Different American schools and universities are internet hosting institutes on “Management in Civic Engagement” and “Management in Public Administration.”
Feedback: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com
Iowa
Group calls for electric rate reform in Iowa
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Four organizations have formed a an advocacy group calling for reform in the way utility companies set rate increases. The entities that make up the group are Iowa Business Energy Coalition, Iowa Economic Alliance, Iowa Business for Clean Energy, and Large Energy Group. Although the coalition doesn’t have a group name.
The group cited Alliant Energy’s most recent rate increase as a concern for both residents and businesses. Alliant’s increase was approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission back in Sept. In a news release, the group called Alliant a monopoly.
According to the U-S Energy Information Administration, Alliant had the highest electric rates in all of Iowa in 2023. And Iowa’s average rate was higher than 37 other states.
The advocate group said the cost of electricity is making it harder to operate a business in Iowa. It said the larger companies in Cedar Rapids like Quaker Oats and the hospitals already have expensive electric bills every month and the increase has added to that.
“Some of these larger customers, their bills are a million dollars or more. So when you’re talking about some of the increases they’ve recently seen, a 15% increase, that’s a substantial impact,” Dave Vognsen with Large Energy Group said.
The business group also suggested changing how Iowa utilities can charge customers for future projects. Right now, electric companies can charge customers before they start a new project.
“What the utilities plan for in their resource plans are eventually going to be paid for by customers,” Vognsen said. “So that’s why it’s important to take a look and make sure you know that it’s the least cost based upon the needs of customers,” he said.
Ultimately, the group said it is pushing for legislation changes that would allow the Iowa Utilities Commission to regulate the way utility companies increase their rates, serving as a check of sorts.
“The commission can make sure those decisions are based on the best interests or rate payers and not just in the best interest of the utilities,” Bob Rafferty with Iowa Business for Clean Energy said.
KCRG reached out to Alliant Energy about the group’s push for reform. It said in a statement:
“We remain committed to cost-effectively meeting customers’ energy supply needs. Investing in a diverse energy mix and modernizing the energy grid delivers a more reliable, sustainable, resilient and secure energy future. The IUC’s decision positions us to accomplish this as we continue planning ahead, acting on behalf of our customers to ensure we’re ready to manage the rapidly changing energy landscape,”
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Naturalized citizens sue Iowa officials for challenging 2,000 voters
Naturalized citizens have sued Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and other election officials after he instructed them to challenge the ballots of over 2,000 voters.
Last week, Pate’s office said that it gave county auditors a list of 2,022 people who told the state’s Department of Transportation that they were not citizens but later registered to vote or voted.
Since those voters may have become naturalized citizens in the time between telling the Transportation Department that they were not citizens and participating in the U.S. election process, Pate’s office told county auditors to challenge their ballots and have them cast a provisional ballot instead.
The voters would have seven days to show proof of citizenship before their ballot is counted.
ACLU Challenges Election Officials
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa filed a lawsuit against Pate and five election auditors in federal court late Wednesday on behalf of four voters flagged by Pate as registered voters who might not be citizens and the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa (LULAC).
According to the complaint, the four voters are naturalized citizens, one of whom registered last year, a day after he became a citizen.
“Yet he was placed on the Secretary’s covert list and wrongfully subjected to investigation and an election challenge for following the law and exercising his right to vote,” the complaint states.
The lawsuit alleges that Iowa election officials are burdening the right to vote and discriminating against naturalized citizens. Officials are treating this group of voters differently from others in violation of their constitutional right to equal protection, the suit claims.
The suit asks for the Transportation Department list to be revoked and for voters on it to not be challenged on this basis.
Pate in a ‘Balancing’ Act
Pate told reporters Wednesday, before the lawsuit was filed, that the Transportation Department list is the “only list that we have available to us” without access to federal immigration records.
“We’re balancing this process. We want everyone to be able to vote. That’s why none of them have been taken off the voter rolls,” Pate said.
However, he added, “We do owe an obligation to make sure that they are citizens now.”
Republicans have made non-citizen voting a big issue ahead of the November 5 election. Despite it already being illegal for non-citizens to register to vote or to vote in federal elections, the Republican-led House voted to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in July, which would require those registering to vote to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill remains in the House.
While there is no evidence that non-citizen voting is occurring in significant numbers, Iowa and some other states have identified dozens of such cases.
‘We Will Defend Our Election Integrity’
Before the lawsuit was filed, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Justice “called the State in an attempt to pressure Iowa into letting noncitizens vote.”
“Every legal vote must count and not be canceled by an illegal vote,” she said. “In Iowa, we will defend our election integrity laws and protect the vote.”
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment to the Associated Press (AP).
The AP also reached out to Pate and Bird on Thursday for comment on the lawsuit.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Iowa
Iowa men’s basketball: Four bold predictions for Hawkeyes’ 2024-25 season
Video: Fran McCaffery reacts to exhibition win over Minnesota Duluth
Fran McCaffery discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s 102-81 exhibition win over Minnesota Duluth.
IOWA CITY — The Iowa men’s basketball regular season is on the verge of getting underway.
After beating Minnesota Duluth, 102-81, in an exhibition, the Hawkeyes’ next contest is more than just a dress rehearsal. That comes Monday with the regular season opener against Texas A&M-Commerce.
There are not exactly high expectations surrounding this Iowa team. The Hawkeyes were picked to finish 11th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten by a preseason media poll. Internally, though, there is optimism.
“People are confident,” Payton Sandfort said at Big Ten Media Days. “Anyone that has been around practice this year thinks this team is special. The energy is different. The intensity is different. The attention to detail is different. I think it’s going to be a great year.”
To skeptics, Sandfort’s claim could be viewed as a bold prediction.
In that spirit, here are some bold takes ahead of the Hawkeyes’ 2024-25 season.
Iowa basketball’s Josh Dix will make an All-Big Ten team
This wouldn’t be that bold of a prediction if the conference hadn’t just added four new programs. But now with 18 teams, earning a spot on the All-Big Ten first, second, or third teams (more than 15 players can make them in total) becomes even more difficult.
That said, Dix should be considered a dark horse.
The flashes that Dix showed as a freshman became even more prominent as a sophomore. Last season, there was a phenomenal three-game stretch during Big Ten play in which he averaged 21.3 points on 68.4% from the field and 61.5% from deep.
It’s unrealistic to expect Dix to sustain those numbers across an entire season, but it’s one of the many signs pointing to him being capable of becoming a premier player in the league. Dix, a highly efficient scorer on all three levels, also adds value on the defensive end. Now as a junior, Dix is stepping into an even larger role, meaning the opportunity is there for him to put up big numbers.
He scored 22 points against Minnesota Duluth on 9-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-4 from deep.
“I think the biggest thing he’s done, he’s gotten really aggressive,” Sandfort said of Dix after the contest. “He always had that. He was always showing it in practice but would be just kinda passive when we got into games… Now he has the confidence that he can dominate these teams. I’m excited to see the year he has.”
Video: Payton Sandfort leads Iowa with 23 points in exhibition win
Payton Sandfort discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s exhibition win over Minnesota Duluth.
Hawkeyes’ Brock Harding will finish top-5 in the Big Ten in assists per game
Harding’s sensational passing ability, coupled with Iowa’s offensive firepower makes this seem like a real possibility.
His ability to share the rock was on display as a freshman. Harding’s 2.6 assists per game in limited playing time equates to 9.7 when extrapolated to a per 40-minute average.
It’s unreasonable to expect him to average 40 minutes per game as a sophomore, but he is primed to get substantially more playing time, meaning last season’s assist numbers are likely to go up. With Dix, Owen Freeman and Sandfort all having the potential to be high-volume scorers, Harding shouldn’t have a shortage of opportunities.
Even in a Minnesota Duluth exhibition that wasn’t his best performance — Harding scored two points on 1-of-7 from the field — he still recorded six assists.
Northwestern’s Boo Buie finished last season fifth in the Big Ten in assists per game with five. Getting in that neighborhood doesn’t seem like a long shot for Harding.
Pryce Sandfort will be Iowa men’s basketball’s top bench scorer
There are probably four realistic options to be Iowa’s leading bench scorer. It could be either of the transfers, Seydou Traore or Drew Thelwell. Freshman Cooper Koch deserves to be in the conversation, as well.
But Pryce Sandfort might be the one to earn that title.
After an inconsistent freshman season, word from inside the program has been pointedly positive about Pryce Sandfort. At Iowa men’s basketball media day, coach Fran McCaffery remarked that Pryce Sandfort was “shooting the ball at an incredibly high clip on a consistent basis.”
The exhibition against Minnesota Duluth showed how quickly Sandfort can score in bunches. He finished the first half without a point but scored 11 in the second half. He also played the most minutes out of Iowa’s reserves.
At 6-foot-7, Pryce Sandfort can be a lethal 3-point shooter, but his offensive repertoire isn’t limited to that. With Iowa needing some scoring outside of Payton Sandfort, Freeman and Dix, Pryce Sandfort has the skill set to deliver.
Iowa Hawkeyes will have its best 3-point percentage since the 2020-21 season
The Hawkeyes shot 38.6% as a team in 2020-21. Four players shot 39% or better from deep, including three that shot at least 44%.
Since then, Iowa’s team 3-point percentages are as follows:
- 2021-22: 36.3%
- 2022-23: 34%
- 2023-24: 35.1%
Iowa has a chance to shoot better in 2024-25 than it has in each of the last three seasons.
The Hawkeyes saw the departures of some lower percentage shooters, including Tony Perkins (29.9%) and Patrick McCaffery (31.2%).
Two of the players expected to be among the highest-volume shooters for Iowa this season are more than capable 3-point shooters in Dix and Payton Sandfort. Pryce Sandfort and Cooper Koch are known to be good shooters, as well.
There are a handful of other X-factors.
Harding shot 37.5% as a freshman even before adjusting his shooting form this offseason. Thelwell is a career 34.8% 3-point shooter. Freeman didn’t attempt many 3-pointers last season but has worked on expanding his game this offseason and could take more as a sophomore. Ladji Dembele and Traore can contribute from beyond the arc, though they haven’t proven to shoot a high percentage yet.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
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