Governor Imposes Halt on Rate Hikes Pending Review

Monday, March 08, 2010

Governor Culver Imposes Halt on Health Insurance Rate Hikes Pending Independent Review

Des Moines, IA – Governor Chet Culver today called for Wellmark to justify the 18% health insurance rate increase to the 80,000 Iowans affected. In a letter sent today to Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss, the Governor directs her office to stay the recently-announced insurance premium increases awarded to Wellmark Blue Cross-Blue Shield until a third-party, independent actuary can review the file and determine whether the Division’s processes used to award Wellmark the premium rate increases is justified.

“I share the concerns of many Iowans that the recent health insurance premium rate increases are a disturbing and unwelcomed surprise,” said Governor Chet Culver. “I am directing Insurance Commissioner Voss to take several actions that are intended to provide additional protections for the interests of Iowa health insurance consumers.

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Governor Culver Signs 16 Bills

Senate File 2248
A departmental bill from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources that makes technical changes to the issuance of NPDES permits in order to be in compliance of the Clean Water Act.

Senate File 2191
Makes changes to Iowa’s banking regulations. The legislation was proposed by the Iowa Division of Banking. The primary provisions of the legislation concern the regulation of lines of credit issued over the internet by the creation of interest-rate caps on such loans, giving the Banking Superintendent the authority to intervene in situations where the failure of a national bank or federal thrift could harm a state regulated bank, and allow banks to have staggered terms for their boards of directors.

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Earth compared to the Sun

This illustration shows the approximate size of Earth compared to the Sun. The giant coronal mass ejection in the image blasted off the Sun in October 2003. The image was taken by the international SOHO spacecraft. *Image Credit*: NASA and European Space Agency

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Iditarod a thrill for observers and drivers alike

By KYLE HOPKINS and MIKE CAMPBELL
khopkins@adn.com

It’s a dog-and-pony show without the ponies. A squealing, barking circus before the Iditarod begins for real Sunday in Willow.

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Click map to enlarge

But Saturday’s ceremonial start in Downtown Anchorage — most fans’ best chance to see mushers and their dogs up close before they disappear into the Alaska wilderness — still has the power to send chills through the saltiest veterans.

Reigning Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Lance Mackey described what it feels like behind the sled: “People everywhere, loud. High-fiving me. Rooting me on. Just cheering for me.”

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No Agenda 180 – Media Corruption Now in 3D

#NoAgenda is one of thousands of informative and entertaining podcasts on the MEVIO Network.

THE SHOWNOTES

#180 No Agenda For Sunday March 7th 2010
Media Corruption Now in 3D

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

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Life On Terra – Columbia River Swim

Note: This Video is 26 minutes long.
Join Chris Swain for a thirteen-hundred mile swim down one of Americas greatest and most troubled rivers. Swain’s epic swim down the length of the Columbia reveals the river’s rich past, it’s fragile present, and it’s uncertain future. From pristine headwaters though a multitude of dams, inundated cultural sites, industrial polluters, and the hanford nuclear reservation – this award winning film tells the story of one man’s incredible endeavor to save a dying river.
Download Link:  “Source to Sea: The Columbia River Swim.” 26 minutes  .m4v format
[www.lifeonterra.com ] SPECIAL FEATURES / DETAILED EPISODE INFORMATION / TERRAPHILES COMMUNITY

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Nightline – Hoarders

I saw this in my Nightline podcast download at http://feeds.abcnews.com/abcnews/nightlinevideopodcast

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NASA - What's Up for March?

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Bright Saturn and a faint asteroid named Lutetia.  This month Saturn is at Opposition, which is when the sun is on one side of the Earth and Saturn is directly on the opposite side.

Saturn is brightest at Opposition. And it’s also as close to Earth as it ever gets in its orbit. You can view Saturn all night long now. It rises in the east at sunset and sets in the west at dawn.

If you face east in the late evening, you can see two planets near the distinctive constellation Leo. First, look nearly overhead. That reddish object you see up there is Mars. Closer to the horizon, the bright golden-hued object is Saturn. Saturn is well-placed for viewing from now through July.

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Elliot P Joslin, Diabetes Pioneer

#diabetes

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Iditarod 2010 starts at 12:30pm CST

Follow the 2010 Iditarod at www.iditarod.com

Iditarod champs face talented rookies

By KYLE HOPKINS (www.ADN.com)
khopkins@adn.com

As thousands of Iditarod fans watch Cim Smyth maneuver the streets of downtown Anchorage today, the Big Lake musher’s eyes will be on his dogs, scanning for the smallest of clues.

“Looking at their gaits really carefully to see who is happy and real sound and smooth, and who is maybe nursing an injury that I can’t really identify,” said Smyth, a 33-year-old veteran who finished fifth in last year’s race.

What he sees during the ceremonial start, an 11-mile trot to Campbell Airstrip, could decide his team’s chemistry for the rest of the 1,000-mile trek to Nome.

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