Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division Administrator Stephen Larson ruled that the city’s PAULA ratio ordinance is inconsistent with the state’s requirements of liquor licensees. Larson’s decision affirms an earlier ruling by Administrative Law Judge Margaret LaMarche, who overturned the Iowa City City Council’s liquor-license denial to 3rd Base, 113 E. College St., and Et Cetera, which has since closed. Councilors have denied other bars, including the Summit and Sports Column, under the ordinance, which requires denial for a ratio of PAULAs-per-visit higher than 1.0.

In his order, Larson writes that city officials did not prove employees at 3rd Base, often called the Fieldhouse, knew underage consumption was occurring or that they “failed to exercise reasonable care to ascertain a patron consuming alcoholic beverages was of leave age.” He noted no information was presented about the “circumstances surrounding” the 143 PAULAs issued at 3rd Base in 12 months.

“Thus, it is unknown whether the patrons cited were merely holding or actually consuming alcohol in the presence of the Licensee or employees,” Larson wrote. He also found that the city did not have a clear definition of a police “visit.”

Check Wednesday’s Daily Iowan for more on Larson’s order.

The city clerk’s office validated 1,688 new signatures on an anti-21-ordinance petition organized by Yes to Entertaining Students Safely, City Clerk Marian Karr said Thursday. After petitioners’ first attempt at submitting the document showed invalid signatures, they had 15 days to produce 1,227 extra registered voters. YESS submitted 3,300 additional signatures, 51 percent of which were valid, Karr said.

The Iowa City City Council has 30 days to either repeal the 21-ordinance or place the measure to a public vote in November. The council is set to discuss the issue at its July 12 meeting.

If a referendum occurs and passes, Karr said, bars would return to a 19-and-older entry age effective within 10 days.

Check Friday’s Daily Iowan for more 21-ordinance coverage.

— by Nora Heaton

Police charged nine students at Currier and three at Mayflower in related busts Monday night.

Must charges were drug related — 10 for marijuana and three for prescription drugs — but they also included criminal mischief and possession of burglar’s tools. The charges range from serious misdemeanors to Class D felonies, which are punishable by up to five years in prison.

A bust of this magnitude —18 officers were involved — is unusual for the UI dorms, said Assistant Vice President for UI police Chuck Green. Though he guessed many of those involved were somehow related, Green said he didn’t know for certain what those connections are and police would likely continue discovering them throughout the investigation.

Green said he wasn’t aware Tuesday morning what initiated the investigation, which was done in cooperation with the Johnson County Joint Drug Task-force, which UI police are a member of. Investigators also worked with University Housing.

Though Iowa City police conducted their own drug bust on Lucas Street last night, officials say the two were unrelated.

Check back to dailyiowan.com throughout the day for more updates.

Abe Satterfield, 21, was set to go to trial on Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting a female Hawkeye athlete in Hillcrest in October 2007. Instead, Satterfield has pleaded guilty to assault with intent to inflict serious injury, an aggravated misdemeanor and will be sentenced on July 23.

With the plea, Satterfield faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison and will be required to pay a fine between $625 and $6,250. Satterfield may be subjected to a five year no-contact order with the accuser.

In addition, Satterfield has agreed to testify against his former teammate Cedric Everson, 20, who was accused of second-degree sexual abuse in connection with the same incident. Everson’s trial is set for July 12.

In entering his guilty plea, Satterfield admitted he “acted with the intent to cause serious mental anguish” to the victim and “my actions were insulting or offensive.”

Satterfield signed the admission in Pennsylvania, where he plays football for Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Assistant Johnson County Attorney Anne Lahey said the agreement was simply a product of “negotiations.”

“We obviously thought it was a consideration,” Lahey said of the part of the agreement that requires Satterfield to testify against Everson. “We checked with the victim, and she was OK with it.”

Satterfield’s defense attorney, Alfredo Parrish of Des Moines, said these particular cases involve a lot of investigation during which facts need to be “worked out” in order to get the case resolved.

”It’s been a very difficult process for [Satterfield] and his family,” Parrish added. “He wishes he could have stayed at Iowa and with Coach Ferentz.” Satterfield was dismissed from the Hawkeye football team in 2007.

The Daily Iowan will continue coverage for this developing story on Monday.

Abe Satterfield, 21, is accused of raping a female Hawkeye athlete in fall 2007 at Hillcrest. Another former Hawkeye football player, Cedric Everson, 20, was also accused with second-degree sexual abuse in connection with the incident.

Satterfield’s trial, which has been delayed numerous times, was set to begin Monday. Instead, a sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 23.

Although both Iowa City and Lincoln lack 21-ordinances, almost no one under 21 frequents Lincoln’s downtown bar scene.

Police, city officials, bartenders, managers and owners agree: The cost of admitting underage people is just too great. And University of Nebraska students say most of those underage don’t even try.

“You put yourself at such a risk if you’re not 21 and over,” said Rick Vannice, a manager at Woody’s Pub. He said the dimly lit joint caters primarily to young professionals. “You don’t know who has been drinking before they got there. The liabilities of it are just absurd. We don’t want those problems.”

Vannice said he would rather be less busy and have responsible drinkers. “For me, it’s just not sound business,” he said.
Bars that serve minors can be fined, potentially losing their liquor licenses, said Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady. The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission oversees those with the privilege to serve, holding hearings and responding with warnings, suspensions, and possible revocations when complaints arise.

“The consequences are really to the liquor licensee more than they are to the underage drinker,” he said. “It’s a big risk for them.”

But Casady said he doesn’t have many complaints with Lincoln bars. Most already effectively limit entry to those who aren’t of age.

However the longtime cochairman of the city’s coalition to reduce high-risk drinking said other cities might need to consider imposing restrictions to keep underage drinkers out.

“My impression is always that good management trumps law, but sometimes it takes changing the law if you have an unhealthy environment that has sprung up where people are not paying attention and not being held accountable,” he said.
— Danny Valentine

Corso is one of 750 individuals from a pool of more than 10,000 applicants chosen to receive a pair of tickets to see the president in Iowa City on Thursday. The UI junior said Tuesday night he used craigslist to find a buyer for the ticket. They settled on a price of $50. Corso said he also considered trading the ticket for a Playstation3 game.

Ticket recipients were notified on Tuesday night. Almost immediately, twitter and facebook began to buzz with students and community members rejoicing or complaining about whether they’d received tickets or not.

Brian Nelson, another UI student selected to receive tickets, plans to sell both of his admits. As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, Nelson said he’s received 10 offers; the highest so far was $80 for the pair, but he expected the price to rise even further.

“I have no interest in seeing him,” Nelson said.

Corso, though, is happy for the opportunity.

“I’m very excited to see him; he’s a good public speaker. It should be an exciting thing.”

Obama will speak at the Field House on Thursday afternoon. Democratic sources say he’ll discuss the recently passed health-care bill as well as outline his agenda for other social issues.

UPDATE: Tickets to the event have a disclaimer that states they should not be sold, according to the White House.

— Adam B Sullivan

The public will have access to the Field House starting at 11 a.m. and the event will start at 1 p.m., according to a press release from White House officials.

In a statement, officials recognized Iowa City as an integral part of the Democrats’ health-care agenda.

“President Obama first announced his health care plan in Iowa City in May 2007, launching a grassroots campaign for reform that led directly to the legislation passed this week,” the statement said.

Attendants must register in advance on the White House webpage.

Attending the event? Join the discussion!

— Adam B Sullivan

Iowa City is unique for the Obama administration: In 2007, then-Candidate Obama outlined his health-care vision in downtown Iowa City. Eastern Iowa also helped the president capture Iowa in the 2008 caucus season.

Other White House officials confirmed the trip, but said details are not yet available.

— Adam B Sullivan

— by Nicole Karlis