The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 1

FOWL PLAY7 FABIIILV'S SUCK GOME lite Des Moines family suspects someone stole its unusual pet. Metro Iowa, Page 1 The Newspaper Iowa Depends Upon DesMoinesRegister.MRiice 50 Cents Saturday, January 13, 2007 A st IOWA'S NEW GOVERNOR 8 ML? ffllM TO Cru 7 In his inaugural address, Culver challenges residents to take charge of future -r-. '(( v'-- iVr I RODNEY WHITE THE REGISTER Gov. Chet Culver listens to singer Effie Burt with his children, John and Clare, and his wife, Mari, after taking the oath of office and delivering his inaugural address on Friday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. "We who serve must remember to respect the will of Iowans," he said.

"They have spoken, and they expect results." State needs to lead the nation in renewable energy, he says MT.u,. fl' Culver's place in history Chet Culver became the 40th governor in Iowa's history on Friday and only the fourth governor since 1969. Find out how his inaugural address compared to Tom Vilsack's. Page 10A. Culver kids steal the show The inauguration of Chet Culver offered some of the first images of the children we'll watch grow up over the next four years.

Claire and brother John didn't make much of a fuss during the cermony and climbed up into their dad's lap when they got the chance. Inauguration showcases Iowa Dozens of Iowans took part in Chet Culver's official inauguration on Friday at Wells Fargo Auditorium, including former American Idol contestant Megan Bobo and students from Waverly. Read more stories from the inauguration on Page 11A. Analysis: Good start for Culver In today's Opinion pages, find analysis of Chet Culver's agenda: Register columnist David Yepsen writes state Democrats may finally have their own version of Terry Brandstad. Read the Register's editorial, which breaks down Culver's speech.

Obervations from the scene at the inauguration. By THOMAS BEAUMONT REGISTER STAFF WRITER Iowans should expect their state to lead an energy revolution, an effort that could unite rural and urban Iowa, Chet Culver said Friday after taking the oath of office as Iowa's governor. Culver became the first Democrat governor with a Democrat-controlled Legislature since 1965, bringing along an agenda to spend millions to accelerate the state's burgeoning renewable fuel industry. "With the eyes of the world upon us, we must prepare for the next-generation energy economy. And let's do it in Iowa," the former secretary of state told 4,000 supporters and state officials at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Although Culver asked state lawmakers to cooperate across political lines, he accepted the mandate handed to him in November, when voters in Iowa as they did nationally chose Democrats over Republicans. "Together, we will continue to move this great state forward. However, to achieve this, we who serve must remember to respect the will of Iowans. They have spoken, and they expect results," he said. Culver is the first Democrat elected to succeed a governor in his party in 70 years.

Gov. Tom Vilsack did not seek a third term in November. See INAUGURAL, Page 11A JOHN GAPS HITHE REGISTER The new governor used his inaugural address to say the state needs to accelerate its growing renewable fuels industry so it can lead the nation. COMING SUNDAY Advisers urge state panel to bless hospitals' relocations to W.D.M. FORECAST HIGH LOW 25 17 Chance of snow, rain jy-j3 tonight.

JJ Page 8B FOR DELIVERY CALL: (515) 284-8311 (800) 365-4692 A GANNETT NEWSPAPER Coovngri! 200? Des Mdnes Iowa Health-Des Moines and Mercy Medical Center want the council to confirm their plans are exempt from review. The faces of Wells Fargo Wells Fargo's broad economic impact in Iowa includes 12,900 jobs in the state. Just what do those people do? Pictured at left is Pat Crawford. PAGE 1A Marine's mother learns to carry on Her son was the first lowan to die in the Iraq war, and she was dealt more hard blows after that. But Marilyn Korthaus Riley can find a reason to smile.

PAGE 1A In the past, the council has expressed skepticism of the need for suburban hospitals. However, Mercy Medical Center and Iowa Health-Des Moines now plan to sidestep the council by using an exemption that allows hospital companies to close existing hospitals and replace them with new facilities in the same county without having to go through the Iowa Health See HOSPITALS, Page 14A Re gister and Tf ibuie Company By TONY LEYS REGISTER STAFF WRITER State administrators and lawyers recommended Friday that the Iowa Health Facilities Council give the green light to controversial plans to close two Des Moines hospitals and replace them with new hospitals in West Des Moines. The council, made up of five Iowans appointed by the governor, is scheduled to consider the matter Tuesday. The issue probably will end up in court if the council agrees with its advisers' recommendation. The council reviews most large medical projects to determine if they would be economical.

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