Libertarian Senate candidate in Iowa killed in plane crash

Posted on by

DUBUQUE, Iowa, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Dr. Doug Butzier, the Libertarian candidate for Senate in Iowa, was killed when his small plane crashed on a flight from Ankeny, Iowa, to Dubuque.

Butzier was at the controls of the Piper PA-46 and was alone in the plane, a friend said.

The 59-year-old doctor had been an emergency room physician in Dubuque for the past 17 years. He was a member of the board of Mercy Medical Center and president of the hospital's medical staff.

Butzier, an advocate of smaller government, was selected as the Libertarian candidate in Iowa. Decmocratic Rep. Bruce Braley and Joni Ernst, the Republican candidate, are involved in a contentious fight for the seat now held by Tom Harkin, a Democrat, and Butzier said few people were listening to other candidates.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the crash occurred at 11 p.m. Monday about a mile from Dubuque Regional Airport. Heavy rain was falling at the time.

"I was just sitting in there watching TV and all that I heard was an airplane going vrrrmmm -- boom! Blew up, came up and seen big ole flames on the neighbor's yard," Jeremy Becker told KCRG-TV.

2014 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

See more here:

Libertarian Senate candidate in Iowa killed in plane crash

Iowan Libertarian candidate for US Senate dies in plane crash (+video)

Posted on by

A doctor who was running as a Libertariancandidatefor U.S. Senate has died in aplanecrash.

The Dubuque County Sheriff's Office says Dr. Douglas Butzier was the pilot of theplanethatcrashedaround 11 p.m. Monday near Dubuque Regional Airport. He was the sole occupant of the aircraft.

Butzier worked at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque. Jennifer Faley, a hospital spokeswoman, confirms Butzier was running for U.S. Senate against Democratic U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley and Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford says theplanetook off from Ankeny Regional Airport about an hour before thecrash. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate thecrash.

The party'scandidatefor governor, Dr. Lee Hieb, says Butzier just last weekend had flown her and several Libertarian Partycandidatesaround the state to campaign.

Hieb, an orthopedic surgeon, says she talked medicine with Butzier, a Dubuque emergency room surgeon, during some of their campaign events. He told her he became a Libertarian after studying economics for a Master of Business Administration about seven years ago.

She says "Iowa and the cause of individual liberty are significantly diminished by his passing."

See the original post here:

Iowan Libertarian candidate for US Senate dies in plane crash (+video)

Iowan Libertarian candidate for US Senate dies in plane crash

Posted on by

A doctor who was running as a Libertariancandidatefor U.S. Senate has died in aplanecrash.

The Dubuque County Sheriff's Office says Dr. Douglas Butzier was the pilot of theplanethatcrashedaround 11 p.m. Monday near Dubuque Regional Airport. He was the sole occupant of the aircraft.

Butzier worked at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque. Jennifer Faley, a hospital spokeswoman, confirms Butzier was running for U.S. Senate against Democratic U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley and Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford says theplanetook off from Ankeny Regional Airport about an hour before thecrash. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate thecrash.

The party'scandidatefor governor, Dr. Lee Hieb, says Butzier just last weekend had flown her and several Libertarian Partycandidatesaround the state to campaign.

Hieb, an orthopedic surgeon, says she talked medicine with Butzier, a Dubuque emergency room surgeon, during some of their campaign events. He told her he became a Libertarian after studying economics for a Master of Business Administration about seven years ago.

She says "Iowa and the cause of individual liberty are significantly diminished by his passing."

Here is the original post:

Iowan Libertarian candidate for US Senate dies in plane crash

Libertarian candidate for Iowa Senate killed in crash

Posted on by

Published October 14, 2014

In this photo provided by Mercy Medical Center is Dr. Douglas Butzier. The Dubuque, Iowa, doctor who was running as a Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, died in a plane crash Monday near Dubuque Regional Airport, authorities said Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014.(AP)

The Libertarian candidate running in the hotly contested Iowa Senate race died Monday night in a plane crash.

Authorities say the candidate, Dr. Douglas Butzier, was piloting the single-engine plane when it crashed at about 11 p.m. local time. The Dubuque County Sheriff's Office says the plane crashed upon approaching the Dubuque Regional Airport.

A brief statement on the candidate's campaign website announced his death. "He will be sorely missed by family, his coworkers and friends," the statement says.

The 59-year-old Butzier was running as a third-party candidate in the Senate race otherwise dominated by Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley and Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst. Most polling had shown Butzier with support in the single digits (one survey in September showed him at 2 percentage points).

Braley and Ernst are virtually tied in the polls, and it's unclear what impact Butzier had. Both candidates put out statements on Tuesday mourning his death.

Im shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden and tragic death, Braley said. I have enormous respect for anyone who puts their name forward as a candidate for public office. (Wife) Carolyn and I send our thoughts and prayers to Dr. Butziers wife and family during this difficult time.

"I am deeply saddened to learn the tragic news about Dr. Doug Butzier, Ernst said. I appreciated Doug's willingness to contribute to this important election. In addition to representing Libertarians in this campaign, Doug served his community as an ER doctor and medical leader. (Husband) Gail and I will keep Doug's family in our thoughts and prayers as they mourn their untimely loss."

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford said the plane took off from Ankeny Regional Airport about an hour before the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

Read more from the original source:

Libertarian candidate for Iowa Senate killed in crash

Libertarian party candidate can't force his way into governor debate

Posted on by

Adrian Wyllie, the Libertarian Party candidate for governor, failed to persuade a federal judge that he had a right to appear in Wednesday night's debate between governor candidates Charlie Crist and Rick Scott.

U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn, who is based in Fort Lauderdale, said in a ruling late Tuesday afternoon that Wyllie did not have a right to appear in the debate, which originates from the Broward College campus in Davie.

A central tenet of Libertarian Party philosophy is keeping government involvement in private decisions to a minimum. Cohn found that the two debate sponsors, the business group Leadership Florida, and the Florida Press Association, are private organizations.

Though the judge said Broward College, "a public community college," is a host of the debate, he rejected Wyllie's contention that excluding him from the debate there warranted denial of equal protection or prior restraint on protected speech that would violate his constitutional rights.

The college, Cohn wrote, "exercised no control over which candidates may appear in the debate" and the event is a "nonpublic forum."

He wrote that Wyllie didn't have a reason to expect that he could appear in the debate because he didn't meet the threshold of getting at least 15 percent support in a public opinion poll before the debate. The judge said the criteria were clear when Leadership Florida and the Press Association announced the debate in August 2013.

The latest poll, released Tuesday by CNN found the race tied with 44 percent for Democrat Crist and incumbent Republican Scott, with Wyllie at 9 percent.

Cohn based his ruling on written arguments filed by both sides. He wrote that a hearing was unnecessary because the essential facts were not in dispute and there was a "need to rule promptly on this time-sensitive" matter.

The debate is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday.

It can be seen online at SunSentinel.com/governor debate and on television on WFOR-Ch. 4, in the Miami-Fort-Lauderdale Market, WFTV-Ch. 9 in the Orlando market, WPBF-Ch. 25 in the West Palm Beach market.

Here is the original post:

Libertarian party candidate can't force his way into governor debate

Hurricane Gonzalo gains strength in Caribbean as it nears Virgin Islands

Posted on by

Published October 14, 2014

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua Hurricane Gonzalo formed in the Caribbean and was spinning early Tuesday on course to move out over open ocean after buffeting Antigua and nearby islands with heavy rain and dangerous wind.

Gonzalo passed near Antigua as a tropical storm, tearing roofs from people's homes and knocking down trees, then gathered enough force near the tiny territories of St. Martin and Anguilla to be reclassified as a hurricane.

"It's intensified at a pretty brisk pace since yesterday and we expect it to strengthen," said Michael Brennan, a senior hurricane specialist tracking the system from the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The center of the strengthening hurricane was on track to pass northeast of the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. It was not expected to reach the U.S. mainland but forecasters said it could develop into a major hurricane over open ocean and pose a threat to Bermuda later in the week.

"It's certainly something that people in Bermuda will want to pay attention to," Brennan said.

As of 11 p.m. EDT, the center of Gonzalo was about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north-northwest of Anguilla. It had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph) and was moving toward the northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).

Airports, government offices and school were shuttered in the British Virgin Islands as strengthening Gonzalo steamed toward the tiny territory of roughly 30,000 residents. Premier Orlando Smith called on people to secure their homes and businesses.

But Merlyn Brown, a resident of the British territory's 8-square -mile (20-square-kilometer) island of Virgin Gorda, said she had lived through many storms and hurricanes through the years and wasn't doing much to prepare for Gonzalo other than latching her windows and hoping for the best.

"I've been through a lot of these things so I just take them as then come. I don't get too worked up about the storms," said Brown, who works at a local gas station where more concerned residents were stocking up on fuel.

Originally posted here:

Hurricane Gonzalo gains strength in Caribbean as it nears Virgin Islands

Hungary relieved to edge out Faroe Islands

Posted on by

dm Szalai's first-half goal gives Hungary victory in Torshavn Captain Balzs Dzsudzsk relieved to leave with points in "difficult match" Lars Olsen "satisfied" with Faroe Islands display if not result Next games: Greece v Faroe Islands, Hungary v Finland (14 November)

Balzs Dzsudzsk, Hungary captainWe are happy with the result today, but not with our performance. It was a difficult match to play in. I'm happy with four points from our last two games and if we beat Finland at home we are in a good position.

Northern Ireland have surprised everyone in this group and I think it will be very interesting right to the last kick. I believe we can do it.

Lars Olsen, Faroe Islands coach I'm very satisfied with the performance. Of course, I'm not satisfied with the result. The better team lost today and that is the first time while I have been in the Faroe Islands that I have been able to say that.

I'm very pleased on behalf of the players that they made it work today. We have been working on playing the ball daring to play the ball through the centre and upfield. We succeeded fantastically with that today.

Unfortunately, we make some mistakes from time to time, and as I have said before, at this level that will be punished. In addition to the goal, which came from a corner, there is another high ball we don't clear properly, but that was actually the only thing we gave Hungary in addition to shots from distance. That's a fantastic performance just a couple of days after a really tough match in Northern Ireland.

Frdi Benjaminsen, Faroe Islands captain We have improved from match to match but still today was not enough for us to earn a point. We had good support from our fans. It is disappointing for us but we keep the faith and we believe it will happen soon. We had some young players in the team today and they did well. We're happy about that.

See original here:

Hungary relieved to edge out Faroe Islands

Clinical Laboratory Services Market By Test (Human & Tumor Genetics, Clinical Chemistry), By Service Provider …

Posted on by

San Francisco, California (PRWEB) October 14, 2014

Global clinical laboratory services market is expected to reach USD 261.42 billion by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. The demand for early diagnosis in order to render effective therapeutic interventions is on a constant rise. Wide range of diagnostic tests encompassed in the clinical laboratory services segment coupled with increasing incidence rates of infectious and chronic diseases is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. In addition, presence of untapped growth opportunities and the rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure in emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil are expected to offer growth opportunities for industry participants.

View full report with TOC at http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/clinical-laboratory-services-market

Clinical chemistry based services dominated the overall market, accounting for over 45.0% of the revenue share in 2013, owing to the fact that these tests are a part of the initial disease diagnostic process and thus are carried out in large volumes.

Request free sample of this report at http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/clinical-laboratory-services-market/request

Further key findings from the study suggest:

Browse all reports of this category at http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/clinical-diagnostics

For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global clinical laboratory services market on the basis of test type, service provider and region:

Browse all upcoming reports by Grand View Research at http://www.grandviewresearch.com/ongoing-reports

About Grand View Research

Excerpt from:

Clinical Laboratory Services Market By Test (Human & Tumor Genetics, Clinical Chemistry), By Service Provider ...

Giant gene banks take on disease

Posted on by

Joe Raedle/Getty

Vast stores of DNA samples and data have been produced by the increasing pace of genetic sequencing.

Early last year, three researchers set out to create one genetic data set to rule them all. The trio wanted to assemble the worlds most comprehensive catalogue of human genetic variation, a single reference database that would be useful to researchers hunting rare disease-causing genetic variants.

Unlike past big data projects, which have involved large groups of scientists, this one deliberately kept itself small, deploying just five analysts. Nearly two years in, it has identified about 50million genetic variants points at which one persons DNA differs from anothers in whole-genome sequence data collected by 23other research collaborations. The group, called the Haplotype Reference Consortium, will unveil its database in San Diego, California, on 20October, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.

Geneticists have not always been so willing to share data. But that seems to be changing. Its been surprisingly easy to bring all these data sets together, says Jonathan Marchini, a statistical geneticist at the University of Oxford, UK, and one of the consortiums leaders. There is a lot of goodwill between the people in the field; they all understand the benefits of doing this and have worked hard to make their data available.

In the past five years, there has been an explosion in rates of sequencing human genomes thanks to the falling cost of the technology. At the same time, geneticists have realized that linking genes to diseases and traits will require much bigger sample sizes than any one research centre can assemble.

It was once assumed that common diseases and traits could be traced to a few common genetic variants that would be relatively easy to find. But that has turned out not to be the case. It is now clear that thousands of different variants each play a small part in determining a persons height or risk of schizophrenia, for example. And finding those thousands of variants means looking at a daunting number of people. At the same time, the increased pace of genetic sequencing has made it possible to collect enough genomes to uncover those variants.

Here are a bunch of data sets that individually cost millions of dollars to generate, and you have people willing to make that data available to a shared resource, which is amazing, says geneticist Daniel MacArthur of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

MacArthur is part of the Exome Aggregation Consortium, another attempt to create a supersized library of human genetic variation. On 20October, MacArthur and his colleagues plan to unveil their own public database containing the protein-coding portions, or exomes, of 63,000 human genomes originally gathered by other researchers. We can say from looking at a very large cohort of peoplethis is what the distribution of rare variation looks like, says MacArthur. And that is very powerful.

MacArthur is developing tools to comb the data for mutations that disable genes. Only some of these loss-of-function mutations cause harm; predicting which are pathogenic will require knowing more about which ones regularly occur in healthy people.

See more here:

Giant gene banks take on disease