It just occurred to me that the quote I was thinking of was that "All politics is local" not "All news is local".

Sorry for the confusion.

**

Meanwhile, the situation is Iowa has gotten worse:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080614/ap_on_re_us/midwest_flooding
Iowa's flooded Cedar River forces 20,000 to flee

Also, here's an excerpt from http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080614/NEWS/80614004

Flooding concern spreads; volunteers pour in
REGISTER STAFF REPORTS • June 14, 2008

Residents must evacuate; crews working to save property
"Any comparison to what happened in '93 is a fair one at this point," he said. "We're going to have to do anything we can to minimize the effects" so that the level of flooding is not as severe as it was 15 years ago.

He said residents of the area must leave because officials are not sure they can hold back the water. He didn't know how many hold-outs are in the area.

Public works employees were filling manholes with sandbags to keep sewers from backing up. The temporary berm extended from Holcomb to New York on Second Street. The area abuts North High School's baseball and softball fields.

Roger Less of the Army Corps of Engineers said the breach was 50 to 100 feet wide and worsening when it was discovered. The breach was next to the lagoon in Riverview Park.

"It's bad, but we're not sure how bad it is going to get," Less said.