IOWA & ILLINOIS | 2A NATION & WORLD | 6B Jordan offers prisoner swap Decreasing clouds High 40° Low 19° Details, 6B Video gambling hits the jackpot Illinois made nearly $165M in tax revenue IS group releases new audio of hostage THE HAWK EYE 75¢ THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015 178th year — No. 202 Deflategate excuse may not be full of hot air Physicist with local roots works at university asked to research ball inflation. By CRAIG T. NEISES [email protected] B rian Metzger isn’t a highly paid football coach. But as a physicist at Columbia University in New York City, the Burlington native has what it takes to know the New England Patriots may be on to something. Blaming temperature variations as a defense in an alleged cheating scandal dubbed Deflategate might be more than merely hot air. “A case could be made,” said Metzger, an assistant professor of physics at Columbia. Metzger Patriots coaches, quarterback and even the team’s owner have denied seeking an advantage in the team’s AFC Championship thrashing of the Indianapolis Colts by deflating some footballs used in the Jan. 18 game to pressures less than league standards. Head coach Bill Belichick, in a press conference Saturday, cited temperature variations as a possible explanation for the low-pressure footballs. According to a report in the New York Times, lawyers representing the National Football League contacted the physics department at Metzger’s school for help with the science of their investigation. Metzger was not approached directly to assist, he said, but received an email forwarded by the department secretary to faculty members. However, it was his post about the request on Facebook that drew the media’s attention after friends started sharing it. In the post, which was cited in the Times, Metzger said the “physics faculty were asked to consult on ‘matters relating to gas physics and environmental impacts on inflated footballs.’ ” From a physics standpoint, Metzger said it should be expected balls inflated in a room-temperature environment will lose pressure when exposed to cold, and a 2 pounds per square inch drop might be in the range of a natural occurrence. “It seems reasonable to me,” he said. Off to the races The possibility, however, does not rule out a human role. Saying with any certainty, Metzger said, would require laboratory testing to replicate conditions relative to the balls’ handling the day of the game, including temperature and other factors. Metzger, 33, said Wednesday he doesn’t intend to contact the lawyers about participating in the testing and noted “they may be upset with me” for letting the cat out of the bag — or, put another way, the air out of their football. See Deflategate page 5A Timeline for ISP to open is unclear Official says a fix for faulty smoke control system will take months to complete. By BARBARA RODRIGUEZ Associated Press DES MOINES — There’s no clear timeline for when the long-delayed Iowa State Penitentiary will open, the head of Iowa’s corrections department said Wednesday. John Baldwin told House lawmakers on a government oversight committee that officials are studying a potential solution to a faulty smoke control system that’s held up the prison’s opening. The process of completing the fix requires a few months. Staff training at the new building in Fort Madison will take another few months. “Our goal is to get (the inmates) moved in as soon as possible,” Baldwin said. The $165.5 million prison was scheduled to open last March to house inmates at the old Iowa State Penitentiary, located a mile away. That prison, which turns 176 years old in April, remains open. See ISP page 5A Fuel tax bill moves forward Law potentially would increase tax 10 cents a gallon. Associated Press John Gaines/The Hawk Eye Top, Trystan Peak, 6, shows his excitement with winning his race to his mother, Kristina Peak, at the Cub Scout Pack 25 pinewood derby Tuesday at Asbury United Methodist Church in Burlington. Peak placed first in the Tiger Pack and second overall. Above left, Austin Fay, 8, reacts to the cars racing down the track. Austin placed first in the Bear Pack and third overall. Above right, the Mercer Family, from left, Keri, Michael, 12, Michael Jr., and Matthew, 8, watch the races. Matthew won first place in the Wolves Pack and first place overall. AG nominee defends immigration changes Republicans glad to see Holder leave the post. By ERICA WERNER and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON — Confronting skeptical Republicans, attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch pledged a new start with Congress and independence from President Barack Obama Wednesday, even as she defended the president’s unilateral protections for millions of immigrants in the country illegally. “If confirmed as attorney general, Iowa’s Oldest Newspaper 54 pages, seven sections Business City & Region I would be myself. I would be Loretta Lynch,” the nominee told her Senate confirmation hearing as Republicans showered criticism on the current occupant of the job, Eric Holder. They said Holder was contemptuous of Congress and too politically close to Obama and repeatedly demanded assurances Lynch would do things differently. “You’re not Eric Holder, are you?” Texas Republican John Cornyn, one of the current attorney general’s most persistent critics, asked at one point. “No, I’m not, sir,” Lynch responded with a smile. See Nominee page 5A 5A 3A Classifieds Corrections 2C 2A Dear Abby Deaths Grassley leads Senate panel while, Grassley reported live from the podium: The hearing was “moving right along,” Grassley tweeted just before lunch. “Is that against the rules?” he asked later with a grin. By LAURIE KELLMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON — Sen. Charles Grassley, the Senate’s most enthusiastic tweeter, is steering the venerable Judiciary Committee into a brave new world. The six-term Iowa Republican, 81, debuted as chairman Wednesday at the confirmation hearings on President Barack Obama’s pick for attorney general, Loretta Lynch. Mean- 5C 5B Editorial Happenings 4A 2C Grassley Iowa & Illinois Sports See Grassley page 5A 2A 1B TV listings Weekend 4C 1C DES MOINES — A bill to increase Iowa’s fuel tax to pay for road improvements could be introduced as early as next week, lawmakers said Wednesday. Sen. Tod Bowman, a Democrat from Maquoketa, and Rep. Joshua Byrnes, a Republican from Osage, said they are working on legislation increasing the tax, potentially by 10 cents a gallon. It would provide $215 million annually for the state’s network of bridges and roads, several of which are in disrepair. “I’ve never felt more optimistic about moving forward with the gas tax,” said Bowman to a group of county officials and business leaders gathered in Des Moines to lobby lawmakers on transportation issues. He noted the drop in gasoline prices, as well as Gov. Terry Branstad’s support for increasing dollars for roads. Iowa’s fuel tax is 22 cents a gallon, including fees. It hasn’t been raised since 1989. The lawmakers, who lead the transportation committees in each chamber, said they are working on ways to maintain the funding in future years. The revenue from a 10-cent tax increase is expected to decline as vehicles become more fuel efficient. Call 1-800-397-1708 for home delivery BURLINGTON, IOWA