(Ames, Iowa) – Thousands of visitors flocked to Iowa this past week for RAGBRAI. This annual event shines a spotlight on bicycling as recreation, but there are also many Iowans who rely on bicycling to get to where they need to go every day.

The Iowa DOT says, regardless of the reason for bicycles being on the road, many people misunderstand the laws and rules as it relates to all of us sharing the road together. The Iowa Bicycle Coalition has put together a website (https://www.iowabicyclecoalition.org/iowa-bicycle-laws/) to help bicyclists understand Iowa law as it relates to two-wheeled transportation.

Here’s a little earworm from Queen – https://youtu.be/KwvWtZl2ICY

So far this year in Iowa, 202 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of eight since last Friday. In Iowa in 2022, there were 338 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdfDOT

(Davenport, Iowa) – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Long Beach, California man was sentenced July 21st (2023) to 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine resulting in the death of a victim. According to public court documents, 61-year-old Ray Bustamante conspired with Dr. John Robert Muriello and Eric Hojka, both of Iowa City, and others, to obtain and distribute methamphetamine. An investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service revealed that since early 2020, Bustamante mailed packages of methamphetamine to people he met online. In March 2021, a parcel, mailed by Bustamante, was intercepted by Postal Inspectors and found to contain approximately 137 grams of “ice” methamphetamine.

In a separate investigation in May 2021, first responders were dispatched to Hojka’s Iowa City apartment for a report of an unconscious victim, who was later pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed the victim ingested methamphetamine which caused his death. It was later determined that the methamphetamine ingested by the victim originated from Bustamante and was sent to Dr. John Robert Muriello and Eric Hojka in Iowa City for distribution.

After his prison term, Bustamante was ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Iowa City Police Department.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Legislation passed last Thursday night through the House Financial Services Committee, serves to protect investment saving accounts from politically-motivated investing that reduce returns for Iowans. Iowa 3rd District Republican Representative Zach Nunn says “Inflation and rising costs have made it harder and harder to save for retirement, which is why I pushed for this legislation to maximize Iowans’ retirements savings. Investment decisions should be made to maximize returns, not reward companies for their policies or political views. This legislation ensures profits are driving decisions.” The bill now heads to the House Floor for further discussion and action.

Under current law, investment managers may make investment decisions based on a company’s policies or political views, rather than maximizing returns for the original investor. In fact, just two consulting companies are making these decisions on 97% of the shareholder votes nationwide, and corporations and asset managers accept this advice without even reviewing the recommendations through a method called robo-voting. Often, these two consulting companies have financial or political conflicts of interest that are never disclosed to the original investor. Accounts managed this way see an average of 14% decrease in returns.

The Protecting Retirees’ Savings Act would eliminate these conflicts of interest for financial managers by:

Requiring the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue final rules prohibiting the use of robo-voting with respect to votes related to proxy or consent solicitation
Prohibiting institutional investors from outsourcing voting decisions with respect to votes related to proxy
Removing requirements to vote, so no one would be required to cast votes related to proxy
The Protecting Retirees’ Savings Act was passed as part of the Protecting Americans’ Retirement Savings from Politics Act.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report two people were arrested on separate charges, Thursday. At around 10:15-a.m., 37-year-old Bridget Gabrielle Carroll, of Afton, was arrested in the 300 Block of N. Elm Street, in Creston. She was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st Offense. Carroll was taken to Union County Jail, and later posted at $1,000 bond.

And, at around 12:10-p.m., Thursday, 44-year-old Crystal Marie Mack, of Creston, was arrested at Howard and Maple Streets. She was charged with Driving While Revoked. Mack was taken to Union County Jail and later released on a $1,000 bond.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Rose Theater in Audubon reports an anonymous donor is sponsoring free admission this weekend, for anyone wanting to see the movie “Sound of Freedom.” All weekend show times are included.

The Sound of Freedom is a 2023 American action film starring Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, and Bill Camp. It’s about former government agent Bill Ballard, who embarks on a mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Colombia.

The plot centers around Ballard’s Operation Underground Railroad, a non-profit, n anti-sex trafficking organization.

The film was released on July 4th.

(Radio Iowa) – New drugs which may help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease may soon be available to Iowans. The F-D-A recently approved the drug Leqembi (lah-KEM-bee). Dr. Lynn Rankin, a clinical neurologist at UnityPoint Health in Des Moines, says researchers have waited three decades for a treatment that could impact the progression of Alzheimer’s, but this new treatment can be intensive. Rankin calls Leqembi “a little messy” as it requires an I-V every two weeks, plus M-R-Is multiple times during treatment.

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly is seeking F-D-A approval for its experimental Alzheimer’s drug, Donanemab. Rankin says the new drugs may be more of a challenge to distribute in Iowa because the state has a shortage of neurologists. The Iowa chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association estimates there are 66,000 Iowans living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, and another 98,000 Iowans are their caregivers.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests took place from July 8th through the 22nd.

• On July 22nd: Deputies in Adams County arrested 38-year-old Bihn Duc Nguyen, of Missouri, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond in the Adams County Jail; 28-year-old Adam Bauman, of Cumberland, was arrested on the 22nd, for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000; And, 32-year-old Brandon Sanders, of Pennsylvania, was arrested Saturday (7/22), for Public Intoxication, with bond set at $300.
• On July 12th, Adams County Deputies arrested 47-year-old Shayne Magnuson, of Carbon, for Driving While Suspended. He was released from the scene on a Summons to appear in court.
• On the 8th: 27-year-old Montana Smith, of Bethany, MO., was arrested in Adams County, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $1,300; And, 19-year-old Kale Haffner, of Corning, was arrested at around 1:20-a.m. on July 8th, for OWI/1st offense and Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. His bond was set at $2,000.