The community of Guthrie Center, with a population of just over 1,560 people (according to the latest numbers), will swell by about 32-percent at the end of July, when two events converge upon the city. According to the Guthrie Center Times, officials learned late last month, that RAGBRAI, with its estimated 10-thousand riders, will be rolling through the town situated half-way between Harlan and Perry, on July 22nd. Less than 4 days later, Guthrie Center will host the annual two-day River Ruckus country music festival, which will bring more than 30,000 people to the community.Last year’s Ruckus brought more than 20,000 people to town.

The paper reports Ruckus promoter Grant Sheeder had originally scheduled to have his 60-foot concert stage trucked into town to begin construction on Monday of the concert week. However, learning RAGBRAI would clog all roads through town, he recently rescheduled the trucks’ arrival time for Sunday, July 21st, instead.

The acts for the River Ruckus, which features some of the biggest names in country music include:
Friday, July 26: Casey Donahew Band, Chris Cagle, and Big and Rich.
Saturday, July 27: Granger Smith, Josh Thompson, Gretchen Wilson, and Hank Williams, Jr.

A threat from G-O-P strategist Karl Rove makes it more likely rather than less likely that Republican Congressman Steve King will run for the U.S. Senate. Rove has vowed to spend millions in primaries to defeat ultra-conservative candidates, as Rove contends candidates like King cannot win a General Election. King says no one is going to bully him out of running for the U.S. Senate. “This is a decision for Iowans, not someone who happens to have a checkbook,” King told Radio Iowa. King sent an email to supporters on Thursday, saying he was “under attack” from a “crusade” led by “Karl Rove and his army.”

King asked his own supporters to make a campaign donation, to “show Rove he cannot decide (King’s) political future.”  “We’re going to have to have a battle in the court of public opinion until it’s clear that Iowans will make the decision on their nominee for the United States Senate and that will set a precedent for the rest of the country,” King said. “It’s that important.” King isn’t yet ready to officially declare himself a candidate for the Senate, however.

“It’s gotten closer each day, but I wouldn’t want to imply that the decision is made. It’s not,” King said. “It will be made by a thorough analysis of county-by-county, and all of the resources necessary to run a race of this magnitude.” King spoke with Radio Iowa by phone late Thursday afternoon. He was at Camden Yard in Baltimore, attending a Heritage Foundation retreat. Steve Forbes, the two-time presidential candidate, was the keynote speaker.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voter fraud cases against several Iowans could be in trouble if a district court judge rules Iowa’s voter registration form is illegal. The attorney for a Council Bluffs man charged with election misconduct says the voter registration form has smaller type at the bottom where the person signing certifies citizenship. State law requires the print on the form to be uniform throughout.

Attorney David Richter says Pottawattamie County prosecutors stipulated at a hearing Monday that the type differs. He expects a judge to find the form illegal. If the judge believes that justifies dismissal of charges against Richter’s client, Albert Harte-Maxwell, prosecution in similar cases could be in trouble. Five other people are charged with election misconduct for registering to vote without U.S. citizenship, a felony in Iowa.

Authorities in Adams County responding to a dispute call in Corning Thursday, arrested two people on assault charges. Taken into custody at the residence in the 1000 block of 6th Street, was  53-year old Denny Moore and 56-year old Luann Stevenson, both of Corning. Moore and Stevenson were charged with Domestic Assault, a Simple Misdemeanor. The pair were transported to the Adams County Jail, where they were being held pending appearance before the magistrate. Their bonds were set at $300 each.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Wednesday, of 38-year old Roger James Wilson. Wilson, who is from Atlantic, was taken into custody on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver and an additional charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. The man was being held in the Cass County Jail on $5000 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is making the public aware of a new twist on an old scam that’s going around. Sheriff Darby McLaren says his office has received a report of an automated call telling about the negative effects of a prescription drug. The voice gives you the option to press “1” to be taken off the call list, and when you do, the automated operator requests your social security number, date of birth, and name. The Sheriff says if you receive such a call, simply hang up. Do not give your information to the caller, regardless of whether is is a human or computer.