(Radio Iowa) – Iowa may not be at the top of the list of cruise ship destinations — but hundreds of people will be visiting on Missippi River cruises this year. Steve Ahrens is the executive officer of the Riverfront Improvement Commission in Davenport, which greets the passengers during stops. “They are all over I have so much fun interacting with them,” he says, “here they are having sort of that Mark Twain-esque kind of experience plus right — and a little bit of that whole that Midwest, nice kind of hospitality that goes with it.”

The American Cruise Line has been traveling the Mississippi for 15 years, and its American Melody boat made its first stop along Davenport’s riverfront Sunday. The Viking Cruise Line is starting its first North American trips on the Mississippi River later this year. Ahrens says the cruises bring a wide variety of people to Iowa. “They are from all over this country, and many times international guests are aboard as well,” according to Ahrens. “And we’re told especially that will be the case with Viking when they start up in early August.” Ahrens says the stops are not long — but there are many things for the passengers to do — including specially crafted exhibits and stops such as the museum or art center.

“They want unique experiences, that we sometimes that the folks that live here take for granted, many others enjoy these immensely. They also enjoy something else we take for granted. And that is the majestic views of the Mississippi River,” he says. He says the size of the cruises varies — but the companies say they have great interest. “We go from like 170, I think, to 300. You know, as far as a number of passengers, and we’re told that they’re both in both cases, they’re already booking, you know, into through 2023 into 2024,” Ahrens says.

Aherns says the cruises start from different ports of call, including Dubuque, Hannibal, and St. Louis, and can go up to St. Paul.

(Radio Iowa) – Work will begin tonight (Monday) on the final portion of a long-awaited bridge that will benefit thousands of fans on football game days in Ames. The East Gateway Bridge over University Boulevard allows fans to cross the roadway to Jack Trice Stadium from the parking areas east of the stadium. John Harvey with Iowa State University’s facilities management team, says fans from all around can use the bridge.

Harvey says they will close the roadway to traffic and install a steel truss over the roadway connecting two towers. They will then install the bridge deck. He says there are other panels that will go on the bridge as well and they plan to have it all done by the season opener.

The project costs ten-million-dollar dollars, and will also benefit motorists who won’t have to stop for pedestrians crossing the roadway.

(Radio Iowa) – Crowds gathered in many cities over the past three days to protest the end of nationwide abortion rights. Kathleen Murrin, who attended a protest in Des Moines, says she’s heartbroken and furious.  “I had an ectopic pregnancy as my first pregnancy. That would be considered an abortion today. That just makes no sense to me. And I would not have a choice in that,” she said. “It’s my health care, my body. My doctor and I are the ones that did make that decision and should still be able to make that decision.”

Hundreds of protesters rallied in front of the governor’s mansion on Friday night. Lexi McKee Hemmingway spoke at a rally in Sioux City. She leads an abortion rights group in South Dakota, where abortion was banned immediately after the Supreme Court’s ruling. She says their mission has now changed. “It’s going to be getting people across state lines to receive the necessary, accessible health care, because abortion is health care,” she said.

An abortion rights protester near the courthouse in Cedar Rapids was injured Friday night when a pick-up drove through the pedestrian cross walk. Other protesters took photos of the license plate. Cedar Rapids police have interviewed the driver.

(Radio Iowa) – Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines and Republican Senator Joni Ernst voted for the bipartisan gun bill President Biden signed into law this weekend. The rest of Iowa’s congressional delegation opposed it.

Republican Congresswomen Ashley Hinson of Marion and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa as well as Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull opposed the bill, as did Senator Chuck Grassley. All expressed concern it does not provide adequate due process rights when it comes to confiscating guns from people considered a threat to themselves or others. Miller-Meeks specifically criticized including access to mental health records during background checks for gun buyers under the age of 21.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst says the law does not place new restrictions on law-abiding gun owners. Congresswoman Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says the bill will make schools safer, but doesn’t go far enough. Axne supports restoring the ban on assault weapons.

(Polk County, Iowa) – A man on a motorcycle died from injuries he suffered Saturday night, in Johnston. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling west on NW Beaver Avenue at around 10:21-p.m., at the same time a 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling east. When the SUV turned onto NW 70th Avenue, the driver, 25-year-old Makenna Kathleen Streff, of Polk City, failed to see the approaching cycle operated by 33-year-old Landon Mark Crabtree, of Knoxville. The Jeep struck the motorcycle during the turn.

Streff was not injured in the collision. Crabtree was transported by Johnston EMS to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, where he died. The crash remains under investigation.

(Bedford, Iowa) – The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Saturday said that on Friday, June 24, 2022, Deputies were requested by the Iowa Department of Human Services to come to a residence in the 800 block of State Street, in Bedford. In the home, Deputies and Agents with DHS located in plain view, drug paraphernalia. Deputies with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office executed a follow-up search warrant at the residence. Subsequent to the search warrant, 33-year-old Ashley Russell, of Bedford, was taken into custody and charged with felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition, possession of a controlled substance- marijuana, possession of controlled substance- methamphetamine, possession of prescription medicines and child endangerment.

Russell was being held in the Taylor County Jail on a $7,000 cash-only bond.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man known as “Meatball” was arrested early this (Sunday) Morning, in Red Oak. Red Oak Police say 28-year-old Jeremy Ray Dilocker, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 12:51-a.m., for Public Intoxication. He was arrested after officers saw the man urinating on a public sidewalk, at the corner of 3rd and Coolbaugh Streets. Dilocker was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular, weekly session on Tuesday, beginning at 8:30-a.m., in the Supervisor’s Courthouse Meeting Room. New Business on their agenda includes:

1. 1. Carbon Pipeline discussion and possible action

   2. Personnel handbook updates

   3. Claims payable on Wednesday, June 29, 2022

   4. Set the date for a public hearing on a revised Montgomery County Solar Ordinance

   5. Wind Turbine ordinance discussion

   6. Business Associate Agreement with Nishna Productions

   7. Discuss appointment of Jan Norris as County Representative to Red Oak Library Board and action as necessary

   8. Cubby’s Tobacco Permit Renewal

   9. Resolution No.22-22 Supporting State Recreational Trails Program

*Please note, this is a public meeting; however, it will be conducted via ZOOM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86185141628

Meeting ID: 861 8514 1628

Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 If you are calling in, Press *9 to raise your hand if you wish to speak.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two individuals were arrested on warrants recently.

The first arrest occurred on June 20th at 5:42 p.m. in Greenfield. Sheriff’s Officials arrested 25-year-old Luis David Penaloza Garcia of Omaha on a warrant covering multiple chargers. Penaloza Garcia was charged with Theft 1st Degree, Burglary 2nd Degree, Theft 2nd Degree, Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, Theft 5th Degree, No Valid Drivers License and Striking Fixtures Upon a Highway. He was booked into the Adair County Jail and his bond was set at $30,000 cash or surety.

The other arrest took place on June 22nd at 6:42 p.m. in Fontanelle. Fontanelle Police arrested 28-year-old Zakery Dean Sickles of Fontanelle on an Adair County Warrant for four counts of Lascivious Acts with a Child and four counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Abuse. He was booked into the Adair County Jail and his bond was set at $300,000 cash only.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater released details on some recent arrests in the county and one of those arrests followed an incident in Stuart.

On June 16th Stuart Police were called to 604 Southwest 4th Street at 9:34 p.m. for a male that had been locked out of his residence by his roommates. Upon arrival Officers spoke with 29-year-old Cody Pipkin of Stuart who stated he had been drinking at a bar in town and come home to being locked out of his residence. He said he had been having issues with his roommate the past several days and he just wanted his stuff out of the house. Officers advised he had a right to enter the residence but he told them he was going to have a friend come get him for the night and return later to get his things

Officers were notified about two and a half hours later that he was still at the residence and threatening to burn the house down and damage a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was parked at the residence. Officers found the Harley laying on its side and the alarm lights flashing with a strong smell of gasoline near the bike. A gas can was located near the bike and Pipkin admitted to kicking over the bike and dumping gas on it because he wanted his property out of the house. A THC smoking device was located under the house where Pipkin was standing when they arrived and they also discovered that Pipkin had defecated on the passenger side door of another vehicle belonging to the primary resident of the home. Pipkin admitted that the pipe was his and that he defecated on the vehicle.

Pipkin was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Harassment 3rd Degree, and Criminal Michief 4th Degree. He was booked into the Adair County Jail on $1,000 cash or surety bond.