(Radio Iowa) – Former northeast Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer is now working in the Biden Administration. Finkenauer’s title is Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues. A news release indicates she will be the State Department’s principal public representative on youth-related programs and issues. Finkenauer worked on Joe Biden’s 2008 presidential campaign and, as a member of congress, publicly endorsed Biden before the 2020 Iowa Caucuses.

Finkenauer served four years in the state legislature before being elected to one term in the U.S. House in 2018. She lost a 2020 campaign for a second term and unsuccessfully sought the Iowa Democratic Party’s U.S. Senate nomination this spring.

December 2, 2022 (DES MOINES) – At yesterday’s (Thursday’s) meeting of the Enhance Iowa Board in Des Moines, the Board awarded a Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant totaling $219,840 to a community park in Davenport. The project is expected to cost nearly $1.1-million dollars.

The proposed MLK Park is being designed as an outdoor venue for residents and tourists to learn and engage in the region’s rich artistic, creative, cultural and ethnic history. This park project will display 16 educational panels about the history of Davenport as it relates to persons of color.

The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, 104 CAT grants have been awarded by the board, totaling $33,503,023. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for January 5, 2023.

(Creston, Iowa) – Authorities in Union County say two separate, non-injury accidents happened Thursday night. At around 9:34-p.m., a 2018 Chevy Cruze driven by 18-year-old Lucas M. Lynch, of Creston, was traveling south on Cedar Street near Carpenter Street, in Creston, when the vehicle swerved into the other lane, and struck a legally parked and unoccupied 2013 KIA Optima, registered to a woman from Lenox. Lynch told authorities the accident happened when he thought he saw a car parked on the road in front of him, and took evasive action to avoid hitting it. During the collision, the airbags on Cruz’ vehicle deployed, and the vehicle became disabled. The parked car sustained heavy front end damage. Both vehicles were towed away. The dollar amount of damage from the accident amounted to $15,000. Lynch was issued a citation for Reckless Driving.

The second accident occurred at around 7:18-p.m., in Creston, when a 2012 Chevy Cruze driven by 19-year-old Audrey Isabella Simone Harris, of Creston, was backing out of a driveway, in an attempt to re-enter N. Oak Street, southbound. Her car struck an unoccupied 2011 Mitsubishi Galant. Harris was cited for Failure to have Insurance. Damage from the collision amounted to an estimated $4,000 altogether.

(Creston, Iowa) – Two women were arrested on separate charges, Thursday, in Creston. According to Creston Police, 32-year-old Brooke Marie Carter, of Creston, was arrested Thursday morning and charged with Driving While Barred. She was taken to Union County Jail, and later posted bond.

And, Thursday afternoon, Creston Police arrested 51-year-old Robin Elizabeth Provot, of Creston, on a charge of Disorderly Conduct. She was taken to Adams Co Jail, and was being held on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.