(Radio Iowa) – State officials say INITIAL data about summer tourism in Iowa indicates the number of travelers is down slightly from last year, but visitors are coming from a greater distance. Jessica O’Riley is the communications manager for Travel Iowa. “Last year we saw a lot of shorter, in-state road trips,” O’Riley says. “The average distance traveled for a trip this year is just 233 miles compared to 140 miles last year. We’re also seeing hotel occupancies higher this year.” Air traffic represents Iowans traveling elsewhere well as out-of-stater’s visiting Iowa.

Passenger traffic at the airport in Des Moines is up 60 percent and passenger numbers at The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids is up 50 percent over last year. O’Riley says the only surrounding state with a higher tourism recovery rate from 2019 — the year before the pandemic — is South Dakota. Tourism in Jasper County in July doubled this year compared to last, due to the Indy Car races at the Iowa Speedway in Newton. However, major Iowa tourism events like the State Fair, the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa and the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville are not included in the initial statewide tourism estimate from the Travel Iowa office.

“These are early summer numbers. There’s still summer left,” O’Riley says. “We’ve got a big holiday coming up here in a couple of weeks with Labor. I just saw a study where 53 million Americans plan to travel Labor Day weekend.” That would be about the same number who traveled last year. O’Riley says for the most part events and establishments that serve tourists have reopened after pandemic-related closures, but there are still staffing issues.

“We have told people since the pandemic started that if they’re going to travel to pack your patience,” O’Riley says. “It may take you a little bit longer at the restaurant. Your check-in may not go as quickly and as long as you plan for those into your itinerary, then you will have a much more enjoyable experience.”

Hotel rates are trending higher in Iowa and elsewhere and some restaurants have raised prices. O’Riley says the initial data state officials have reviewed from summer travel and tourism in Iowa indicates overall spending is four-point-six percent higher than 2019.

(Radio Iowa) – State regulators today (Thursday) approved the sale of the Hard Rock Casino in Sioux City to the company in Kentucky which runs the Kentucky Derby. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko says the approval came after the Commission got a report on the Churchill Downs Incorporated background check.

“The commission has been reviewing other documents, financing other paperwork, that was part of this transaction and subsequently approve this transaction,” he says. Churchill Downs announced in February the proposal to purchase the Hard Rock from Peninsula Pacific Entertainment for nearly two-point-five billion dollars. Ohorilko says Virginia regulators have approved the sale because of the involvement of Peninsula, and approval is still needed from New York.

“So when the New York gaming Association ultimately reviews it, and if they were to approve it, then that is when this transaction would become final. And so that’s maybe expected to occur this fall,” according to Ohorilko. Ohorilko says the Racing and Gaming Commission does not expect any big differences in operation when the sale is completed. “There were a number of questions regarding what to expect under new ownership. But Churchill Downs has indicated that they do not expect any changes in business as usual, in terms of the management team that is there,” Ohorilko says.

The Hard Rock name will also stay. “That was something that was part of this deal. And so that’s something that will remain in place, which means that the Hard Rock brand will remain in terms of all of the concerts that go along with that, that’s something that is expected,” he says. Peninsula Pacific Entertainment took over when the Sioux City casino in 2014 when it was moved from a riverboat to the land — and Ohorilko says it has been a success story.

“In terms of what can happen when there is a significant investment, strong amenities, and just that facility has truly become kind of a destination facility. And it does draw from a wider area than what maybe we see at some other facilities,” Ohorilko says. Churchill Downs also owns racetracks and an online wagering company.

Deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday, arrested 35-year-old Amy Noelle Hudson, of Clarinda. Hudson was taken into custody on a Page County Warrant for Failure to Appear on original charges of Public Intoxication and Interference with Official Acts. Hudson was arrested at her residence in Clarinda.

Amy. N. Hudson (Page County S/O photo)

Hudson was transported to the Page County Jail and held on a $300 bond, pending future court appearances.

(Radio Iowa) – Creighton University Economist, Ernie Goss, says student loan forgiveness ends up being a windfall for colleges and universities — but he’s not in favor of them. “As a member of the academic establishment, if you will, I’m not very positive about that. I’m on the conservative side, meaning if you borrow to pay it back,” Goss says.

Goss says one problem is schools end up raising tuition and he says it has negative impacts on what is sometimes thought of as income inequality. ” In other words, you’ll get more income inequality because, again, you’re taking taxpayer money that comes from the broad range of taxpayers and it goes to those who have borrowed heavily in some cases, and their college graduates may have them and now they’re getting a win a windfall,” he says. “So in that respect is as also not good. From an economic standpoint, either.” Those who support loan forgiveness say the recipients will spend the money they would have paid on the loans on other things and also help cut inflation.

“Well, you could alternatively fly across the U-S and a helicopter and throw money out the side of the helicopter, and that would be spent as well. The problem with that of course is, that it will continue to inflation,” according to Goss. “Now, I don’t think it’ll have much of an impact on inflation. But if it did, the amount it does, will have a positive impact or increase inflationary pressures.” Goss conducts the Midwest Economic survey of purchasing managers, and he also surveys rural bankers. He says inflation has been a big issue in keeping the economy from a faster recovery. Goss doesn’t believe the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act will help — nor do rural bankers.

“Nine out of ten of bankers think it’s not going to have the desired impact, in other words, it is probably going to increase inflationary pressures. At the same time, it probably will increase the deficit,” he says. Goss doesn’t think the plan will recover but the tax revenues the administration has touted. “Nor will the stock buybacks — in other words — the idea of companies that do stock buybacks, there’s a one percent tax on that. You probably won’t get the stock buybacks you think you’re gonna get, so the revenues are not there,” Goss says. “So all in all, again it will probably contribute to a little bit higher inflation. And that’s what the Congressional Budget Office thought as well.”

Goss’s survey that came out earlier this month showed the Midwest economy has been moving along pretty well despite issues with inflation, shortages of workers, and still some supply chain disruptions and slowdowns.

Police in Red Oak have arrested a woman on a 1st Offense Trespass charge. Authorities say 51-year-old Sally Mae Petersen, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 9:45-a.m. today (Thursday), at a residence in the 500 block of E. Prospect Street. Petersen was being held in Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Webster County District Court Judge Angela Doyle declared a mistrial Wednesday in the murder trial of 31-year-old Mark Russell until he can be evaluated to see if he is competent to stand trial. Russell is accused of beating 45-year-old Angela McLeod to death with a golf club in a Fort Dodge home in January of 2020 following a fight. McLeod’s daughter-in-law, Amber McLeod, says this extends what has already been an agonizing time of waiting.

She says Russell has used every avenue he could to delay the trial.

McCleod says the family is thankful for the help from county attorney and others for getting through the constant delays.