(Radio Iowa) – Despite persistent flight staff shortages and fewer flights, Fourth of July holiday air travel is up, according to Triple-A-Iowa spokeswoman Meredith Mitts. “Our air travel volumes are actually expected to rise about 25% from last year,” Mitts says, “so this is the second-largest yearly increase in more than a decade.” Travelers have long been encouraged to “pack patience” and be flexible when flying, but thousands of delays and cancellations this year are testing their mettle. Still, Mitts says air travel in the U-S is almost back to pre-pandemic levels. Mitts says, “People are more comfortable traveling and able to feel comfortable taking airplanes and that’s really exciting as we’re looking forward into the summer holiday travel season.”

Despite gasoline prices being at or near record highs, motor vehicle travel for the holiday weekend is expected to be at the highest level on record. The Triple-A forecast predicts nearly 48-million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday, and 42-million will travel by motor vehicle. Iowa’s average price for gas is now $4.61 a gallon, up from $2.96 a year ago but well below the current national average of $4.84.

(Radio Iowa) – Filming in Iowa was supposed to start soon on the “Field of Dreams” T-V series, but the project has suffered a major league setback. Variety reports the Peacock network has dumped the show and the studio, Universal Television, is trying to shop it to other media outlets. The series was to be a prequel, based on the 1989 movie that was shot, in part, in Dyersville, where the baseball field surrounded by a corn field remains as a tourist attraction.

Governor Kim Reynolds awarded six-million dollars to Universal T-V for the show just days ago. Shooting was scheduled to begin in a few months in Polk, Boone, Mahaska and Clinton counties.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston, Thursday night, arrested a man on an assault charge. 39-year-old David William Fister, of Creston, was arrested at his residence for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st Degree. He was later released from the Union County Jail, on a $300 bond.

Des Moines, Iowa – An eastern Iowa family whose son died in an accident on a water ride in Altoona, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit associated with his death. The suit filed in state court by David and Sabrina Jaramillo, of Cedar Rapids and three of their children, alleges Adventureland Park failed to properly maintain and repair its rides.

The family, including 11-year old Michael Jaramillo, were on the Raging River ride at the park on July 3, 2021, when the raft carrying all six family members flipped over trapping them beneath the water. Michael Jaramillo drowned and other family members were injured.

The family seeks to recover monetary damages for negligence. An attorney for the park says safety has always been a priority and a number of extraordinarily unusual factors came together to cause the accident.