(Radio Iowa) – What was billed as the state’s first-ever cryptocurrency summit was hosted in Sioux City Monday by the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. Bitcoin Foundation chairman Brock Pierce met with leaders of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota to discuss the multi-TRILLION dollar bitcoin industry. Pierce says Wyoming has already passed 19 laws regarding cryptocurrency and he talks with a lot of states about the issue.

“I’ve been spending time with legislators in Alaska, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Florida, all over the place, and that’s part of why I am here,” Pierce says, “is to make sure these three states understand A — what is happening, what is this all about what does it means? And to hopefully provide them with knowledge of what the opportunity is here and how that could benefit the states.” He says while some are still unsure of bitcoin — the newness has worn off and the number of investors has surged.

“This thing is going mainstream right now. There are hundreds of millions of people now who have cryptocurrency — probably ten percent of the population of the United States. And when bitcoin hits a hundred thousand dollars, a majority of the world’s billionaires will have made their money from bitcoin. Kind of a big deal,” Pierce says.

Pierce got his start in videogaming and when they became networked like World of Warcraft, he started a company to mine the virtual currency. He is considered one of the foremost national authorities on cryptocurrency and is a member of Forbes’ list of the richest in crypto.

(Radio Iowa) – At least four Iowa counties are now calling themselves Second Amendment “sanctuaries,” but there’s also at least one county where the leaders say they will -not- be going that route. Dan Campidilli, of Webster City, is chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors and says the panel reached a decision on this sanctuary fad. “We don’t feel there’s any need to take action,” Campidilli says. “From our understanding, it’s largely symbolic. It’s just a gesture. There’s no teeth behind it.

The Drake Constitutional Law Center says it’s not legally binding.” In some counties, the sanctuary resolution aims to keep law enforcement from enforcing state or federal laws which may be viewed as infringing on gun rights. Hamilton County leaders say there’s no need for such measures.

Campidilli says, “We don’t feel, at this time, that it would have an impact or there would be any need to put any resolution in place that basically amounts to nothing, in my opinion.” The Hamilton County board is supportive of the Second Amendment, he says, but there’s no practical reason to declare the county a sanctuary as it’s just an attempt to scare gun owners.

“We went through a similar situation when Barack Obama was elected president. I still have my guns at home,” Campidilli says. “I feel that it’s just an extension of the election.” The four sanctuary counties in Iowa are: Cedar, Hardin, Jasper and Madison.

Officials with The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, Tuesday, announced four women will be inducted into the 2021 Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame inductees. The 2021 Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame honorees include Donna Reed, from Denison. Reed was an actress, Academy Award Winner, Advocate for Peace. Donna Reed is celebrated for her successful career in entertainment, and as a trailblazer for women in television, as well as a humanitarian who advocated for social justice and world peace. Posthumous Award (January 27, 1921-January 14, 1986).

Actress Donna Reed

The other inductees are:

• Dr. Roxann Marie Ryan, Ph.D. (Cresco, IA): Former Iowa Commissioner of Public Safety, Assistant Iowa Attorney General, Educator & Scholar.  Dr. Ryan is noted for her vast contributions in academia, groundbreaking work in public service, and celebrated leadership among students, colleagues, and citizens across the country.
• Cornelia Clark (Grinnell, IA):  Nature Photographer, Academic Contributor, Book Illustrator.  Cornelia Clark’s photographic legacy appeared in children’s books, scientific journals, newspapers, science magazines and encyclopedias all throughout the nation. Posthumous Award (1884-1936)
• Jan Mitchell (Des Moines, IA):  Educator, 1997 Iowa Teacher of the Year, 2019 Iowa Latino Hall of Fame Robert D Ray Award for Equity and Justice recipient. Over the course of her career, Jan Mitchell has been instrumental in assisting the education and social mobilization of hundreds of Iowa’s Latina students, championing women’s rights, and prioritizing service-led compassion into her work with the community.
  To highlight women’s heritage and recognize their important contributions to society, the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women established the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 1975. Each subsequent year, the Commission and the Iowa Department of Human Rights welcome four women into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame, paying tribute to them and setting them forth as role models for others.

As of 2021, 188 women will have been inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame. For more information about the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame, visit the Iowa Department of Human Rights’ website on the Office on the Status of Women. In lieu of an in-person ceremony, the Commission will honor inductees in a virtual ceremony.  Details and dates of this ceremony will be announced later this month.

Atlantic Police report 10 arrests took place from July 20th through August 2nd. Most recently:

• On Monday (8/2), 24-year-old Andrew Malloy, of Audubon, was arrested on an Audubon County warrant for Violation of Probation.
• Last Saturday, 57-year-old Rodney Hansen, of Irwin, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense.
• On Friday, 42-year-old Christopher Knight, of Atlantic, was arrested on an Audubon County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault.
• On July 28th, 29-year-old Stephen Root, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order.
• There were three arrests in Atlantic on July 23rd: 40-year-old David Thomas, of Atlantic, was arrested (and subsequently cited) for Disorderly Conduct, and then released; 29-year-old Anthony Asay, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault; and, 24-year-old Brittany Ruhr, of Griswold, was arrested for Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness.
• On the 22nd, 20-year-old Rachael Stanley and 33-year-old James Erickson, both of Atlantic, were arrested on charges of Disorderly Conduct (Fighting/Violent Behavior).
• And, on July 20th, 26-year-old Phillip Reed Thompson, Jr., of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense.

With the exception of David Thomas (who was cited and released at the scene), and Phillip Thompson, Jr., each of the other persons were booked into the Cass County Jail and later released. Thompson remained in the Cass County Jail as of today (Tuesday).

Page County Sheriff’s Deputies, Monday, arrested a Council Bluffs man at the Pottawattamie County Jail. Authorities say 25-year-old Dylan Elwood Taylor was arrested on Page County Warrants for Violation of Probation, stemming from original charges of Theft 3rd degree & Eluding, as well as another warrant for Violation of Probation from an original charge of Driving while License Barred – Habitual Offender.

Dylan Elwood Taylor (Photo courtesy Page County S/O)

Taylor was transported to the Page County Jail where he was being held on $10,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.