DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of students, staffers and others have rallied in protest of racist notes and robocalls at Drake University in Des Moines. A police-estimated crowd of 3,500 cheered Wednesday when student speakers said racists aren’t welcome. Several people carried signs condemning the racist acts; others handed out blue buttons that read “Do Better.”

University officials say racist notes were left under the dorm doors of two minority students in the past week, warning them to leave. And officials report that about 250 Drake phones received 75-second robocalls Monday that said African-Americans should be “expelled” to Africa.

A university spokesman says police reports will be filed about the racist notes. Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek says the person or people responsible could be charged with harassment. Any students involved also could face university discipline.

MAURICE, Iowa (AP) — Residents and officials have gathered to celebrate the opening of a new airport in northwest Iowa that’s expected to fuel area business and development. The grand opening of the $32 million Sioux County Regional Airport on Wednesday marked the culmination of a nearly 20-year effort. It features a 5,500-foot  runway that can handle business jets. There’s also a parallel taxiway, a terminal, several hangars, fueling systems, safety approach lighting, a weather station and other features.

The airport replaces airports in Orange City and Sioux Center that were limited by their shorter runway lengths. It sits about a mile from Maurice. Construction began in 2015 at a 493-acre site that was previously farmland. The project was funded by a mix of federal, state and local funding and private sources.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Wednesday, provided the School Board with an update on capital projects and district needs for the future. Barber said the “catwalk” between the Middle School and Washington Elementary is finally finished after being closed due to an accident earlier this year, involving a truck. With regard to capitol projects, the first priority is to continue with the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) replacement cycle. The tentative plan calls for replacing two, large units above the high school gym and a medium-size unit for the office. The price would fall between $55-thousand and $130-thousand dollars, so cost estimates, according to Barber, would be a requirement.

He said also, Transportation Director Dave Eckles has applied for a diesel replacement grant for one of the District’s buses. The bus fleet, he says, is in good shape right now, so they can wait another year or so for their next purchase. Additional grant dollars may be available through Volkswagen in the future to purchase a bus. An audit by a roofing company and the district’s insurance company, Barber says, and an analysis of the district’s roofs show they are in good condition, but administrators feel that it will be important to begin a cycle of having a roof project each year. That he said, can wait for another year. Barber said also, the high school track needs to be repaired.

In future meetings, District Technology Director Roger Warne will be presenting to the Board his thoughts on a technology plan that includes achieving goals for implementation and costs associated with, a three-year cycle. Barber said also, they are looking at options to continue the transition to LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting on a continuous cycle until all the lights are converted to the energy and cost-saving lights.

And finally, Superintendent Barber said he has inquired about the cost of replacing the parking lots, with the high school parking lot a priority, since it continues to deteriorate. He says the best approach appears to be to remove and replace the surface, to the base can be improved that would ensure a long-lasting, concrete parking lot. Discussion about those projects are expected to begin in December. Those talks would include the current budget for PPEL (The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy), and SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education, and the projected costs to each of the Capitol Projects.

Two people were arrested in Creston recently. Authorities say 26-year old Jonathan Dakotah Davor Vert was arrested a little before 3-a.m. today (Thursday), for Domestic Assault. Vert was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending an appearance before the Magistrate. And, at around 3:35-p.m. Wednesday, 29-year old Steven Mathew Behlers, of Creston, was arrested for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Behlers was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — The two Iowans who represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate will have new leadership positions in 2019.

Republican Chuck Grassley was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980, making him the Republican with the longest tenure there now. Because of that seniority, Grassley will become the Senate President Pro Tempore in January. It means he will be third in line of succession to the presidency, behind the vice president and the speaker of the U.S. House.

Joni Ernst, Iowa’s other senator, has been elected vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference. She now ranks sixth on the leadership roster for Senate Republicans. She’s the first woman to be elected to Senate G-O-P leadership since 2010.

Senator GRASSLEY’S staff says it’s been 100 years since an Iowan served as Senate President Pro Tempore. Albert Cummins had been a three-term governor before he was appointed in 1909 by the General Assembly to serve as a U.S. Senator. Cummins served in the U.S. Senate until his death in 1926.

One person was transported to the hospital to be checked for injuries following a chain-reaction collision in Creston, Wednesday afternoon. According to Creston Police, 36-year old Joel Juarez-Lopez was driving a 2006 Hyundai Tucson northbound on N. Sumner Street at around 4-p.m., and braked to yield for another vehicle. 67-year old Linda Ibbotson, of Creston, was driving a 2003 Dodge and also slowed. A 1994 Ford pickup driven by 54-year old Douglas Brightwell, of Creston, was traveling behind the Dodge and struck it from behind.

The impact caused what Police said was a “Pinball-like accident,” where Ibbotson’s vehicle was shoved into the Juarez-Lopz Hyundai. Brightwell was cited for Failure to Stop in an Assured Clear Distance. He complained of pain following the collision, and was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. Ibbotson also complained of pain, but refused medical transport. Damage from the crash amounted to $11,000.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Minnesota woman who authorities say sent 696 text messages to a northern Iowa man in April has taken a plea deal. Winnebago County District Court records say 34-year-old Katie Christian, of Emmons, Minnesota, filed a written guilty plea Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of stalking. Prosecutors agreed to recommend suspended jail time and two years of probation in return for her plea. The records don’t list a sentencing date.

A criminal complaint says Christian also made 10 phone calls and went to the man’s Lake Mills house three times in an attempt to make contact with him or his daughter.

(Radio Iowa) — Whatever the weather, Iowa’s highways will be humming with heavy traffic next weekend as people head off to be with loved ones and to share a Thanksgiving feast. Nick Jarmusz, spokesman for Triple-A-Iowa, says they’re forecasting a near-five percent boost in travel for the long holiday weekend, what promises to be the busiest Thanksgiving since 2005.

“Building off of what’s really been a big year for travel, throughout the summer and now heading into these year-end holidays,” Jarmusz says, “about 54.3 million Americans are going to be taking a trip of 50 miles or more from home at some point between Wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend.”

Gasoline prices have dipped substantially in recent weeks, which is welcome news before Iowans fill up their tanks.  “Gas prices are certainly a nice bonus for the folks who are going to be traveling, especially the 48.5 million that are going to be traveling by car, but that’s not really the reason that they’re making the trip,” Jarmusz says. “Americans love to go home for the holidays. They want to visit family and friends and we know if they have the means to do it, they will.”

Consumers have plenty for which to be thankful this holiday season, including higher wages, more disposable income and rising levels of household wealth, Jarmusz says. Plus, those lower prices at the pump.”In Iowa right now, we’re looking at a statewide price for unleaded averaging at $2.51,” Jarmusz says. “That’s down 34-cents from this time a month ago and it’s only three-cents off from where we were at this time last year.”

In most cases, he says the best days to travel will be Thanksgiving Day, Friday or Saturday. Drivers will likely see increased travel times on Sunday, Jarmusz says, as most holiday travelers will be making their way home after the long weekend.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa police say they’ve arrested a man in the death of a woman found not breathing at a central Iowa home nearly two months ago. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says in a news release that 32-year-old Zachery Bassett was arrested Wednesday in St. Joseph, Missouri, on a warrant charging him with first-degree murder in the death of 50-year-old Andrea Sokolowski. Investigators say Bassett called Webster City police on Sept. 22 to report that his girlfriend was not breathing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines resident has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for breaking into the man’s home and stabbing him to death. Television station KCCI reports that 20-year-old Magai Anai Kur was sentenced Wednesday. He was convicted in September of robbery and first-degree murder in the September 2017 death of 77-year-old Robert Howe.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman who shared a nearly $700 million Powerball lottery jackpot has donated $500,000 to a veterans group. Lerynne West announced on the Ellen DeGeneres Show broadcast Wednesday that she gave the money to the Travis Mills Foundation. The Maine-based organization offers programs for disabled veterans. West says it’s important “that we never forget the sacrifices our soldiers and families make for our country.” Robert Bailey of New York City bought the other winning ticket.