While there’s several thousand bicyclists pedaling across northern Iowa this week, Iowans can expect to see a big influx in motorcycle traffic in the next few weeks as the big Sturgis Festival is coming up. Twenty-five motorcyclists have died on Iowa’s roads so far this year and Rose White, spokeswoman for Triple-A, is offering a reminder. “With three to four months remaining in the riding season, we’re urging all motorists to stay alert and check twice for motorcycles before changing lanes, turning, backing up, or pulling into traffic,” White says. “Of course, avoid all distractions that take your mind and eyes off of the roadway.”

Strengthening the state’s texting-while-driving law may help to prevent crashes, as well. Iowa’s new primary texting law became effective July 1st. White reminds motorists to never tailgate a motorcyclist. Give them extra space as they may need to make sudden lane changes to avoid potholes or road debris. She says motorcyclists need to be cautious and courteous, too.    

“Riders should always consider wearing clothing that makes them stand out in traffic, such as a reflective vest,” White says. “We also encourage riders to take a basic rider course if they’re a new driver or an experienced rider course if they have several years of experience. Both provide excellent defensive driving skills.”

Even more two-wheelers will be on the road soon. “We’re reminding all motorists, with the upcoming Sturgis Rally in South Dakota being held August 4th through the 13th, we do anticipate we’ll see an increase in motorcycle traffic during those two weeks, the week before and following the Sturgis Rally,” White says. “Keep in mind, remember to share the road safely with all motorists, including motorcyclists.”

The 25 motorcycle deaths on Iowa roads this year is tracking much lower than last year at this time, as 60 motorcyclists were killed in Iowa during all of 2016.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have arrested a suspect in the Sioux City stabbing death of a Nebraska man. Sioux City television station KTIV reports that the 29-year-old suspect was found and taken into custody around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday in Sioux City. Online court records don’t show that he’s been formally charged.

Police say 36-year-old Vincent Walker was confronted late Sunday afternoon and then assaulted by several people. He died later at a Sioux City hospital. Authorities say Walker lived in Winnebago, Nebraska.

Two people were arrested on separate charges Wednesday, in Creston. Authorities say 26-year old James Hunt, of Corning Clay, AR, was arrested at around 9:42-p.m. in the 600 block of New York Avenue. Hunt was charged with Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

And, at around 2:45-p.m., Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 23-year old Michael Steven Cox, of Creston, for Theft in the 5th degree. Cox was being held in the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has taken to Twitter to offer a warning about embattled U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. President Trump lately has been tweeting about his disappointment in the man he picked to be attorney general. Trump’s complaint is that Sessions recused himself from the investigation of possible Trump campaign ties with Russia. Conservatives have rallied to defend Sessions, who was a leading advocate of tough immigration policies when he was a senator.

Now, Senator Grassley has tweeted that “Everybody in D.C. Shld b warned that the agenda for the judiciary Comm is set for rest of 2017.” Grassley is chairman of the committee and Grassley sets the schedule for hearings to consider Trump’s nominees for key government positions.

If Trump dumps Sessions and nominates someone else to be attorney general, Grassley has vowed that “no way” will there be a hearing this year for another attorney general nominee.

(Radio Iowa)

Today (Thursday), marks the first full-day of activities at the Cass County Fair, in Atlantic. The morning begins with breakfast at the Food Stand, with the KJAN crew serving up some awesome food. The Swine weigh-in takes place from 7:30-until 9:30-a.m.  Rabbit check-in is from 8-to 9:30-a.m., and the Poultry will be checked-in from 10-until 11-a.m.

Other scheduled activities include:

• Meat Goat weigh-in and Dairy check-in, 10:30-a.m. until Noon.
• Horse check-in & sheep weigh-in, from 4:30-to 5:30-p.m.
• 4-H exhibits open at 5-p.m.
• Little Miss & Little Mister contest 7-p.m.
• King and Queen Contest (on KJAN) at 7:30-p.m.
• Senior Recognition at 8-p.m.
• Outdoor movie at 8:45-p.m.

Senator Joni Ernst says taxpayers “shouldn’t cover the costs associated with gender reassignment surgery,” but Ernst says any qualified American should be able to serve in the military. President Trump has sent a series of tweets, announcing the U.S. military “will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the military.” Trump says transgender soldiers cause “disruption” and cloud the military’s focus on “decisive and overwhelming victory.”

Republican Joni Ernst is the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate. While Ernst says she, too, doesn’t think taxpayers should pay for soldiers to have gender reassignment surgery, Ernst would not bar transgender people from joining the military. Ernst says anyone who “can meet the physical training standards” and is willing “to defend our freedoms and way of life” should be allowed to serve.

The Associated Press reports Congressman Steve King is praising Trump for ensuring the military isn’t “experimenting” and allowing transgender individuals to become soldiers. Senator Chuck Grassley told a group of Iowa reporters Wednesday that he routinely defers to Ernst’s expertise on military matters, but Grassley says he hasn’t studied this issue. It’s unclear how many transgender soldiers are currently serving.

A report for the military estimates it could be about seven-thousand of the one-point-three million soldiers currently on active duty.

(Radio Iowa)

A teenager from Bussey, in southeastern Iowa’s Marion County, died Wednesday when the ATV he was riding struck a tree. The Iowa State Patrol says the 16-year old male was traveling southbound on a private trail inside the city limits of Bussey, when the 2015 4-wheeler he was operating, hit a tree. The impact caused the driver’s head to also strike the tree, causing severe injury. The teen, whose name was withheld, died at the scene.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The president of Briar Cliff University in Sioux City intends to leave his position at the end of the upcoming fall semester after serving less than two years. Hamid Shirvani said in a college news release Wednesday that the decision “is a result of a combination of family, personal and professional considerations.” The university board of trustees will begin its search in the next few months for a new president.

Shirvani began his Briar Cliff stay on June 1 last year, replacing Bev Wharton, who led the private Sioux City college for 15 years. Shirvani left a position as senior fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C., to join Briar Cliff.

The fall semester student count showed a student enrollment more than 1,300 students.

The State Patrol this week nabbed another “extreme speeder” on an Iowa interstate. A Trooper clocked a driver Tuesday at 125 miles an hour at one of the busiest interchanges in the state – just east of Des Moines. A photo posted by the Patrol to Facebook included a note that the vehicle was driving “at a whopping 60 mph ABOVE the posted speed limit.”

(Motorist’s speed at the top of the digital readout; cruiser distance from suspect vehicle in lower readout)

In recent months, the Patrol has made similar posts about extreme speeding. A driver who was clocked at 144 miles-an-hour on I-80 in eastern Iowa was issued a $560 ticket. Another motorist was clocked at 124 miles-an-hour on I-29 in western Iowa and was handed a ticket of $424.

(Radio Iowa)