Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa historian who crisscrosses the state on his retrofitted bus museum is now pursuing an Independent bid for the U.S. Senate. More attention has been focused on four Democrats seeking the nomination to face Grassley, who has spent 36 years in the Senate. But Michael Luick-Thrams, a 53-year-old Mason City resident, said he’s the right person to bring new ideas to Washington that will help Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Landowners have filed two lawsuits in northwest Iowa in an attempt to block construction of a $3.8 billion oil pipeline. The Des Moines Register says the landowners are trying to keep the pipeline company from being able to use eminent domain powers to secure access to their land for the project. Construction of the Dakota Access pipeline had already begun in North Dakota, South Dakota and Illinois but challenges remain in Iowa. The pipeline would carry a half-million barrels of oil a day.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A zoo in Iowa is expecting a new and rare addition in the fall: an eastern black rhinoceros. Ayana and Kiano, eastern black rhinos at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, are expecting a baby in late October or early November. Experts say Ayana’s pregnancy is the first confirmed among the eastern black rhino zoo population in almost two years, marking a major turning point in the species’ decadeslong decline.

MOVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Heath DeStigter watched the school bus drive six blocks from Woodbury Central School to drop off students at their homes. The physical education teacher wondered, “Why aren’t they walking home? It’s beautiful out!” DeStigter and other members of Moville’s Safe Routes to School/Complete Streets Coalition, which formed in 2014, learned some parents weren’t letting their kids walk or bike to school because they didn’t feel it was safe.

A judge in western Iowa, Friday, set July 26th as the date for a jury trial in the case of a Pottawattamie County teen charged in connection with a fatal accident near the Tri-Center High School. Online court records show Judge James Heckerman also set an arraignment date of June 20th for 18-year old Kael Karagianis.

The man faces a charge of vehicular homicide for the March 21st rollover accident that claimed the life of 14-year old Gage Williams. Karagianis has plead not-guilty and is currently free on bond.

Authorities say Williams and another teen were riding in the bed of the truck driven by Karagianis, when he allegedly intentionally swerved and hit the brake to trigger a reaction from the two boys. The pickup went out of control rolled over at least once, ejecting the passengers in the bed of the truck.

Williams later died in a Council Bluffs hospital. Karagianis and two other passengers in the truck, were injured.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce’ Image Committee has awarded Andrew and Ashton Koehlmoos of 207 5th Street with the Community Improvement Award. The award recognizes the successful efforts to improve a property in the Atlantic Area.

Pictured: Heidi Hinman, Gene Fischer, Ashton & Andrew Koehlmoos, Mayor Dave Jones, Rich Perry, Gerald Brink and Ouida Hargens

Officials say Andrew and Ashton have done a beautiful job updating thier property. They have worked very hard to update the landscape, repaint the entire house and they have future plans to re-finish the porch.

Ouida Hargens, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, said “The Community Improvement Award is given to a businesses and residents that takes pride in making Atlantic a welcoming and beautiful community by continuing to improve its appearance.

If you would like to nominate a business or community member for a Community Improvement Award please contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce: 712-243-3017 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa historian who crisscrosses the state on a bus converted into a museum is pursuing an independent bid for U.S. Senate, arguing his nonpartisan approach offers a needed alternative to longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley.

More attention has been focused on four Democrats seeking the nomination to face Grassley, who has spent 36 years in the Senate. But Michael Luick-Thrams, a 53-year-old Mason City resident, says he’s the right person to bring new ideas to Washington that will help Iowa.

Luick-Thrams, who grew up on his family’s farm in Iowa and received his Ph.D. in modern European history in Berlin, says he’s focused on invigorating Iowa’s rural areas, which have seen decades of declining population. Supporters say they admire his ability to look at issues without being blinded by party ideology.

The Iowa G-O-P held its state convention Saturday, with key Republican office-holders signalling the party’s continuing shift toward its presumptive presidential nominee. Senator Joni Ernst did not say Donald Trump’s name, but she addressed the “Never Trump” movement and told the crowd the country needs a Republican in the White House.

Ernst said “I have heard a number of folks say: ‘I will not support this candidate.’ ‘I will not support that candidate.’ ‘Never this person.’ ‘Never that person. But I tell you what, folks. We’ve got to come together, because you know what my motto is going to be this year? Never Hillary! Never!”

Governor Terry Branstad called Clinton — the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee — the “ultimate insider.” He said “We need to unite. We need to support Donald Trump and his choice for vice president because he will make America great again.” A majority of delegates at the G-O-P event were Ted Cruz supporters. Republican Congressman Steve King backed Cruz and during his remarks King directly mentioned the “division” within the G-O-P.

He said “I am working with the Trump campaign to put together as many pieces of our values and belief system as we can,” generating applause, “and if we can get people around Donald Trump that reflect our values, that we can work with, I want to get to a place where in Cleveland I can stand up and say: ‘I’m confident that he will work with you and he’ll work with congress and that we can put our government back on the rails again.”

Senator Chuck Grassley earned a standing ovation from the crowd by promising he’ll continue to block President Obama’s nominee from filling the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Grassley did ont mention Trump, but he told the crowd electing Clinton would ensure a “third term” for Obama policies. Grassley said “Maybe makes the difference about whether or not we’re going to continue to enjoy the consetitutional democracy that you have.” Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann says ‘bruises” within the party are healing.

“We’re never going to have 100 percent unity,” Kaufmann aid. “We didn’t have unity for Ronald Reagan in 1980. That was a long, long process as well. We are a lot further ahead than I thought we would be at this point.” According to Kaufmann, Republicans are coming around to the idea that Trump is “one heck of a lot better” than Clinton.
Sixty-eight-year-old Tom Hill of Fairfax is a retired union member who has attended 11 Iowa DEMOCRATIC Party state conventions.

“I changed over my party to Republican because I liked what Trump had to say, because there’s some damn change needed and he’s going to give it,” Hill says. Hill isn’t happy that so many Ted Cruz backers from Iowa have been elected as delegates to the Republican National Convention. “They snow-stormed whole this thing all the way through,” Hill says. “…They didn’t give trump his fair share of delegates. They shafted him.” However, all those Cruz backers will NOT be able to vote for Cruz at the Repubkican National Convention.

New Iowa G-O-P rules spell out how the 30 delegates at the convention MUST vote, based on the outcome of the Iowa Caucuses. That means Cruz will get eight delegate votes from Iowa and Trump will get seven. Marco Rubio, who finished third in Iowa, will also get seven. Ben Carson, the fourth place finisher, will get three. Then
Jeb Bush, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul and John Kasich will each get one delegate vote from Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

In an update to our earlier report, authorities say one person is in custody following an altercation that led to shots fired early Sunday morning, in Adair. Following an investigation, 21-year old Keith Franklin, of Florissant, Missouri, was arrested on charges of Intimidation With a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Reckless Use of a Firearm, Disorderly Conduct, and Public Intoxication.

Keith Franklin

His arrest followed an investigation into fight in progress that took place at around 1:33-a.m. at 607 Stuart Street, in Adair. Authorities say alcohol was involved in the disturbance. Two men identified as Keith Franklin and Shawn Conn were asked to leave the home, but they refused. After police were called, both men left the home, with two shots being fired soon after. One of the shots was directed toward the residence, the other was fired into the air down the street.

Both men were arrested at around 2:05-a.m.  Shell casings from the gun were found behind the residence and Deputies found two shell casings and one bullet still intact that was rejected from the firearm.

Keith Franklin is being held in the Adair County Jail on $10,000 bond. Conn was released and no charges filed.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Deputies from Cass, Audubon, Guthrie and Shelby Counties. And the Iowa State Patrol.

A woman from Central Iowa was arrested Saturday evening in Adams County for driving under the influence. Sheriff’s officials say deputies arrested 60-year old Karla Colleen Kuhn of Grimes, following a traffic stop at Highway 148 and 220th Street, in Corning. Her vehicle was pulled over after Adams County Dispatch received a call from a motorist with regard to a car that had crossed the center line and nearly struck oncoming traffic.

Officers detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Kuhn and subsequently placed her under arrested on an OWI charge. She was taken to the Adams County Jail, where bond was set at $2,000.

Numerous law enforcement agencies converged on Adair early this (Sunday) morning, following a report of shots fired and a man with a gun walking down the street. Deputies from Adair, Cass, Audubon and Guthrie Counties had responded to the incident that allegedly occurred at or near 607 Stuart Street, and which was broadcast to law enforcement agencies at around 1:33-a.m.

Just after 2-a.m, two males, one white, the other dark-skinned, were taken into custody. According to scanner traffic, one of the men had allegedly fired a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson during the incident. Shell casings were located behind the residence, along with other evidence. Additional shell casings were located in front of 508 Stuart Street.

No injuries were reported. Additional details are currently not available.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman has pleaded guilty to hitting two pedestrians with her pickup while she was drunk behind the wheel. The Sioux City Journal reports that 32-year-old Kayla Decora entered the plea Thursday to third-offense operating while intoxicated, a felony, and two counts of misdemeanor aggravated assault.

According to a plea agreement, Decora will receive a five-year suspended prison sentence and be placed on probation for two years while she receives inpatient substance abuse treatment. Her driver’s license also will be suspended for six years, and she must pay restitution to her victims. Decora was ordered to remain jailed until sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Court documents say Decora intentionally struck the two pedestrians on April 12, causing injuries that were not life-threatening.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Saturday, took a report of a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 2 and Interstate 29.

Alan Campbell

52-year old Alan Campbell, of Thurman, was driving a 2005 Dodge 2500 eastbound on Highway 2 when a tractor trailer exited onto Highway 2 from the northbound Interstate 29 off-ramp. Campbell attempted to turn left onto the northbound on-ramp of Interstate 29 around the tractor trailer, when he struck 2006 Chevrolet Traverse being operated by 28-year old Kevin Walters,of Nebraska City.

A passenger in Walters vehicle suffered minor injuries. Campbell was arrested for Failure to Yield upon a Left Turn, and Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense. He was taken to the Fremont County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond.