(Radio Iowa) – After a very long wait, the barricades are finally coming down and the State Historical Building of Iowa, Museum and Research Center in downtown Des Moines will hold its grand reopening in ten days. Spokesman Jeff Morgan says there’s a beautiful, bright new atrium and significant infrastructure improvements that are designed to provide a safer, more secure facility that will preserve and share Iowa’s history for decades to come. “The State Historical Building has undergone a renovation project over the past five years and it’s going to be fully reopening on Saturday, October 14th,” Morgan says. “We’re going to have a day-long schedule of programs and activities. We’re going to be unveiling a brand new museum exhibition, called ‘Civics in Action’ that day, so we’re encouraging people to come down and participate and celebrate us.”

That new exhibit focuses on the significant events, court cases, caucuses and issues that shaped the future of Iowa and the United States. “They’ll be able to see more than 60 artifacts from our permanent collection, everything from a Ding Darling political cartoon to election tickets from the 1800s,” Morgan says. “We’ll have artifacts from caucuses of Iowa’s past, and banners, buttons, ribbons and more.” Another exhibit features Mia Peterson, who grew up in Webster City, and became a prominent national advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.

“She actually carried the Olympic torch, and we’re going to have a number of her items here,” Morgan says. “We’re also going to have information about our Benoist biplane. We’re going to have an object station that will transport artifacts through several different exhibits during the day, and then we’ll have storytellers in the ‘Iowa and the Civil War’ exhibition.”

Built in 1987 as a center for Iowa history, the State Historical Museum of Iowa will have new hours, and will be open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 3:45-a.m. on Sept. 30th, in Essex, resulted in an arrest and three people cited for Minor In Possession (MIP)/Consumption of Alcohol. According to the Shenandoah Police Department, the traffic stop on a vehicle with an equipment violation occurred in the 1500 block of South Avenue, in Essex. The driver, 23-year-old Daniel Ohnmacht, of Essex, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Possession or carrying of firearms while under the influence, and supplying alcohol to a minor. He was also cited for Open Container. He posted a $3,000 bond and was released with a court date. Passengers in the vehicle who were cited for MIP included 20-year-old Caden Henderson, of Shenandoah, 19-year-old Brice Sederburg, of Atlantic, and 19-year-old Jillian Galbraith, of Rea, Missouri.

Shenandoah Police said also, that at around 11:30-p.m. on Sept. 30th, 25-year-old Derek James, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in Shenandoah. James was charged with OWI/1st offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. James was being held in the Page County Jail on a $1,600 bond.

On Oct. 1st, 29-year-old Quentin Demanett, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, and on two counts of Child Endangerment. He was being held without bond in the Page County Jail. And, on Oct. 3rd, 32-year-old Hope Kalkas, of Shenandoah, was arrested on charges that include Disorderly Conduct, and Consumption or Intoxication in public places. Her bond at the Page County Jail was set at $600.

The hearing for the Summit carbon pipeline got underway again Tuesday with landowners discussing their concerns about the pipeline coming through their property. Dennis Graham testified he is concerned about whether there is insurance to cover any damages. He says they are pretty confident that they’re not covered under his personal policy. He says that covers normal farm operations, not a pipeline with compressed C-O-2. The Iowa Utilities Board has landowners listed to testify through Thursday, the Summit hearing could then wrap up.

The Iowa Business Council’s third-quarter Economic Outlook Survey shows continued concern about the national economy among its members. I-B-C president Joe Murphy says they measure member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months. He says they saw a decline in each of those categories but the remained about 50 which indicates a positive outlook on the 100 point scale. The latest survey is just under 60. Murphy says concern about a recession remains and whether there will be one and how it will impact things. He says the inflation and higher interest rates are hitting the customers of the member businesses. Murphy says that the Iowa economy remains strong and that is why there is still optimism in the state.

The four Republicans in the U-S House of Representatives voted against the removal of Speak Kevin McCarthy, Tuesday. McCarthy was removed after eight other Republicans voted with Democrats on the move. Republican Matt Gaetz pushed to remove McCarthy for working with Democrats on the deal to avert the government shutdown. Iowa Representative Ashley Hinson criticized the move in a statement after the vote, saying it paralyzed the House and brought their work for the American people to a halt. Hinson says she will continue working to end what she call the embarrassing chaos and dysfunction in Washington.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County, Tuesday evening, arrested a 16-year old male on a felony weapons charge. The juvenile was taken into custody for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class-D Felony, and Minor possessing a concealed weapon – a serious misdemeanor. The unidentified teen was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

(Red Oak, Iowa) -Red Oak Police dispatched Tuesday for a reported suspicious vehicle in the 1900 block of Ingles Drive, ended-up arresting the driver on numerous charges. 56-year-old Laura Ann Schrader, of Stanton, was taken into custody for: Driving While Suspended; OWI/2nd offense; 7 count of Unlawful possession of prescription pills, and Assault on law enforcement. Her bond was set at $2,000.

(Grinnell, Iowa) – The Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office reports one person died, another was arrested, following a shooting on Interstate 80 Tuesday, about five-miles east of the Grinnell Exit. Authorities say  deputies responded to the 187 mile-marker westbound at around 8:25-a.m., following a call for assistance from the Iowa State Patrol.

The Sheriff’s Office, along with the Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, are investigating the shooting death of an adult male. One suspect is in custody, and it is believed that there is no danger to the public at this time.

No further information was released as of Tuesday evening.

(Radio Iowa) – The Midwestern economy is headed toward recession — soon, according to the latest projection from Creighton University and its monthly survey of business leaders in Iowa and eight other states. Creighton economist Ernie Goss says the overall Business Conditions Index rose slightly for the region into the positive growth category, but Iowa’s economy is still showing negative growth.

The hiring trends for the Midwest during September were “not good,” Goss says, though the figures were up slightly from August.

The Midwest’s regional manufacturing economy has weakened from earlier in the year, Goss says, and it’s weakened from the same period last year, while inflation remains troublesome.

According to U.S. International Trade Association data, Iowa’s manufacturing exports expanded from just over nine-billion dollars for the first seven months of 2022 to ten-billion for the same period in 2023.

Ernie Goss

That’s a growth rate of better than nine-percent. For the first seven months of each year, the state’s leading manufacturing export, machinery, soared by almost 24-percent between 2022 to 2023. On the zero-to-100 scale where 50 is growth neutral, Goss says Iowa’s Business Conditions Index for September rose to a weak 48.5, up slightly from 47.9 in August.

(Radio Iowa) – The years of waiting are over and the big race is coming to the Iowa Speedway in Newton. NASCAR senior vice president, Ben Kennedy made the announcement outside the Iowa Capitol.

He says the race will be highly anticipated.

Governor Reynolds was also on hand for the announcement.

The cup series is the highest level of racing for NASCAR and the governor says the race is equivalent to the the Major League baseball game held at the Field of Dreams near Dyersville.

NASCAR Cup announcement-(RI-photo)

The race is expected to have a 100 million dollar impact on the area. NASCAR hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, spearheaded the effort to get the track built in Newton in 2006 and also designed it.

NASCAR racer Brad Keslowski was also on hand for the announcement. He has raced and won at the Iowa Speedway.

Fans can put down a 25 dollar deposit for tickets to next year’s race on the Iowa Speedway website.