The namesake of the state of Iowa has come in second in a contest to choose the nation’s best museum ship. Twenty museum ships were nominated by the Historic Naval Ships Association in a contest conducted by the Reader’s Choice. The U-S-S Iowa, which is in Long Beach, California, came in second in the voting to the U-S-S Midway in San Diego. The four weeks of voting wrapped up on July 18th.

The state of Iowa help provide funds to save the historic battleship and have it towed to Long Beach where it now serves as the museum. Anyone with an Iowa driver’s license can visit the Battleship Iowa Museum for free.

(Radio Iowa)

Thousands of potential students and their parents are checking out many of the state’s smaller colleges this week. It’s part of an annual event in Iowa, during the first week of August, known as Private College Week. Derek Hartl, director of admissions at Luther College in Decorah, says all 25 of Iowa’s private colleges are taking part in the program. “Our purpose through all of this is to try to let students know what a private education can include and the benefits and advantages of a private education,” Hartl said.

Some parents and students may feel attending a private college is out of their price range, but Hartl suggests there are ways for families to make it affordable. “There’s a great deal of financial aid out there,” Hartl said. “We have a lot of students who are paying less to come to Luther than they would have to go to a state institution.”

Hartl notes that students who graduate from a private college, such as Luther, are in high demand. “When we look at the graduating class of 2015, 99.4 percent of our students were either employed, attending graduate or professional school, or selectively volunteering. So, we’re talking about a very high placement rate,” Hartl said.

More information about Private College Week in Iowa is available at: thinkindependently.com.

(Radio Iowa)

WALNUT, Iowa (AP) – A highway bridge in Pottawattamie County has been dedicated as a memorial to a slain Omaha police officer. The Interstate 80 bridge that carries traffic into Walnut has been named the Kerri Orozco Bridge. A scholarship fund also was announced at the bridge dedication ceremony Tuesday.

Orozco was fatally wounded on May 20, 2015, when Marcus Wheeler opened fire on officers who were trying to arrest him. Wheeler was killed when another officer returned fire. Orozco was one day away from going on maternity leave to care for the daughter she had delivered prematurely three months earlier.

Orozco and her family lived in Council Bluffs, and she was a native of Walnut.

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating an incident that took place late Tuesday night, and involved an explosive device. Authorities say at around 11:45-p.m., an unidentified person threw a small explosive device from a vehicle as it was traveling Westbound in the 2200 block of Avenue A. The device exploded in the air. No injuries or property damage was reported.

The Council Bluffs Fire Department’s Fire Marshal is conducting the investigation into the incident. If you have information concerning the incident, you’re urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (712)-328-7867 or the Fire Marshal’s Office at (712)328-4646.

Red Oak Police report three people were arrested on various charges early this (Wednesday) morning. A little after 2-a.m., 29-year old Jessie Bruce Fitzwater, of Villisca, was arrested on a valid warrant out of Adams County for Failure to Appear on an OWI/1st offense charge. Fitzwater, who was arrested last Friday evening in Montgomery County for Possession of Stolen property, remains held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail.

At around 1:15-a.m. today, Red Oak Police arrested 24-year old Eric David Taylor, of Red Oak, on a Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. Taylor was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

And, at around 12:30-a.m., Red Oak Police arrested 19-year old Yessica Silva-Lemus, of Red Oak, on a valid Page County warrant for Revocation of Probation. Silva-Lemus was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $1,000 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Republican presidential campaign of Donald Trump has planned another Iowa event – his third in nine days. The Des Moines Register reports that Trump will hold a town hall Friday in Des Moines. It’s scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Where it will be held and other details have not been announced publicly. He held rallies in Davenport and Cedar Rapids last week.

Trump finished second in the February’s Iowa caucuses to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas.

A Montgomery County man was arrested late Tuesday night on assault and other charges. Police say 42-year old James Reed Mitroff II, of Red Oak, was arrested just before midnight in the 2300 block of N. Eastern Avenue, on two counts of Assault, and Breach of Peace. His arrest stems from an earlier incident. Mitroff was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $300 cash bond.