City Council Approves Street Closures For RAGBRAI, But Say No To Wise I Request To Closing Alley
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council gave its approval to closing some of the downtown streets during the time of RAGBRAI is in town, but they said no to Wise I’s request to close an alley that adjoins the micro brewery during the overnight stay of the cross-state bicycle ride. Both Le Mars Police Chief
Kevin Vande Vegte and Fire and Rescue Chief Dave Schipper informed the council that they did not want to see a precedent being set, by having numerous other requests to close streets and alleys.
Schipper says it is important to still have access for emergency vehicles to be able to get to a designated location when many of the downtown streets will be closed for RAGBRAI.
Wise I expressed an interest in closing the alley to expand their capacity for their business during RAGBRAI. Vande Vegte and Schipper says it is easier to keep people gathered in one place.
Discussion on the topic focused on the liquor licenses for serving
outdoors. Currently, the Knights of Columbus are the only ones to have acquired a liquor license for the outdoor beer garden that will be between the Knights of Columbus hall and the Olson Cultural Events Center, or what is slated to be the hub for when RAGBRAI visits Le Mars. In other action taken by the city council, they approved an extension paving project for the municipal airport’s runway. Specialized Concrete of Le Mars was awarded the bid to construct a paved parking lot for Cleveland Park at a bid of $52,632.22. The council also gave their approval for an electronic billboard to be erected on Business Highway 75 near the Hardee’s restaurant. The city council approved the construction project of having an overlay paving project
for Central Avenue South which will be started in May of next year.
Trial Begins For Man Charged With Killing UI Student Mollie Tibbetts
(Davenport, IA) — Trial is underway in Davenport for the man accused in the July 2018 killing of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbets from Brooklyn.
Jury selection wrapped up Tuesday afternoon and the prosecution and defense gave opening statements this (Wednesday) morning. The first witness prosecutors called to the stand is Tibbetts’ boyfriend, Dalton Jack. He was asked what Mollie usually wore when she went jogging, whether she listened to an audio device and where he was working on the day she went missing.
Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with the first-degree murder of 20-year-old Tibbetts. She was jogging on July 18th, 2018 in her hometown when she disappeared. Investigators say Rivera later led them to Tibbett’s body in a Poweshiek County cornfield. The trial could last two weeks.
Iowa Lawmakers Increase Community College Funding, Not State Universities
(Des Moines, IA) — Legislators are increasing state funding for Iowa’s community college more than three percent, but the three public universities will see no increase in state support in the next budget year. Democratic Senator Eric Giddens of Cedar Falls said Republicans aren’t following the spending level Governor Reynolds recommended for the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa. Giddens argued for a three-point-one-percent increase, saying, “let’s support our public universities, but most importantly let’s support Iowa students and not raise tuition on them.” Republicans in the Senate and House approved the overall
education spending plan Tuesday night.
Iowa Democrat Files Complaint Against Conservative Group Over Election Law
(Des Moines, IA) — The top Democrat in the Iowa House filed an ethics complaint against a conservative group that has claimed credit for writing portions of Iowa’s new election law. Heritage Action’s executive director claimed in a video first published by Mother Jones that Heritage Action had “worked quietly” with Iowa legislators and helped draft the bill. The
complaint accuses her and another person from the Heritage Foundation of failing to register as lobbyists, which would be a violation of House Rules.
The Heritage Foundation’s election reform manager told the Des Moines Register he had “no contact” with members of the state legislature and he called the ethics complaint “frivolous.” The two Republican legislators who guided election changes through the Iowa House and Senate have told several media outlets Heritage Action and the Heritage Foundation had no role in writing the
law.
Congresswoman Miller-Meeks Fined For Not Wearing Mask in US House
(Washington, DC) — Iowa Congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks is one of three Republicans fined for not wearing a mask on the U-S House floor. Meeks will have to pay 500 dollars and a second violation could cost her 25-hundred dollars. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the attending Capitol physician say
the mask mandate will remain in place until all representatives get the COVID vaccine. Miller-Meeks is an eye doctor and former director of the Iowa Department of Public Health. She has been urging hesitant Americans to get the COVID shot.
