Memorial Day Weekend Traffic Expected To Be Heavy – Law Enforcement Will Be Watching For Violators
(Le Mars) — Memorial Day Holiday Weekend traffic is expected to be heavy with many people taking the opportunity to visit their favorite lake, park, amusement center, or any other summer destination. Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says law enforcement agencies from across the state will be watching the highways for violators. Vande Vegte says the Governor’s Safety Traffic Bureau is again launching the campaign of “Click-it or Ticket” reminding motorists to always buckle their seat belts.
Vande Vegte says law enforcement officers have noticed an increase of motorists that have been speeding, and not just a few miles per hour over the posted limit, but rather excessive speeds above 100 miles per hour.
The Le Mars Police Chief says officers will watch for distracted driving, as well as for intoxicated or impaired drivers.
Vande Vegte suggests motorists to take their time, slow down, buckle up, put away the cell phone, and be aware of other drivers and conditions on the highway.
Plymouth County Parks Ready For Memorial Day Weekend
(Hinton) — Memorial Day weekend is often thought of as the start to summer, and many people utilize the opportunity to take their recreational vehicle or camping trailer to a weekend excursion at a campground. Nick Beeck is the Plymouth County Conservation Board Executive Director, and he says all of the county parks are expected to be full for the holiday weekend.
A year ago, campgrounds, like everyone had to implement some distancing requirements due to the COVID virus. However, Beeck says for this year it is close to being back to normal conditions.
Beeck says the cabins are a popular weekend get-a-way and they are reserved for the weekend.
Beeck talks about the county parks’ many amenities.
Study Shows Slowed Down Meat Processing Lines Will Disrupt Hog Prices
(Des Moines) — An Iowa State University study finds a recent federal court decision forcing the line speeds at meat processing plants to slow down could result in a two-and-a-half percent loss in pork packing capacity nationwide. I-S-U economist Dermot Hayes says without any changes, the ruling will lead to a cut of more than 80-million dollars in income for small pork producers.
Hayes says the new regulations go into effect July 1st, but plants won’t start reaching capacity until September, October or November — which is when the forced slowdowns will hit.
Hayes says if the agency plans to appeal the court’s decision, it’ll need to act quickly.
The National Pork Producers Council is urging the U-S-D-A to appeal the decision. N-P-P-C president Jen Sorenson says the lives of many hog farmers will be upended if the ruling takes effect.
Jury To Resume Deliberations In Tibbetts Murder Trial
(Davenport, IA) — The jury in the Mollie Tibbetts murder trial will resume deliberations this (Friday) morning in Davenport. Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in her death. The trial ended at 12:45 Thursday and jurors began deliberations after having lunch, and then wrapped up for the day just before 5 p-m. Riviera claimed two masked men forced him to participate in the crime and it was one of them who stabbed the college student to death. The prosecutor in his closing remarks said Riviera made the story up and all the evidence points towards his guild. The jury is scheduled to resume deliberations at 8:30 a-m today (Friday).
First West Nile Case Confirmed
(Undated) — The Iowa Department of Public Health reports the first case of West Nile virus this year has been confirmed in the state. The victim is an adult age 61 to 80 years old from Montgomery County. The West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes. The I-D-P-H says the best way to prevent West Nile is to wear mosquito repellent or avoid the times of day when they are active. The disease can be fatal in some cases.
Powerball And Lucky For Life Adding Drawings
(Clive, IA) — The Powerball and Lucky for Life games are adding more drawings later this year. Iowa Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer, says Powerball is going to add a Monday drawing along with the Wednesday and Saturday drawings. The Lucky For Life game will move from two drawings to a drawing every night. She says players are looking for bigger, faster-growing jackpots and the changes will give them that in Powerball. The Lucky for Life game will start daily drawings on July 19th. The change in Powerball will begin with the first Monday drawing on August 23rd.
Governor Seeks Information On Meatpacking Industry
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds is joining her counterparts in Montana, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and the Dakotas in calling for a public update on any federal investigation of the meatpacking industry. Reynolds and the five other governors sent a letter to U-S Attorney General Merrick Garland. The group says decades of consolidation have led to anti-competitive behavior from the four major meatpackers that threatens the existence of independent cattle producers.
Former Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer Looks At Running For U-S Senate
(Dubuque) — Former Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (FINK-en-ow-er) — the Democrat who lost her bid for a second term in the U.S. House last year — is reportedly considering a run for the U.S. Senate.
Finkenauer lost her 2020 race in Iowa’s first congressional district by about two-and-a-half percent or a little less than 11-thousand votes. According to Politico, two unnamed sources indicated Finkenauer is laying the groundwork for a U.S. Senate race in 2022. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley’s seventh term ends in early 2023. The 87-year-old has said he won’t announce until this fall whether he plans to run for an eighth term and put his name on the 2022 ballot. Finkernauer, who lives in Cedar Rapids, would face a Democratic Primary if she does run for the Senate. Western Iowa farmer Dave Muhlbauer of Manilla launched his 2022 U.S. Senate campaign this week. Other Democrats are considering the race, too. State Auditor Rob Sand recently told the Carroll Times he will not run for the U.S. Senate, but is still considering a race for governor or for re-election to a second term as state auditor.
