(Radio Iowa) – The thousands of bicyclists on RAGBRAI are heading for Mason City today (Wednesday) on the longest leg of the ride in almost four decades. Lindsey James, of Visit Mason City, says the trip from Emmetsburg to Mason City will be 105 miles, the first time a 100-plus mile stretch has been scheduled since Mason City first hosted an overnight stop in the mid-1980s.  “The day is dedicated to the late John Karras, RAGBRAI co-founder, and this is the longest mileage day on the RAGBRAI route this year, and the first ‘Century Day’ since 1985, so it’s a big, big deal,” James says, “and we’re looking forward to celebrating this awesome accomplishment with the riders.”

With the 100-mile ride, Mason City’s theme for the overnight stop is “Ride of the Century”.  “The logo, designed by local artist Julie Kim, features muted earth tones inspired by Mason City’s famous prairie school architecture, and recognizable elements like the Historic Park Inn and downtown plaza light posts,” James says. “The wavy lines represent the Winnebago River, and the straight lines show progress and movement. The banners represent the finish line and the feeling of jubilation that comes along with a job well done.” Several large “100” signs have been placed throughout Mason City in commemoration of the 100-mile ride into town.

(Atlanta, GA) – The Megamillions jackpot went unclaimed following Tuesday night’s (July 26th) drawing, making the drawing for Friday night’s multi-state lottery game an expected $1.02-BILLION, which ties for the second-highest prize ever in Mega Millions history. Tuesday night’s drawing was the third-highest ever at $830 million, or a cash option of $487.9 million.

Even without a big winner, there were a few ticket purchasers who will be a bit wealthier after Tuesday’s drawing. Lottery officials say there were nine tickets sold that matched five of the six winning numbers – each is worth at least $1 million or more. One of those tickets sold in Ohio with the the megaplier option is worth $3 million. The California lottery says a ticket sold in Baker with five matching numbers will have a payout of $2.9 million. California uses a pari-mutuel system with payouts that vary from those in other states.

The seven other tickets are believed to be worth $1 million each. They were sold in Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Ohio. Tuesday’s winning numbers were: 7 – 29 – 60 – 63 – 66 Mega Ball: 15

The jackpot has grown so large because there hasn’t been a winner in three months. Those 29 consecutive drawings without anyone matching all six numbers have allowed the jackpot to gradually grow from its $20 million starting point in April.

(Radio Iowa) – A McGregor man has been arrested after allegedly striking a person protesting the Supreme Court’s recent abortion decision.  McGregor police say Ronald Paradine was charged with assault in the incident which occurred Friday night.

Authorities say Paradine began voicing his opposition to the demonstrators, walked across a street unprovoked and began striking an individual multiple times.

(Radio Iowa) – An opioid manufacturer is willing to pay up billions to settle thousands of legal claims, including one filed by the State of Iowa. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has been a lead negotiator for a dozen states that sued Teva Pharmaceuticals. He says the settlement is another major step in addressing the opioid crisis. Final details are still being worked out. The deal is contingent on the willingness of a generic drug manufacturer that’s associated with Teva to also strike a nationwide settlement.

Still, Teva executives have announced the company’s willing to pay up to three-point-seven billion dollars in cash over a 13 year period. Teva, which is based in Israel, will also provide one-point-two billion dollars worth of a drug that reverses opioid overdoses. Miller says the settlement will help cover treatment for opioid addiction and help prevent fatal overdoses.

Attorneys for Iowa and other states accused Teva of downplaying the risks associated with opioids and even suggesting prescribing more pills was the answer to people who were showing signs of addiction.

(Radio Iowa) –  Iowa motorists might be noticing they have a little more pocket change lately as gasoline prices have been steadily falling in recent days. Meredith Mitts, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says pump prices peaked in mid-June and have dropped considerably since then. “The state average is $4.06, which is down two cents from yesterday,” Mitts says. “It is down about 25 cents from a week ago and down almost 60 cents from a month ago.” The current national average price for gas is $4.32 a gallon, which is 26 cents higher than in Iowa.

Mitts explains why prices are spiraling — both in the state and nation — and will likely continue falling for a while. “The steady decline is due to a low domestic demand for gasoline,” Mitts says, “and then the oil prices have also declined and are remaining at the mid $90 per barrel.” After hitting an all-time state high of $4.76 a gallon on June 15th, pump prices have been in a free fall.  “There is reason to be cautiously optimistic that pump prices will continue to fall, especially if the global price for oil doesn’t spike,” Mitts says, “but overall, the situation still remains very volatile and could change any day.”

While the statewide average is $4.06, Triple-A says the most expensive gas in Iowa is in Council Bluffs at $4.27 a gallon, while it’s the cheapest in the Quad Cities at $3.88.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with the Harlan Police Department report a woman from Cass County was arrested Monday, following a traffic stop. 32-year-old Michaela Lynn Hansen, of Atlantic, was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

And, last Saturday, Police in Harlan arrested 32-year-old Carlos Roberto Fonseca-Triminio, of Harlan, was following a call for service. Triminio was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department reports six arrests. Last Saturday, 71-year-old Kenneth Harding Dempsey, of Harlan, was arrested for Theft in the 3rd Degree, in connection with the theft of an antique candy scale from Bonneson’s Five and Ten. Dempsey appeared in court today (Tuesday), and waived a court appointed attorney. His preliminary hearing was set for 2-p.m. on August 11th. Separately, 20-year-old Dalton Clark, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI. He was later released from the Cass County Jail.

There were three arrests in Atlantic on July 18th: 30-year-old Carly Seddon, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Assault with the Intent to Inflict Serious Injury; 62-year-old Jon Humphrey, of Wiota, was cited into court for Stalking (Unauthorized use of GPS), and then released; and, 29-year-old Brandi Clark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.

On July 17th, Atlantic Police arrested 55-year-old Bryan Westphalen, of Atlantic, for Domestic Abuse Assault. He remains held in the Cass County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican U-S Senator Chuck Grassley admits it’s rare he and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders agree on legislation, but they’re in accord on the computer semiconductor bill due for a final vote this week. Grassley says the so-called CHIPS bill is nothing less than “corporate welfare,” and it’s not the same as the measure that he supported last year. “There was never a bill that would give tax refunds to major corporations on top of the federal dollars when it was passed a year ago,” Grassley says. “Now that tax provision is in here. So there’s subsidy, refundable tax credits for major corporations that are very wealthy.” Some provisions that were provided for in the earlier legislation have been accomplished, according to Grassley.

“We’ve already had a lot of companies saying that they’re going to invest in Texas, Arizona and in Ohio and computer chips,” Grassley says, “and that’s all happened since we passed the bill a year ago.” Backers say CHIPS is designed to bolster U-S production of computer semiconductors and to level the playing field with China, but Grassley disagrees. “We need to be tough on China, I want to make that very clear,” he says, “but the taxpayer can’t bankroll corporate welfare.” Grassley says what was originally going to be 52-billion dollars in subsidies has ballooned to be 270-billion. In a tweet, Grassley said of CHIPS: “It’s just a huge govt handout to massive/already-profitable companies Why would we spend MORE TAXPAYER DOLLARS for unnecessary corporate welfare?”

(Radio Iowa) – A U.S. Senate hearing on police safety has focused on the shooting death of an Iowa State patrolman. Zach Anderson was a Grundy County deputy last year when Patrol Sergeant Jim Smith led a tactical team to confront a man barricaded in his Grundy Center home.

Anderson considered leaving law enforcement, but is now a Cedar Falls police officer.

Anderson told senators more must be done to protect police and provide more counseling after attacks like the one he survived. Anderson credits his wife for encouraging him to talk. “Today I can tell you that I’m doing OK,” Anderson said, “but I know that others are not.” Anderson said the man who killed Sergeant Smith had “a hatred of law enforcement” that “ramped up” in the current environment and Anderson called on senators to play a role in changing attitudes. “I ask you today to lead like Jim by defending us, protecting us, caring for us and validating the work we do as law enforcement officers,” Anderson said.

Senator Chuck Grassley, who invited Anderson to speak at the hearing, said there’s “too much hostility” toward law enforcement. “This is a growing crisis,” Grassley said during the hearing, “and there’s much that congress needs to do to address it.” A Michigan sheriff, the president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Baltimore’s police commissioner and a Chicago policeman who survived a shooting also testified during today’s  hearing.

(Radio Iowa) – Dead fish are washing up on the shore of Storm Lake. Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Ben Wallace says an initial investigation indicates one species of fish is affected. “It looks to be a disease kind of specifically impacting the common carp,” he says, “so, to be honest, not a huge impact on the fishery there.” Wallace says thousands of dead carp have been found along Storm Lake’s shore.

“This kind of thing does happen. It’s not super common, but it’s a natural occurrence to have disease outbreaks in wild fish populations,” he says. “…They have a lot of necrotic tissue on their gills, had some fungus growing on their scales and stuff, so everything points to a disease impacting the common carp.”

Wallace hopes to find a lab to test sample fish to gain more information. He says the kill could last a couple more weeks before the disease runs its course. He does not expect other species of fish in Storm Lake to be impacted.