(Radio Iowa) – Researchers at the University of Iowa are looking for help testing out developing technology that’s designed to determine whether a driver should be behind the wheel. Tim Brown, director of drugged driving research at the U-I’s Driving Safety Research Institute, says study participants will be paid to drink enough alcohol to be over the legal limit, and then they’ll hop into a driving simulator. “What we’re looking at is a combination of vehicle sensors, so sensors on the steering wheel and the pedals, looking at your lane position,” Brown says, “but more importantly, newer technology that looks at the driver’s face and is able to look at expression and glance behavior, all of those things that might provide an outward sign of the driver’s state.”

There are already multiple devices that are designed to keep a vehicle from starting if the would-be driver has been drinking. Brown says they’re looking to develop systems that go well beyond those which could potentially be placed in all new vehicles.

Photos from the UI’s Driving Safety Research Institute

“Ignition interlocks are often a system that is designed to deal with people who’ve already been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol,” Brown says. “These driver monitoring systems are really geared towards providing a safety net to prevent impaired driving. This is technology that would be in the vehicle and would provide warnings to the driver.” A federal study in 2023 found more than 12-thousand people were killed in crashes nationwide that involved alcohol. That’s about 34 people killed every day, or one death every 42 minutes.

Brown is confident these emerging technologies in driver monitoring systems will be able to save lives. “Right now, we think about them primarily in the context of somebody who’s distracted or drowsy, so letting a drowsy driver know they might need to stop and take a break, or somebody who’s distracted to put their attention back on the roadway,” Brown says. “They’re really systems that are designed to alert the driver to conditions they might be unaware of so they can take corrective action.” The study pays $820 and participants will need to make four visits to the U-I’s Driving Safety Research Institute in Coralville: one 2-hour screening visit, two 8-hour daytime visits, and one 8-hour overnight visit. They need to be between 38 and 68, in good health, legally licensed to drive in the U-S, and willing to drink enough alcohol to be above the legal limit.

For more information, fill out the survey at bit.ly/Alcohol-DMS or visit dsri.uiowa.edu and click on “Participate.”

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Roads Department reports a little more than three-quarters of a mile of 140th Street, between Oak and Noah Avenues, will be closed, beginning at 7-a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14th, for regrading. The project is expected to take two days, and should be finished by around 3:30-p.m. Friday, August 15th.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is touting her influence in the Trump Administration and giving firm signals that she’s running for re-election in 2026. Ernst spoke this morning at the Westside Conservative Breakfast Club in Urbandale and mentioned the five Democrats who’ve launched campaigns for the U.S. Senate. “I love it,” Ernst said. “Every day we get a new Democratic member of the House or Senate that decides to run for this senate seat. Bring it on, folks, because I tell you at the end of the day Iowa is going to be red,” Ernst said.

Three of the five Democrats who’ve launched campaigns for the U.S. Senate are currently members of the Iowa legislature. As Ernst concluded her remarks this morning, she told the crowd 2026 will be a “big election year” for Iowa Republicans. “In the Republican Primary, you must turn out, O.K? And then after all of those choices have been made through the Republican Primary, we all come together as Iowa and support our Republican candidates and we turn out in November and we put the Democrats in their place,” Ernst said, to applause and cheers.

Ernst began by saying President Trump’s four year break from the White House gave him a chance to develop his “America First” policy agenda and select federal agency leaders who are working to put it in place. “I visit with the president often. I get to work on a lot of his agenda items,” Ernst said. “…I work very well with President Trump. All of those cabinet members know it and when they need something or I need something, we are constantly collaborating and working together.”

Ernst said this spring, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture asked her to lobby Trump to let an updated calculation for some farm subsidies be included in the One Big Beautiful Bill he signed July 4. “She said, ‘You have a really good relationship with President Trump. Could you please call him?’” Ernst said, with a laugh. “And so I was tasked by Secretary Rollins and the chairman, John Boseman, of the (Senate) Ag Committee to call President Trump.”

Ernst said Trump returned her call at midnight on a Sunday. “Sorry I don’t do the best Trump impression, but you know he was like: ‘Oh, oh Joni. All right. I’ll talk to the team about your farmer stuff,’” Ernst said, continuing with her reply to Trump: “‘O.K., thanks Mr. President.’ I’m glad that I have the trust of my colleagues and the administration officials to be the one out there attempting to convince the president to include our farmers in some of these items and he really does case about our Iowa farmers.” In July of 2016, Ernst was among the people Trump interviewed as a potential running mate before picking Mike Pence.

State Representative Josh Turek of Council Bluffs launched his campaign of the U.S. Senate yesterday. Knoxville Chamber of Commerce executive Nathan Sage, State Representative J.D. Scholten of Sioux City, State Senator Zach Wahls of Coralville, and Des Moines School Board president Jackie Norris are the other candidates who’ve said they’ll compete for the Iowa Democratic Party’s 2026 nomination for the U.S. Senate.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning, received an update from Adair/Guthrie County Environmental Health Executive Director Jotham Arber. He mentioned that during the month of July, his staff was working on completing Perc (percolation) tests. That’s a method used to determine the water absorption rate of soil, which is crucial for designing and installing septic systems. They’ve also conducted many water tests and well rehabilitation’s.

They’re also participating in a pilot program, with regard to radon testing using an electronic device.

It’s hoped they can eventually have some of the new devices to loan-out for a week and see in real-time what the radon levels are. Under the current system, home test results using a card are sent in a lab, and the results are returned to the home owner, not the Environmental Health Agency, so it’s difficult to know if the radon levels are high in a particular area, Arber says.

Arber says they have information packets available, with regard to nitrite and nitrate levels in rural well water.

He says the information is especially important for new, rural homeowners who are having a well installed. Jotham Arber told the Adair County Supervisors they are working on getting the Beacon system rolled-out to the three counties the Environmental Health Department serves in this area. Septic systems will be included in the software program that will be compatible with the county’s system that is already in-place.

Beacon and qPublic.net combine both web-based GIS and web-based data reporting tools into a single, user friendly web application that is designed with the user’s needs in mind.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, during their regular weekly meeting this (Wednesday) morning (Aug. 13), approved a bid from Adair County Concrete for concrete work around the Veterans Memorial. Board Chair Nathan Baier said there was just the one bid.

The Board also approved the final drawings, with regard to the Grandstands on the Adair County Fairgrounds. Baier said there was essentially one change from the initial concept.

The Supervisors heard from Community and Family Resources (CFR) Executive Director, Michelle DeLaRiva. Community and Family Resources (CFR) is a free standing comprehensive substance use treatment provider based in Fort Dodge, which serves individuals across the State, from 14 counties.

DeLaRiva asked, and the Board approved, $450 to help cover the cost of a committal for one person who did not have the funds to cover CFR’s service. Supervisor Jodie Hoadley, said they don’t have much choice, because it is an unfunded mandate from the State. DeLaRiva said she will be back in January to discuss future funding needs.

And, Chair Nathan Baier, upon receiving approval from the Board, signed the Contract and Performance Bond with GovCo, for the N27 Lincoln (Township) Bridge project. Afterward, County Engineer Nick Kauffman provided his weekly Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities report.

The Board also received an update from Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Sunnyside Pool in Atlantic are inviting the community to take a well-deserved break at its Sip and Dip event tomorrow (Thursday) evening. Sunnyside Pool Aquatics Coordinator Chelsie Rush says guests 21-years of age and older, can enjoy a relaxing, adults-only night at the pool with delicious dips to munch on, wine slushies and beer for sale, fun poolside games, and great music.

One of the night’s highlights will be the Human Slot Machine Fundraiser, a unique and entertaining way to support Sunnyside Pool while having a laugh with friends. Additional games, good food, and great company will make for the perfect evening of self-care and summertime fun.

Event Details:
Date: THIS Thursday, Aug. 14th
Time: 7-9PM
Location: Sunnyside Pool, 1000 Sunnyside Ln
Admission: $5 per person

Rush says you’re invited to “Bring a friend, enjoy some tasty snacks, and unwind in a laid-back, Luau inspired atmosphere. Some things will require cash, so dig out those dollars, it’s the perfect way to close out summer and support your community pool.”

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Tuesday, of 24-year-old Devyn Burnette, of Glenwood. Burnette was taken into custody for OWI/1^st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) [UPDATE – change to start date due to contractor schedule] – The Pottawattamie County Roads Department reports 1,420-feet of 210th Street will be closed to thru traffic from August 18th through October 2nd (weather permitting), for the construction of a new bridge. A detour route will be established from the intersection of 210th Street and Sumac Road; going east on Sumac Road to L34; then north on L34 to Teakwood Road; then west on Teakwood Road to 210th Street.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say two people were arrested on assault charges recently. Late Tuesday night, 51-year-old Alin Armega, of Creston, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault-Impeding the flow of air/blood-Causing Bodily Injury. And, at around 1:17-a.m. today (Wednesday), 21-year-old Mustang Bryton Rogers, of Creston was arrested also, for Domestic Abuse Assault-Impeding the flow of air/blood-Causing Bodily Injury. Armega and Rogers were being held in the Union County Jail without bond, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.

(Sidney, Iowa) – A southwest venue that hosts family celebrations such as birthdays and weddings, sustained extensive damage early Tuesday morning, and is likely a total loss, according to fire officials. The Fremont County Emergency Management Agency says Whiskey Springs, a rustic barn establishment, caught fire at around 3:30-a.m. Tuesday.

Firefighters from Sidney were called to the scene at 2474 Bluff Road, north of Sidney, and upon their arrival, saw the venue was fully engulfed in flames. They promptly requested mutual aid from numerous area fire departments, including Hamburg, Riverton, Farragut, Tabor, and Nebraska City.

Whiskey Springs (photo from their public Facebook page)

There were no reports of injuries. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to assist with an investigation into the cause of the fire, which, at last report, remained unknown.