(Radio Iowa) – Travel during the upcoming 4th of July holiday is expected to set records both in Iowa and nationwide. AAA-Iowa spokesman Brian Ortner says the motor club is projecting more than 72-million people will be traveling over the Independence Day weekend. That’s up by nearly two-million travelers from last year and more than seven-million from 2019.

“People are going everywhere by car, by plane, by train, by boat,” Ortner says. “Nationally, we’re seeing numbers increase over 2.4% over last year. Bringing it closer to home, driving, we’re going to see about four-million folks take a road trip of 50 miles or more, that’s 50,000 more from last year in our region.”

One thing that’s a bit of a surprise in the forecast, Ortner says the number of people in Iowa and the Midwest who are expected to be traveling by plane during the holiday fell slightly. “We’re still seeing good numbers, but our region has dropped a little bit from last year,” Ortner says. “We’re seeing about 203,000 forecasted to take to the airways for their holiday travel plans, a decrease from last year of about 1,000 or so, or 0.6%.”

Other modes of transportation, including buses, trains, and cruise ships, are expected to pick up any slack from air travel, with a projected nine-percent increase compared to the holiday last year. In addition to sunscreen and your swimsuit, Ortner says there’s something else that will be important to pack for the long weekend.

“However you’re traveling, bring your patience with you,” Ortner says. “With record numbers, there’ll be more people on the road. There’ll be more people in the airports. Plan ahead. Take your time. Get your vehicles checked. Get that routine maintenance done. Most importantly, be safe on the roads. Keep a safe distance from those who are working to get themselves back on the road.”

It’s the law for Iowa motorists to move over if there’s a stopped vehicle with its emergency flashers on, or, if a lane change isn’t possible, to at least slow down and prepare to stop. Ignoring the law could bring a $200 fine and suspension of the driver’s license for up to a year.

(Radio Iowa) – Friends, family and co-workers of Jodi Huisentruit (WHO-sen-troot) gathered in front of K-I-M-T T-V in downtown Mason City this morning (Friday) on the 30th anniversary her disappearance. Investigators believe someone grabbed the news anchor shortly after 4:00 a-m as she left her apartment on the way to work. A spokesperson for Huisentruit’s family who was not identified read a statement to start the event.

The family is also asking people if they know anything that could help solve the case to come forward.

Huisentruit’s close friend Ani (AH-knee) Kruse talked about spending the weekend before her disappearance in Iowa City.

Kruse hopes someone will step forward with the information that solves the case.

If anyone has information about what happened to Huisentruit, they are asked to call the Mason City Police Department at 641-421-3636 or email Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation special agent Ryan Herman at rherman@dps.state.ia.us

(Radio Iowa) – St. Ambrose University in Davenport became the parent organization today (Friday) in the merger with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids. Mount Mercy President Todd Olson says its the first of two steps as the two combine.

Olson says there have been many conversations and steps to get the process to this point.

St. Ambrose University President Amy Novak talked about the benefits of the move.

The final step in the merger is expected to come in September of next year. Novak says the daily work between the two schools will continue.

Novak says she’s heard from parents and some students that there’s a renewed confidence that the schools have a very positive path forward. She says there is also support in the business community for the merger.

(Radio Iowa) – Speaker Pat Grassley has announced he will run for an 11th term in the Iowa House.

O. Kay Henderson reports.

Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, is raising money for a campaign for governor and Attorney General Brenna Bird is considering a run for governor in 2026. Earlier this month, State Representative Eddie Andrews of Johnston kicked off a campaign for the G-O-P’s nomination for governor.

House Speaker Pat Grassley on the “Iowa Press” set in May, 2025. (Iowa PBS photo)

State Senator Mike Bousselot (BOOSE-uh-loh) of Ankeny — a former aide to Governors Branstad and Reynolds — has formed an exploratory committee to raise money for a possible run for governor. There’s also likely to be a Democratic Primary for governor in 2026. Rob Sand, the state auditor, and Julie Stauch (STOWCH), an advisor to several Democratic candidates over the past 25 years, both launched campaigns this spring.

(Radio Iowa) – A top Democrat in the legislature is calling on his party to hold its Iowa Caucuses in 2028 before any other state holds a presidential primary. House Minority Leader Brian Meyer of Des Moines says it was a mistake for Iowa Democrats to give in to national party leaders who put South Carolina’s Democratic Primary first in 2024.

Meyer said also….

President Biden, who finished fourth in the 2020 Iowa Caucuses, criticized the way the caucuses are conducted and called for South Carolina to go first instead.

House Minority Leader Brian Meyer (D-Des Moines) (official photo)

The Iowa Caucuses had been the lead-off event for Democrats in a dozen presidential elections.

Meyer notes New Hampshire, which started holding a presidential primary in 1920, ignored the national party’s edict for 2024 and still held its presidential primary first.

Meyer says Iowa Democrats can get rid of the complicated math that’s been used in the Caucuses to determine a winner and just do what Iowa Republicans do — declare the person who gets the most votes the winner. The Iowa Republican Party’s Caucuses were still first-in-the-nation in 2024 and Iowa G-O-P leaders are pushing to maintain that position in 2028.

Meyer says the Caucuses help Democrats register new voters and start precinct level organizing for the General Election. Meyer made his comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program on Iowa P-B-S. Some Iowa Democrats say the Caucuses have been a distraction from local races and it’s time to give up the fight to have the Democratic Party’s Caucuses go first in 2028.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on June 19th, of 46-year-old Tesha Joy Stevens, of Audubon. Stevens was taken into custody for possession of controlled substance. She was transported to the Cass County Jail and later released on her own recognizance.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI]— The Iowa DNR suggests avoiding 10 beaches this weekend where E. coli levels are too high.

Swimming is not recommended at the following beaches:

• Backbone Beach
• Beeds Lake Beach
• Black Hawk Beach
• Blue Lake Beach
• Bobwhite State Park
• Lake Darling Beach
• Nine Eagles Beach
• North Twin Lake West Beach
• Pine Lake South Beach
• Union Grove Beach

All 10 beaches exceeded the standard for E. coli levels in recent testing. This can indicate higher levels of different viruses and bacteria. The DNR conducts weekly tests at more than three dozen state-owned swimming beaches between the week before Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Another beach, George Wyth Beach in Black Hawk County, is closed due to flooding.

UNIONVILLE, Mo. (KCCI] — An Iowa man walked away with only minor injuries after crashing his airplane Wednesday at the Unionville (Missouri) Municipal Airport. 49-year-old Cody Veach, of Corydon, said his single-engine plane crashed on an attempted landing after being hit by strong winds from nearby Lake Thunderhead.

He reported only suffering a few cuts and bruises. Federal Aviation Administration officials say people should stay away from the site because a ballistic parachute is in the wreckage.

The airport was closed while officials investigated the crash.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Touchdown Beer and Grill on Thursday, June 26th. The Ambassadors were excited to be a part of the ribbon cutting for a restaurant that has been in the works for a long time.

Touchdown Bar & Grill is a family-owned restaurant serving up everything from tacos to game day favorites. Along with their wide variety of food they also have a very popular drink menu including beer flights and specialty martinis. The Ramos family had a very humble beginning, taking them three years to finally open Touchdown, due to many issues with construction and supply chain issues. Throughout this they kept in mind their mission of creating a welcoming environment where anyone can come to get a high-quality meal in a laid-back atmosphere.

Ambassadors Pictured (Left to Right): Kelsey Beschorner, Jennifer McEntaffer, Jeff Christensen, Krysta Hanson, BJ Hart, Gabby Buresh, John Bricker, Anne Quist, Eunice Ramos, Sue Liston, Emily Kennedy, Alberto Ramos, Julie Waters, Chris Parks, Scott Bennett, Colt Doherty, Elaine Otte, Alisha Wagner, Dolly Bergmann, David Kalny, Keith Leonard, Rae Ome Conn, Lana Westphalen.

They offer great outdoor patio seating, as well as plenty of indoor seating for you and your friends when your favorite teams are playing. Since their official opening in early spring of this year, they have been a huge hit amongst the people of Atlantic, and they hope to continue bringing in new customers.

Touchdown is located at 1105 W 7th Street, Atlantic, IA, 50022. They are open from 11 am-10 pm, Monday-Sunday. For more information you can visit their website https://touchdownbeerngrill.com/ or their Facebook page, @TouchdownBeer&Grill.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s rodeo season in Iowa and Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association president Rich Baker says the sport is growing in popularity. “It kind of keeps the rural way of life going,” Baker says, “and the idea of a cowboy and cattle has always been something that a lot of people like.” Beyond bull and bronc riding events, competitors on horseback do things like rope cattle or race around barrels. Baker says there’s been more interest in all the events.  “A lot more recently on the women’s side as well,” Baker says. “Breakaway roping has really progressed a lot to where there’s a lot of younger girls get involved in that and that’s helping to grow the sport as well.”

The Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association is a non-profit that currently represents about 300 contestants in rodeos.  “We have some people that start in the amateur level and go on to the pro level and then sometimes from pro level come back, “Baker says. “It’s very similar to a farm system for baseball.” The organization started in 1976 with about 180 members.  “People wanting to be in the sport, but not necessarily being full-on professional having to competing against some at the best level, but have some of a more local, regionalized type of thing,” Baker says. “It’s kind of a family-oriented organization.” Baker’s father was a founding member of the Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association.

(Photo courtesy of Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association)

“About half of the original board was from the big town of Brighton, Iowa, which is where I still reside today,” Baker says. “He got me started into it and as I got old enough to go, started doing more — and I actually have a son now who’s in it, so it’s kind of a generational thing for my family.” The majority of outdoor rodeos happen in warmer weather. The Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctions between 40 to 60 rodeos each year. The season ends in September with the finals, to be held at the fairgrounds in Oskaloosa this year. “We basically take the top 15 in each of our events to that year-end finals,” Baker says, “and then crown a year-end champion in each event.” The top four in each category are awarded a belt buckle — and the winner in each event gets a saddle as well as a commemorative buckle.

In 2024, the audience for televised professional rodeo competitions ranked 7th among major sports, with an estimated 43 million viewers.