(Radio Iowa) – The law now allows you to shoot off fireworks today (Thursday) and tomorrow. State Fire Marshal Dan Brown says with fireworks legal to shoot off on private property for the first time in years, take precautions. “You know, just being safe. You know, having that water source there next to you in case something does light on fire with the fireworks,” he says.

Brown says be sure you are using fireworks in a safe place. “Staying away from building, staying away, dry grass and and fields and you know, just general, watching what you’re doing when you are lighting them off,” he says, “not pointing them at each other and just things like that. Use them in a safe manner.”

(RI photo)

You can shoot off fireworks today until 10 p-m and July 4th from 9 a-m until 11 p-m. (In the City of Atlantic: The City Council in June, set the times as being from 9-a.m. until 11-p.m., July 3rd, 4th, and 5th)

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report a man from Nebraska was arrested today (Thursday), on drug charges. 32-year-old Dakota Stewart, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested for OWI/1st offense, possession of a controlled substance, and possession drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $2,300. Stewart was subsequently released on a Recognizance Bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans will be celebrating the nation’s independence tonight by lighting the fuse on fireworks, and those big booms can be confusing and upsetting for some pets. Michelle Casey, with the Humane Society, says it’s likely -not- a good idea to take your dog to a fireworks display, either a big professional show or in your backyard.

“You never know when those fireworks start to go off or those loud noises, you never know how a dog’s going to react. So, I would suggest keeping your pets inside the house, somewhere where they’re secure during fireworks displays,” Casey says. “It can be really very stressful, and dogs can experience a lot of anxiety from that.”

Casey says if your pet does not like fireworks, consider getting some dog-specific anxiety medication before the -next- Independence Day.

Radio Iowa photo

“The big thing, I would say, is just keep your pets inside. During Fourth of July, you can turn on some music, turn on the TV, something like that, to kind of drown out the sound,” she says.

“And then, of course, you can speak to your veterinarian, if you think that your pet might require some medication to make them more comfortable.”

Casey also recommends using a weighted “thunder shirt” for dogs to help keep them calm.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Republicans who represent Iowa in the U.S. House will be voting to approve the bill that implements President Trump’s priorities, including an extension of the tax cuts he signed into law in 2017. “President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill will dramatically grow our economy. It’s the largest tax cut in American history for families, farmers, workers and small businesses,” Fourth district Congressman Randy Feenstra said in a speech on the House floor early this morning. “…We must pass this bill to unleash economic growth and rural prosperity.” Feenstra said the bill will “virtually eliminate” the estate tax by permanently raising the amount someone can inherit — without paying federal taxes — to $15 million,”which will help save two million family farms. Additionally, this legislation fully funds the border wall, hires more ICE and Border Patrol agents and creates American energy independence.”

The bill phases out tax credits for wind and solar production, a move U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said removes distortions in the market and will unleash energy production that works without subsidies. Iowa’s three other representatives in the U-S House posted video messages online about their support for bill. Third district Congressman Zach Nunn of Bondurant recorded his just as the sun was rising today. “This is what delivering for the American people looks like,” Nunn said, “this is what we were elected to do and this is why I’m proud to send it into law.”

Second district Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion emphasized the new tax provisions in the bill. “No tax on tips, no tax on overtime,” Hinson said, “and we’re focusing on protecting our seniors by increasing the amount you’re able to deduct from your Social Security earnings.” First district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Davenport said she’s “delighted” House Republicans will be able to get the bill “across the finish line” and to the president’s desk by July 4. “It helps our small businesses and it helps our farmers,” Miller-Meeks said. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart hosted a mid-morning rally to blast the bill. “If we’re going to have a ‘golden age,’ we’ve got to start making better decisions,” Hart said.

Hart and other speakers said the bill will put Iowa hospitals and nursing homes at risk and raise energy costs by phasing out tax credits for wind energy. “Does that seem fair to you?” Hart asked the crowd. “Does that even make any sense?” Dave Reid of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers said the bill puts America’s energy future at risk. “Developers are pulling back,” Reid said, “more instability in our national energy system at the worst possible time.” Sandy Holland, a nurse from Missouri Valley, said she’s worried about the impact on Medicaid payments for nursing homes and rural hospitals. “I have worked in rural Iowa my entire career. I know how many people come through our E.R.,” she said. “Do they really think these services are going to continue?”

The event was held in Windsor Heights, which is in Congressman Zach Nunn’s district. Hart urged the crowd to keep calling Nunn’s office and urge him to vote no on the bill.”Speak up, stand up, show up — that’s what you’ve been doing. That’s what we’ve got to keep doing,” Hart said. “Let’s make this message heard all over the country.”

It’s unclear when the House will vote. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has been speaking on the floor since just before 4 a.m. Iowa time. Under House rules, both Jeffries and the House Majority Leader are allowed to speak as long as they wish before House members start to vote.

ATLANTIC, IA — The Atlantic Community School District is asking residents to share their input on a potential November bond referendum aimed at addressing facility needs across the district.
The anonymous survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and is available online at https://dgsurveys.com/r/AtlanticCSD2025. Paper copies are also available at the district’s central office at 1406 SW 7th St. in Atlantic. The survey will remain open through July 13, 2025.

“We encourage all of our residents to use this opportunity to learn more about the facility challenges we face and provide feedback about a potential general obligation bond referendum in November,” said Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen. “The Board of Education and administration have invested significant time studying these issues and exploring project options that will ensure we continue providing an exceptional education experience today and in the future.”

Over the past year, the district has partnered with contractors, architects, and engineers as part of its facility planning to assess its buildings and grounds. This work resulted in a 10-year Facilities Master Plan designed to guide future improvements. A report received this summer identified an estimated $40 million in maintenance, renovations, and new construction projects across multiple campuses. The proposed work includes classroom renovations, upgrades to safety and security systems, infrastructure improvements, and a new fieldhouse at Atlantic High School.

To move forward, at least 60% of Atlantic CSD voters would need to approve a $27 million bond referendum in November. The district would use $13 million in state sales tax revenue and local funds to cover the remaining costs. Atlantic CSD’s current property tax levy is $12.52 per $1,000 of taxable property value. That rate ranks sixth among the nine public school districts in the Hawkeye Ten Conference and is lower than rates in neighboring districts serving Nodaway Valley, Riverside, and Griswold.

(Radio Iowa) – The early prediction and pattern of records is leaning toward July being warmer than normal. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the Climate Prediction Center is the first indication. “Seeing a warm signal through the first half of July, but we also see, at least in the six to ten-day outlooks, a lean towards wetter conditions, and then trending back to near normal as we get into the middle of the month,” he says. Glisan says there is a part of Iowa that could be part of a Midwest dry area.

“That covers a portion of southwestern Iowa, so higher probabilities of drier conditions for that part of the state equal chances for the rest of Iowa, he says. Dry weather would follow what he sees in the record books. “If you look at the last 10 years, we have seen a trend in which we see less rainfall in July. So, we’ll just have to see if those outlooks mesh with what the trends have been showing us,” Glisten says . But it’s good that we got the amount of moisture that we did in, in June, which is the lettuce months climatologically for the northern two-thirds of the state.”

Glisan says the June rain will give us a little cushion if things end up being drier in July.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Senior Life Solutions conference room in Greenfield will be the site for a discussion on cancer, Monday afternoon. Experts from the Iowa Cancer Registry will be on-hand to discuss cancer trends, statistics, and risk factors in Adair County. Their information includes findings in the “Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project.”

The event is free and lunch will be available at no cost, with your free registration by no later than July 3rd. The discussion will be held from Noon until 1-p.m., on July 7^th. It will also be livestreamed via Zoom.

To register, scan this QR code:

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – A Hawkeye Community College program that has served Waterloo residents for nearly 50 years has been forced to halt activity after its federal funding was placed on hold, leaving close to 90 people without aid or a consistent, friendly face. The community college announced this week its Senior Companion Program, an Americorps-funded initiative, has paused operation as its funding is being held and reviewed by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Hawkeye Community College Provost Lynn LaGrone said.

Americorps provides funds for programs working with volunteers ages 55 and older to help older adults with special needs live independently and comfortably through the Senior Companion Program. At Hawkeye Community College, LaGrone said the program operates with a $500,000 budget, $400,000 of which comes from Americorps. College officials, program participants and clients are waiting and hoping the program is deemed valuable enough to the community to get the funding that was already approved by Congress.

Hawkeye Community College has offered the program since 1976, LaGrone said. Before the halt of operations, 52 senior companions helped 78 clients with what they needed most, whether it be transportation, cleaning or just camaraderie. With other federal grant uncertainty in higher education, she said the college was aware this could happen. To ensure clients are aware of what’s going on and understand why their companions are no longer stopping by as usual, Executive Director of Public Relations and Marketing Mary Pat Moore said the program head is calling each client personally to “let them know that we’re not abandoning them” and provide advice and resources to try to fill the gap.

(From left) John Bruce Jr., Vicky Buss, Gloria Morgan and Alice Reed celebrate a milestone in volunteering for the Hawkeye Community College Senior Companion Program. (Photo courtesy of Hawkeye Community College)

Vicky Buss, a second-generation companion who followed in her mother’s footsteps, said she gets paid $4 an hour to meet with three clients multiple times each week. What she does depends on the client’s wishes and needs, she said, but they are always overjoyed to see her stop by and sad to see her go. “It’s not the money, per se, but it’s just that I feel like these people are people, human beings, and they need the companionship, they need the hugs, they need the caring, you know, and they don’t get that other (than) from us,” Buss said. With many of the clients homebound and volunteers all being older adults, the program helps alleviate isolation alongside more practical problems.

The college has started exploring other funding options in case its federal dollars are permanently lost, but LaGrone said she is remaining “cautiously optimistic” that the funds will be released and the program can continue on like normal. As one of the college’s oldest programs, the community doesn’t want to let it slip away. Some of the companions are still going out to visit their clients, on their own time and dime, LaGrone said, because of the deep connections and caring the program has facilitated. Buss said she plans to keep seeing at least one of her clients, who has cerebral palsy and always cries when she has to leave. “I just don’t understand why the government ain’t working with us and helping us out to help them, because in the long run, we’re helping them out, keeping people in their homes,” Buss said.

(Radio Iowa) – The gates open at the Iowa State Fairgrounds at noon today in advance of tonight’s (Thursday night’s) appearance by President Trump. He’s expected to offer some details about plans for the year-long celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, culminating one year and one day from now. What’s being billed as a “monumental celebration” is planned on July 4th of 2026. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says Iowa is the perfect place to launch the star-spangled event. “We’re first in pork. We’re first in corn, first in eggs,” Grassley says, “and Iowa is going to be first in starting the one-year celebration leading up to the 250th anniversary of our signing of the Declaration of Independence.”

Iowa promises to be the centerpiece of the celebration, with events to be staged in all 50 states and all U.S. territories. Grassley says he’s looking forward to hearing more about the national plan and Iowa’s role in it. “I will be there listening to the president, maybe having a short few remarks to give before he arrives,” Grassley says. “I’m proud to help celebrate and particularly have the president and start this one-year celebration here in Iowa.”

Tonight’s event at the fairgrounds in Des Moines is free, but tickets are required in advance at America250.org. The program is scheduled to start at 5 PM with Trump’s speech slated for 7:30, to be followed by fireworks. It’s Trump’s first visit to Iowa since he returned to the White House.

(Pocahontas, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in northwest Iowa’s Pocahontas County report a man was arrested June 22nd for allegedly assaulting another man with a machete. Deputies responding to the scene in Rolfe at around 12:30-a.m., located a man who had suffered minor injuries during the incident. Upon further investigation, 38-year-old David Pineda Medrano was arrested, and charged with: Going armed with intent – a Class D Felony; 1st Degree Harassment – an Aggravated Misdemeanor, and Assault causing bodily injury – a Serious Misdemeanor.

His preliminary hearing was held Wednesday (July 2nd). Medrano is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges July 28th.