(Radio Iowa) – After more than three years of construction, traffic is moving on the Iowa-bound lanes across the new highway bridge over the Mississippi River. The west bound lanes of the new I-74 bridge are open between Moline and Bettendorf. George Ryan is the manager of the bridge project. “The weather has cooperated much more in 2020, even with Covid and all the things that are going on…and they’ve made a lot of good headway on the river bridge, as well as on land and we’re happy to open this up.”

Eastbound traffic on I-74 into Illinois will move to the completed side sometime this winter, until the second span of the new bridge is ready next year. Construction on the one-point-two billion dollar project began in the summer of 2017. All lanes should be completed and open, including a bike lane, by late in 2021.

(Radio Iowa) – Don McLean, the singer best known for the song “American Pie,” will be the feature act of the Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. Surf executive director Laurie Lietz says it’ll be McLean’s first appearance at the ballroom since 1994. His performance comes on the golden anniversary of the release of the song honoring the legacy of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, who died in a plane crash after performing at the Surf in 1959. “We’re excited to bring him back,” Lietz says. “2021 actually marks the 50th anniversary of the release of ‘American Pie’. We wanted him for last year’s Winter Dance Party, but he said it was coming up on an anniversary and it would be more special to do it in 2021, and we really think it is. It will just be fun to see some live music, but to do it in a safe way.”

The lineup announcement follows Governor Kim Reynolds’ emergency pandemic proclamation addressing large gatherings. Lietz says the Surf is committed to providing a safe event and will change things to be in line with the guidelines that are happening at that time. “We announced the event just before she made some changes, and fortunately for us, those were things that we are already doing with the reduced group sizes, distancing tables and booths, and wearing masks when they are away from their chairs. We’ve been doing that. Our staff has been wearing masks. We’ve been safely hosting some smaller events, weddings, meetings and celebrations of life all summer long. For us, this is unfortunately business as usual.”

The dance party runs February 3rd through the 6th. The other three days of the event will feature John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party on Thursday night, the Killer Vees & Friends featuring Edan Everly on Friday night, and on Saturday night, Jason D. Williams, the Holy Rocka Rollaz and Austin Allsup. Lietz says the lineup is smaller for a number of reasons. “The first of which is their safety. We just have a very small backstage area and a limited amount of space for them to be back there. We tried very hard to get groups that were fan favorites for people but to keep them self-contained. When they come in, they are already working with people on the bill, and we’re able to keep them safe and distanced.”

Tickets for Don McLean will be sold separately and are $65. A three-day pass for the rest of the Winter Dance Party is $110. Tickets go on sale starting November 24th and may online be purchased online at surfballroom.com or by calling the Surf box office at 641-357-6151.

With 2020 having been a dark time for many families and our neighbors, Akin Building Center stores located in Atlantic, Clarinda, Corning and Creston, are stepping-up to organize a program that will bring new toys and gifts to area families. Organizers of “Operation Be the Light” are asking you to donate new toys and gifts, by dropping them off and any of the four Akin Building Centers mentioned. Due to COVID, the items must be new, and in original packing.

You can nominate a family or neighbor on this form, or stopping-in at any of the four locations and filling out the nomination form. In your nomination, you should include whether the child is a boy or girl, their age, interests, clothing and shoe size (if known). Watch the company’s Facebook page for updates on the families and neighbors who have been nominated, along with the list of their needs. No names will be made public. The only information shared will be simple data such as: Family #1 Girl 10, loves art, size M shirts, size 12 pants.

Akin staff will wrap all donated toys and gifts, and anonymously deliver them to nominated families in need, prior to Christmas. Akins will also be contributing to the toy and gift drive, and helping in other ways, as needed per family.

Akins employees would like to deliver the gifts to selected/nominated families by December 23rd, so drop-off your gift by no later than Dec. 21st to allow time to organize and wrap those gifts.

The Creston Police Department, Friday (today), said officers investigated four incidents, Thursday. Two women, one from Creston and the other from Afton, reported to Police someone had stolen the license plates off their vehicles. Both plates, HUP 779 and CNT 268, are registered in Union County. A woman in Creston reported to Police that sometime overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, someone tried to break into her vehicle in the 600 block of N. Mulberry Street. Damage was estimated at $250.

And, a woman residing in the 300 block of S. Lincoln Street, in Creston, reported Thursday morning, that sometime between 7-and 10-p.m. Wednesday, the rear window of her 2009 KIA Borrego had been broken out. The damage was estimated at $250.

(Radio Iowa) – The two opponents in a congressional race that’s still a toss up are both in Washington, D.C., participating in orientation sessions for new House members. Marinnette Miller-Meeks, the Republican, is ahead of Democrat Rita Hart by 47 votes in the latest count. Hart has asked for a district-wide recount. University of Iowa election law professor Derek Muller says this might be the closest congressional race in 30 years in the United States. “It’s a real rollercoaster for both campaigns right now when the margins are so close, so razor thin.”

Today (Friday), election officials in Lucas County will do a hand recount of ballots from a precinct in Russell where a tabulation error was discovered earlier this week. Data plugged into the system from a pre-election test wound up being reported rather than the actual results. Preliminary results early November 4th showed Miller-Meeks leading, then a counting error in Jasper County was corrected LAST Friday, putting Hart in the lead — but as Jasper and Lucas County recounts progressed, Miller-Meeks crept ahead. “When we think about narrow elections, oftentimes they’re decided by hundreds of votes, so the notion of an election right now with 47 votes separating the candidates, that’s fewer than two votes per county which is just a remarkable margin,” he says.

There are a few other undecided races for congressional seats, in New York and California, where officials are still counting votes for the first time.