(Radio Iowa) – Leaders of the student governments at the three state universities talked about the impact of the proposed tuition increase during the Board of Regents’ meeting Monday. Resident tuition would increase by three percent at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, and two-point-seven percent at U-N-I. University of Iowa student body president Thomas Knudsen. “We know these decisions are not made lightly and we understand that maintaining a high quality education requires resources. But it’s essential to remember that behind these numbers are real students,” Knudsen says. Knudsen says the tuition increase adds to the burden of past increases.

“An additional 279 dollars for the University of Iowa each year for might not seem overwhelming at first glance. For many of us, it’s not just the number, but if this trend continues, it’s the difference between pursuing a four-year degree or pursuing some sort of alternative option,” he says. Knudsen says tuition has gone up 12-hundred dollars, or 12 percent in his time at the U-I. U-N-I student body vice president Gabriel Salazar also talked about the long-term impact. “Yes, there is a need to raise tuition, but how far can we increase these costs until it becomes inaccessible? It is paramount to keep the cost of our tuition down so that future Iowans can grow and succeed,” Salazar says. He pointed out that a majority of U-N-I graduates stay in the state.

“On behalf of the students of U-N-I and the students of the state of Iowa, I ask you to invest in us, help us make our education accessible to all, with scholarships, grants, expanding programs, anything that contributes to the student success so that graduates from our Iowa universities can strive and make a difference in the world. Let us fuel Iowa’s economy and let Iowa stride into the future with pride,” he says. I-S-U student body president Colby Brandt says he understands the need for the tuition increase.

“But we have thousands of students becoming increasingly concerned about affordability, access and the burden of student debt over the long term,” Brandt says. “For many of us, even a modest tuition increase creates real financial strain. It’s another shift at work, another loan application, another question about whether we’ll be able to afford textbooks, housing, or simply stay enrolled.” Brandt says some students feel the burden more than others. “This is especially true for students who are working class, fist generation students, and students who come from rural areas,” he says. “These students who are coming to our public universities seeking opportunity, and they’re the students who are most likely to feel the impacts of the proposed tuition increase.”

The proposal to resident tuition also comes with an increase in mandatory fees by three percent at the U-I, two-point-seven percent at U-N-I, and one-point-seven percent at I-S-U. The Regents will vote on the tuition and fees increases at their June meeting.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council has a full agenda for their meeting Wednesday evening in their Chambers at City Hall. Several of the agenda items pertain to City streets:

• The Council will act on an Order approving the closure of 6th Street between Poplar and Chestnut from 3:30-until 7-p.m. every Thursday, from June 5th through Sept. 25th, for “Produce in the Park” (PIP), at the downtown Atlantic City Park. Chesnut Street will NOT be closed for the events, except on August 7th, when a firetruck will hold water games for PIP from 4-until 6:45-p.m.; The Order also will allow a “Produce in the Park” banner to be stretched above Chestnut Street from late May through mid-October.
• The Atlantic City Council will act on a request by Councilwoman Emily Kennedy, to hold discussion with regard to a proposed 4-way Stop Sign at 29th and Palm Streets (with regard to Ordinance 1052), followed by the 2nd Reading of that ordinance adding a 4-way stop sign at 29th & Palm. The 1st reading was passed by the Council during their meeting May 7th. That ordinance, and the following amended ordinances are intended to slow traffic in the area, for public safety purposes:
  • The 2nd reading of Ordinance 1050, which calls for No Parking on 10th Street from Locust to the east alley to the north side of the road.
  • The 2nd reading of Ordinance 1051, which reduces the speed limit on Chestnut Street from 29th to the southern City Limits, from 35-mph to 25-mph.
  • The 2nd reading of Ordinance 1053, which reduces the speed limit on 29th St. from Chestnut to Palm, from 35-mph to 25-,mph.
  • The 2nd reading of Ordinance 1054, which reduces the speed limit on 29th Street between Palm St. and the 700 block of W. 29th, from 50-mph to 35-mph.
  • and, the 2nd reading of Ordinance 1055, which reduces the speed limit on 22nd St. between Palm and Chestnut, to 35-mph.

The Council will discuss and possibly act on a recommendation from Police Chief Devin Hogue, for 2025 Fireworks dates, as: July 3rd, from Noon-until 11-p.m.; July 4th, from Noon-until Midnight, and July 5th, from Noon until 11-p.m. That’s the same 3-day schedule the City has had for multiple years, prior to the last two years. when the 4th was during the week, and the City allowed fireworks for 4 days instead of 3.

On Monday (May 19th), Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law Senate File 303, which prevents Iowa cities and counties from prohibiting or limiting the use of fireworks on July 3, 4 and Dec. 31.  Iowans must still follow state laws regulating the use of fireworks, like a ban on fireworks sales to minors or the use of “display” fireworks without local permission, during these three days. However, other further restrictions could not be set by local jurisdictions.

View the full Atlantic City Council Agenda here: City Council Agenda Packet 05-21-2025-min-compressed

(Radio Iowa) – Another dry week allowed farmers to spend a lot of time planting. The U-S-D-A report shows the corn planted jumped from 76 to 91 percent in the last week. That’s 12 days ahead of last year and four days ahead of the five-year average. The north-central region, with 97 percent, and the northwest, with 96 percent, lead the way in corn planting. Soybean planting moved from 64 to 84 percent complete, eight days ahead of last year and six days ahead of normal.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 1-p.m. Monday, of 32-year-old Cody Dean Johnson, from Red Oak. Johnson was taken into custody for Theft in the 5th Degree. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested on separate charges, Monday night. At around 8:20-p.m., Deputies arrested 36-year-old Bryceton Lee Flathers, of Red Oak, on an active Montgomery County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Driving While Barred. Flathers was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

And, at around 11:30-p.m., Deputies in Montgomery County arrested 46-year-old Melissa Marie Schebaum, of Shenandoah, for Harassment in the 2nd Degree. She was arrested in Red Oak and posted a $1,000 bond before being released.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans aren’t imagining things if they think they’re seeing more cars being pulled over along the state’s roads by law enforcement lately. A Special Traffic Enforcement Program, or STEP, is underway now through June 1st. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Paul Gardner says this STEP focuses on making sure people are belted in, and that drivers aren’t impaired or driving distracted.

“We’ve got graduations, a lot of last-minute school events that come out because school will be out for the summer, a lot of events going on,” Garnder says. “So this is the gateway to summer and this is definitely one of our busiest travel times throughout the year. We’ll see more vehicles on the road. They’re estimating an increase in travel not only in Iowa but nationwide.” Distracted driving is becoming a larger problem in Iowa, Gardner says, and he urges motorists to concentrate on the road.

“Typically, we think of distracted driving involving a cell phone, but there’s so many other distractions. You may be looking at billboards, talking to passengers, changing the radio station, all kinds of things that can take your attention away from the road,” Gardner says. “Cell phones are definitely a hybrid version of distracted driving, especially now, because everything is done on the cell phone it seems.” Gardner says cell phones are the focus of much attention during this STEP, and phones will be even more top-of-mind later this summer.

Iowa State Patrol photo

“We’re going to be enacting a hands-free bill that has been passed through the Iowa legislature,” Gardner says, “that will make holding a cell phone or communicating on a cell phone, whether it be a phone call or a text while you’re physically holding a cell phone and you’re behind the wheel, that will be illegal across the board coming July 1st.” Law officers will only be able to give you a warning for now, but starting January 1st, holding a cell phone while driving may bring a 100-dollar fine.

Gardner, who’s based in Fort Dodge, urges anyone who may be drinking during holiday weekend events to find a safe way home, whether it’s through a designated driver, a taxi or a ride-sharing service. Also, he reminds, seat belts save lives. “My advice to those who are traveling, make sure everyone’s buckled up in your vehicle, no matter how long of a trip you’re taking, whether it be just a few blocks down the street or if you plan on taking a longer trip across the state or regionally, make sure that you and your passengers are completely buckled up,” Gardner says.

“Those who are under 18, if you have children in there, even teenagers under 18, no matter where they’re seated in the vehicle, have to be restrained.” A report from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau finds 44-percent of the people who died on Iowa roads last year were unbuckled, which translates to 108 lives lost. In a G-T-S-B survey of Iowans, 88% reported always buckling up in the front seat, while 67% say they always buckle up in the back seat.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say “operator inexperience” led to an accident Monday afternoon, when a box truck became high-centered on a barrier near a convenience store’s gas pump.

According to the report, at around 11:42-a.m., employees of the Casey’s Store on E. Townline Street told police the left side of a delivery truck turned too sharply and struck a metal barrier. The barrier became stuck under the rear wheel well of the 2024 Ford E-350 box truck, operated by 20-year-old Brenton Vanderpluym, of Creston. The box truck had to be removed from the barrier by a tow truck.

Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000. The barrier post sustained about $200 damage, according to police. No citations were issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — Gov. Kim Reynolds signed 25 bills into law Monday, including measures related to fireworks, school funding and First Amendment rights.

The slate of bills signed is the first action on legislation Reynolds has taken since the 2025 legislative session adjourned Thursday. However, these are not the first bills she has signed this year — the governor has already signed into law several measures, including high-profile laws like the ban on using cellphones while driving outside of handsfree or voice-activated modes, and the removal of gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

There are still many other measures awaiting Reynolds’ signature that passed this session. The governor has until June 14 — 30 days from the end of session — to sign bills passed this year into law. Measures she does not sign during this period are considered a “pocket veto” and do not become law.

The Governor’s press release provided a list of some of the bills Reynolds she signed into law, Monday:

(Creston, Iowa) – A man on a bicycle complained of pain and was transported by ambulance to the hospital, following a collision with a car Monday afternoon, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, 75-year-old Helen Waddell, of Creston, was driving a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Birch Street at around 4:24-p.m.  She stopped at the controlled intersection with Irving Street, before proceeding into the intersection, where her SUV was struck by a westbound bicycle, occupied by 54-year-old Charles Balius, of Creston.

Balius suffered suspected serious/incapacitating injuries in the collision, and was transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center by EMS.

The impact caused about $500 damage to the SUV. No citations were issued, but the police report indicated a contributing factor to the accident was Waddell’s failure to yield from a stop sign.

(Radio Iowa) – The bridge over the Mississippi River between Lansing, Iowa and DeSoto, Wisconsin is again closed to traffic for at least a week. Clayton Burke, an engineer with the Iowa Department of Transportation, says they had to close the structure on Saturday night.

“Our monitoring system was identifying that the bridge had moved beyond our safety thresholds and the engineering firm performing the monitoring was recommending that we close the bridge,” Burke says. “Now we’re trying to figure out what happened and analyze the bridge to see if it’s still safe to reopen.”

Burke says they have not determined a reason for the apparent movement of the bridge, but they’re focusing on two possibilities. “We did have construction work going on adjacent to the bridge on Saturday that involved driving some pipe pile with a vibratory hammer, which previously we had tested and found that it did not affect the bridge,” Burke says. “We’re also looking into if there were any un-permitted or any oversized loads that were crossing the bridge.”

Mississippi River bridge at Lansing. (File photo, Iowa DOT)

All of the instrumentation involved is being double-checked. “If the sensors are accurate, then it’s going to come down to, we have to do a detailed and thorough analysis to make sure the bridge is still safe to open,” Burke says, “and that could maybe take a week or so.” A new bridge is being built beside the current bridge and construction work on that new structure is also being halted.

“We have to make sure that everybody’s safe, the public and the contractor,” Burke says. “While we don’t know the condition of the existing bridge, we don’t feel that it’s safe for the contractor to be working next to it until we evaluate the structure and deem that it is safe.”

The bridge was closed for a similar reason in February and March of 2024. The nearest bridges for vehicle traffic to cross the Mississippi River are at La Crescent, Minnesota/Lacrosse, Wisconsin, or Marquette, Iowa/Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.