AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED A SUSPECT IN A CEDAR RAPIDS DRIVE-BY SHOOTING WHICH HAPPENED LAST MONTH. 32-YEAR-OLD MONTEL REED WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY DAVENPORT POLICE, THEN BROUGHT BACK TO CEDAR RAPIDS. REED WAS WANTED AFTER A MAY 3RD INCIDENT WHEN SEVERAL SHOTS WERE FIRED FROM A CAR ON BLAIRS FERRY ROAD. ONE PERSON WAS WOUNDED. ALTHOUGH THE VICTIM’S INJURIES WERE CHARACTERIZED AS NOT LIFE THREATENING, REED IS CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ADDITIONAL GUN CRIMES.
OVER THE WEEKEND, A GROUP OF EDUCATORS HELD A DEMONSTRATION IN DOWNTOWN WATERLOO TO PROTEST A LAW PASSED DURING THIS SPRING’S LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE RULE PREVENTS TEACHERS FROM PRESENTING THEORIES OF SYSTEMIC BIAS OR PREJUDICE. FORMER HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER DENNY MCCABE SPOKE WITH OUR COVERAGE PARTNERS AT TV-9 ABOUT HIS REACTION TO THE NEW IOWA LAW. THE NEW CURRICULUM RULE WILL BE IN EFFECT WHEN SCHOOL BEGINS IN THE FALL.
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE IS EXPECTED TO VISIT IOWA NEXT MONTH. IOWA FOURTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN RANDY FEENSTRA WILL BE HOSTING A POLITICAL EVENT IN SIOUX CENTER. PENCE IS ANTICIPATED TO BE THE STAR GUEST JULY 16TH DURING THE SO-CALLED “FEENSTRA FAMILY PICNIC.” HE IS ALSO SCHEDULED TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE IN DES MOINES LATER THAT EVENING. PENCE MADE PREVIOUS VISITS TO EARLY PRIMARY STATES NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTH CAROLINA THIS SPRING, LEADING TO SPECULATION ABOUT A CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024.
EXPANDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS HAVE ENDED IN IOWA. THE EXTRA PAYMENTS WERE IMPLEMENTED DUE TO DISRUPTIONS CAUSED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. MANY BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE RECENTLY CITED THE ENHANCED BENEFITS AS A DISINCENTIVE TO WORK AT A TIME WHEN JOB VANCANCIES ARE OUTNUMBERING JOB-SEEKERS. IOWA FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSWOMAN ASHLEY HINSON TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUE RECENTLY DURING AN APPEARANCE ON FOX BUSINESS. HINSON CALLED IOWA THE NUMBER ONE STATE WHEN IT COMES TO RECOVERING FROM COVID-19.
STARTING TOMORROW, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WILL BE MAKING PAYMENTS RELATED TO 2018 AND 2019 NATURAL DISASTERS. THE QUALITY LOSS ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM FUNDS WILL BE SEND OUT OVER SEVERAL WEEKS, COVERING FLOODS, STORMS, AND OTHER WEATHER-RELATED DISRUPTIONS. USDA SAYS IT WILL BE RELEASING MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS AS PART OF THE PROGRAM, WITH A MAXIMUM OF 125 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER PRODUCER, PER CROP YEAR.
THE ODDS OF WINNING MONEY FROM PUBLISHERS CLEARINGHOUSE ARE LONG. THAT ISN’T STOPPING CRIMINALS FROM USING THE SWEEPSTAKES AS PART OF A SCAM, ACCORDING TO CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE. A WARNING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT SAYS THE SCAMMERS CLAIM POTENTIAL VICTIMS NEED TO PROVIDE A PERCENTAGE OF THE PRIZE VALUE IN CASH AS A SERVICE FEE. PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE CONFIRMED THAT ITS PRIZE WINNERS ARE NEVER ASKED TO PAY A FEE TO CLAIM A PRIZE, AND THEY DO NOT CONTACT WINNERS VIA PHONE OR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.
SMOKE FILLED A NORTHEAST CEDAR RAPIDS NEIGHBORHOOD ON SUNDAY EVENING. A FIRE IN THE FOUR-THOUSAND BLOCK OF WEDGEWOOD DRIVE BROUGHT FIRST RESPONDERS TO THE SCENE. A HOME THERE WAS DAMAGED IN THE INCIDENT. ACCORDING TO CEDAR RAPIDS FIRE FIGHTERS, THE FIRE SEEMED TO BE CONCENTRATED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE, ALTHOUGH SOME INTERNAL DAMAGE WAS ALSO REPORTED. NO ONE WAS INJURED, AND OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE STILL INVESTIGATING.
FIRST DISTRICT IOWA CONGRESSWOMAN ASHLEY HINSON SAYS THAT CHINA POSES PROBLEMS FOR THE UNITED STATES WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONAL DEBT. DURING A RECENT APPEARANCE ON THE FOX BUSINESS NETWORK, THE FIRST-TERM REPUBLICAN CALLED FOR TIGHTENING UP FEDERAL SPENDING. HINSON ALSO NOTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AS AN AREA OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA.
GAS PRICES HAVE CLIMBED TO A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF $3.13 PER GALLON FOR REGULAR GRADE BLENDS. CRUDE OIL PRICES ROSE EVEN FASTER DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS. HOWEVER, INDUSTRY ANALYSTS NOTED SIGNS OF CONSUMER RESISTANCE TO PRICES WHICH HAVE BEEN GOING UP SINCE A LOW LAST SUMMER RELATED TO COVID-19.
THE WATERLOO BUCKS ARE THE FIRST NORTHWOODS LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM TO TEN WINS THIS SEASON. NOW WATERLOO GOES ON THE ROAD TO BEGIN A NEW SERIES. THE BUCKS MEET THE ST. CLOUD ROX TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST OF TWO GAMES.
