CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) – According to the State Fire Marshall, 7 people died because of fires in Northeastern Iowa during the last week. Therefore, the Cedar Falls Fire Department is emphasizing fire Safety. First, it’s important to have smoke alarms in each bedroom, on every floor of your home, and outside each sleeping area. It’s also important not to paint the smoke alarms, which can keep the alarms from working. All smoke alarms in your house should also be programmed to go off if one alarm goes off. Remember, you should replace the batteries in all your alarms each year and get new smoke alarms every decade. During the winter, incorrectly using space heaters can also cause fires. Make sure everything that can burn is 3 feet or more away from your space heater. This includes curtains and tablecloths. Space heaters should also be kept on a flat and solid surface. Get a space heater that has an automatic shut off switch that will turn off the heater if it gets too hot. Checking your heater for any damaged plugs or cords is also important. Space heaters should never be plugged into an extension cord, only into wall outlets.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – More than 300 people have died on Iowa’s roadways, according to the latest data from state officials. Through Friday, Nov. 18, 302 people were killed in traffic incidents, which is higher than the five-year average to date of 289. However, it is 10 fewer fatalities than 2021 recorded through the same date. Iowa has seen a slow but steady increase in roadway fatalities over the past four years, from a recent low total of 319 in 2018. Overall deaths have fallen significantly since the 1980s and 1990s, despite a growing population statewide. The largest number of people killed in traffic incidents was 912 in 1970. Over two-thirds of traffic deaths in the state occur in rural areas, according to the data. About 44% of the people killed are not wearing a seatbelt in a vehicle that has them when the crash occurs.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — It’s common knowledge for central Iowans that it usually takes only about 30 minutes to get from the entrance doors to Des Moines International Airport’s departure gates. But don’t count on that to hold true during Thanksgiving week, when airport officials expect passenger traffic to reach or exceed prepandemic levels. They also cautioned it might be a good idea to start building in some extra time even for nonholiday travel. The airport has experienced a 67% increase in passengers over the past 10 years, despite a sharp decline in 2020, when COVID-19 put a major crimp in travel. Especially this year, passengers have been flocking back. October was the first month that saw traffic exceed its prepandemic level, with nearly 248,000 passengers using the airport compared to 245,649 during the same month in 2019, according to Des Moines Airport Authority statistics. The coming holiday surge will likely put to the test temporary fixes made over the years as the airport awaits construction of a planned larger terminal.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – State records show the group trying to build a casino in Cedar Rapids started donating thousands of dollars to politicians around the final days of the 2022 midterm election. City leaders in Cedar Rapids were concerned about how other casino companies’ donations influenced legislation, which stopped the state from issuing another license to open a casino for two years. According to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board records, Brent Stevens donated around $60,000. Stevens is the group’s only contributor and is the founder and chairman for Peninsula Pacific Entertainment. The PAC gave around $47,000 to around 30 different candidates from both major political parties. However, the largest donations went to Republican party leaders.
