Today is “News/Talk 1540 KXEL Day” in the state of Iowa, following issuance of a proclamation yesterday by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in a ceremony at the state capitol in Des Moines. Earlier, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart and Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell each signed similar proclamations designating “News/Talk 1540 KXEL Day” in their respective cities. KXEL was the first station in the U.S. to begin broadcasting with the maximum 50,000-watt clear channel signal when it signed on from downtown Waterloo studios on Jul. 14, 1942.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines police dive team will resume searching for an 11-year-old girl who hasn’t been seen since she got off an inflatable raft in the Raccoon River. Police say officers and firefighters were called to the river just before 6 p.m. Wednesday to check a report of a child who fell into the water. They learned the girl had been in the raft with two other children when she got off, went underwater and didn’t resurface. The city’s fire department water emergency team searched the river and banks without success, and the police dive team responded. They didn’t find the girl and searchers were resuming their efforts Thursday morning.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is going to survey the southern border today and tomorrow. In a news release, Sen. Ernst said she’s joining Texas Republican Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz for a trip to the Rio Grande Valley. Sen. Ernst said the senators are expected to participate in a night border tour with law enforcement, and meet with local landowners to discuss the impact of the open border on local communities. Earlier this week, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds blamed the situation at the southern border for a surge in drug trafficking that she said has resulted in a fentanyl overdose epidemic. Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott authorized state forces to apprehend and transport migrants to the southern border.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley said it would be unconstitutional to restrict people from traveling across state lines for abortion access. The comment comes in response to several states considering legislation to prevent women from doing so. Grassley said lawmakers cannot stop people from traveling anyplace they want to. He said it’s a constitutional issue, and a freedom. The issue gained traction after the nation’s highest court overturned Roe v Wade. The ruling put the regulation of abortion access up to the states.
