Gazette Daily News Podcast: Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024

– They’re not used in Iowa. So why did a bill to ban credit card codes for gun purchases advance?

– Child killed in Cedar County UTV crash

– Woman killed in Cedar County fire Tuesday

– Stabilizing Lansing bridge of the Mississippi River could take months

– Sherry Bates elected president of Iowa Board of Regents

Episode Transcript

You are listening to the Gazette Daily News Podcast on Thursday, February 29. This podcast gives quick bites from the latest headlines coming out of The Gazette newsroom. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Coming up, a bill that would ban credit card codes for Iowa gun shops advances

And later, an 11-year-old from Wheatland, Iowa was died after a UTV crash in Cedar County

Plus, stabilizing the Black Hawk Bridge over the Mississippi River could take months. Stay tuned for more details.

First, An Iowa Senate subcommittee advanced a bill Wednesday already passed by the house that bans the use of merchant codes for credit card transactions at gun retailers. The use of the codes is meant to detect suspicious firearms and ammunitions sales. Lobbyists and representatives from Iowa’s credit unions said credit card companies don’t plan to use the codes in Iowa, so there’s no need for the bill. Supporters of the bill have said the bill aims to prevent financial institutions from creating a de facto gun registry. House File 2464 would prevent banks and credit card companies from using a merchant code that would differentiate stores like a gun shop from a sporting goods store, for example. The bill would also prohibit banks and credit card companies from declining a transaction solely based on the firearms code attached to the store. It would also prevent state and local governmental agencies from keeping a record or registry of privately owned firearms. This excludes records kept during criminal investigations and court cases.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has shared guidance with financial institutions on how to use new merchant category codes that would help monitor and report suspicious activity relating to illegal firearms arms trafficking and other criminal activity. Plus, major credit card companies are making a merchant code available for firearm and ammunition retailers to comply with a new California law that would allow banks to potentially track and report suspicious gun purchases. But Visa, Mastercard and American Express have paused implementing the new code because some Republican-led states are working to block its enactment.

Gun rights advocates say the code is an infringement on privacy and Second Amendment rights. Iowa Firearms Coalition board member and volunteer lobbyist Richard Rogers said, quote, “There is a movement… to try to identify people who buy firearms or firearms-related equipment, and to make a judgment–a subjective judgment–on whether that’s proper, whether they bought too much, whether they bought the right things or the wrong things, we think this is important to protect privacy.” end quote.

Lobbyist with the Iowa Credit Union League Madison Grady told lawmakers quote, “We just don’t see a need for (the bill) right now. We’re not currently storing any of this firearms information.” end quote. Grady said representatives from Visa have assured the credit union league that the firearm code will only be used in California.

Next, a child was killed in a UTV crash in rural Wheatland on Tuesday. According to a crash report from the Iowa State Patrol, the 11-year-old passenger in a UTV that was being driven by a 10-year-old has died after the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll. The crash took place on the 2300 block of 210th Street in rural Cedar County. Both children were taken by ambulance to Genesis East Hospital in Davenport where the 11-year-old died. The crash report did not indicate the severity of the other child’s injuries or identify the children. Both children were from Wheatland, Iowa. The crash is under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

Additionally, a woman was killed Tuesday in a house fire in rural Cedar County. The Cedar County Sheriff’s office responded to 117 Hoover Highway around 5 p.m. Tuesday to a report of a house fire. The resident of the home, 77-year-old Janet Stafford-Becthold was found dead. According to a news release, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Next, an update on the closure of Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing. Engineers have determined that there has been a quote “slight” end quote movement in two bridge piers. These piers are located near the construction site of a new $140 million bridge. That site is located just 50 feet north of Black Hawk Bridge and construction is not expected to be completed until the end of 2026. Black Hawk Bridge has been closed since movement was found Sunday and now it could take up to two months to stabilize it.

The Iowa DOT estimates that about 2,200 people use the Black Hawk Bridge to cross the Mississippi daily. Now, the Iowa DOT is working on quote “alternative transportation options for those who rely on the bridge” end quote but no additional details were provided. The Iowa DOT said that work to stabilize the two bridge piers is already underway but the bridge will not reopen until it is deemed safe.

Next, a new president of the Iowa Board of Regents has been elected. Sherry Bates will succeed Michael Richards who announced in January his plans to resign from the board in April. Richards served as president for seven of his eight years on the board. On Wednesday, Bates was selected unanimously by board members to fill the spot. Bates has been serving as interim president since Richards’ announcement and has been on the board since December 2014. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will nominate a new regent to fill out the nine-member volunteer board. Although the board must maintain a gender and political balance, the board currently has four women and five republicans, including Richards. Bates identifies among the three independents on the board, with Regent Nancy Dunkel as the sole Democrat. Reynolds can choose either a man or a woman of any political affiliation.

As always, you can find a link to each of the stories featured in today’s episode in this episode’s description or at the gazette dot com.

Finally, let’s take a look at the weather in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Today will be sunny with a high of 51 degrees and a low of 31 degrees. Tomorrow will also be sunny. Expect a high of 55 degrees and a low of 34 degrees.

Thank you for listening to the Gazette Daily News Podcast. Stay up to date with the latest news from Eastern Iowa at the gazette dot com. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Comments: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com