Week in Iowa, Sept. 29, 2024: Recap of news from across the state

Most speeding cameras turned off: Only 11 fixed automated traffic cameras in just five Iowa cities have been approved by the state and the vast majority of the cameras for speed enforcement were turned off Tuesday.

The Iowa Department of Transportation made rulings on 348 permit requests from 28 Iowa municipalities, which under a new state law were required to justify the use of traffic enforcement cameras that are used to identify and cite drivers who violate speed limits.

There are now fixed automated traffic cameras for speed enforcement in just five Iowa cities: four each in Cedar Rapids and Davenport, and one each in LeClaire, Des Moines and Marshalltown.

The state rejected all speed camera fixed locations in Marion — at Highway 13 at Highway 151 and Highway 100 at East Post Road.

And among the speed cameras rejected for Cedar Rapids are at two of the four locations around the S-curve near downtown on Interstate 380 — at I-380 at J Avenue (northbound) and at I-380 at First Avenue (southbound).

DCI probe: State investigators are probing complaints against a secretive group that recruited fervent Donald Trump supporters to run as spoiler candidates. Stephanie Jones, a GOP activist and loyal supporter of the former president and Republican presidential nominee, was targeted by the Patriots Run Project to run as an independent against Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Jones, who ultimately never made it on the ballot, believes those behind the effort were genuine and has said there’s no information to substantiate claims that Democrats were involved in the effort. And the Patriots Run Project also recruited Trump supporter Joe Wiederien to run against Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn. But Wiederien dropped out after realizing he had been duped.

New casino: Iowa’s gambling regulators had few questions Thursday as local officials presented plans for a proposed $275 million Cedar Rapids casino, saying they need more time to delve into the several hundred page application and intend to ask more questions during a site visit next month. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will be in Cedar Rapids on Nov. 20 to gather comments from the public at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center and then take a tour of the proposed casino site at the former Cooper’s Mill property in northwest Cedar Rapids.

They said ...

“The Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus was born to a vision — a vision of a place where collaboration wasn’t just an aspiration but a lived reality. … This new building … is a testament to the unwaveringly belief that we can achieve extraordinary things when we work together.” — Steve Wild, president of Charles E. Lakin Foundation, which last week announced a $165 million investment in southwest Iowa communities.

“India’s increasing demand for clean energy sources like biofuels — ethanol especially — and sustainable aviation fuel, as well as livestock feed demand … but also high quality protein, pork and beef, turkey, eggs, soybean — this all aligns really well, in fact seamlessly, with what the Iowa farmer can supply."— Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig

Odds and ends

Fritz dies: Frank Fritz, the Davenport native who found fame as an “American Picker,” died Monday at age 60. Fritz suffered a stroke in July 2022 and fought since that time to regain his mobility and strength. He spent two-plus years in and out of inpatient rehab, the hospital and, ultimately, hospice care.

Jan. 6 riot: A northwest Iowa man and his brother face federal charges of assaulting police and attempting to enter the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Earl Jordan, 50, of Dickens, was arrested last week in Spencer and faces felony charges.

Water cooler

Misspent funds: Stephen Mayne, a former Tama County conservation director, improperly used public funds for personal purchases, including a fuel pump, ammunition and home remodeling materials, according to an 81-page state audit published Wednesday.

Overseas trip: Iowa already is seeing the fruits of a recent 10-day trade trip to India, with hopes of more results to come soon, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and other state leaders said Wednesday.

Not in a rush: Gov. Kim Reynolds told reporters Wednesday that it would require moving too fast to name a new lieutenant governor before the Nov. 5 election. Former Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg resigned last month.