Drought prompts caution for Independence Day fireworks
Northeast Iowa facing a dry spell as July Fourth events proceed with fire truck standby and watered launch pads. Officials in Iowa City with a peace march plan limited displays and heightened oversight for sparklers and bottle rockets. Statewide bans and local advisories urge fire safety and concrete surfaces for legally sold fireworks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
al Lenway
Veterans Council
May’s Island
Linn County
Iowa City
Johnson County
Larry Kinney
Johnson, Mahaska
Dubuque
Cedar Counties
Benton County Parks Ban All Open Fires and Fireworks
Benton County bans all open burning in parks river accesses and wilderness areas due to extreme dryness. The rule bars campfires charcoal fires and fireworks on lands under the Conservation Department including Hannen Park and Rodgers Park with exceptions for licensed vehicles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Vinton
Benton County
Benton County Conservation Department
Russ Grime
Hannen
Blairstown
Rodgers
Cedar Rapids
Spirit Lake mother recalls gut feeling before son's Marine death
Frances Watkins of Spirit Lake spoke to AP about her son Sgt. Jay Watkins 25 who died alongside six Marines in a Ch 53D helicopter crash on Shikoku Island Japan during a routine flight. Watkins planned to return home on July 20 for leave with his wife and daughter.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Spirit Lake
Japan
Frances Watkins
Jay Watkins
Shikoku Island
Watkins
Jay
Associated Press
Perry
Ray Jr
Michelle
Ashley
Spirit Lake High School
Marine Corps
Elizabeth Kerstens
Supreme Court broadens government contractor defense in Challenger case
The court ruled government contractors may be shielded from design defect suits when serving federal interests. The decision links to the Challenger disaster and a Sikorsky helicopter case, with dissenters warning overreach and potential impact on civilian suits. The ruling cites public policy and Congress as guardrails, while noting the split on extending protections beyond military gear.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Antonin Scalia
United States
Scalia
William Brennan
Congress
Brennan
Monday
David Boyle
Boyle
4Th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Sikorsky Aircraft
United Technologies Corp
Sikorsky
Navy
Supreme Court
4Th Circuit Court
William Rehnquist
Byron White
Sandra Day O’connor
Anthony Kennedy
Thurgood Marshall
Harry Blackmun
John Paul Stevens
MorAmerica plans revised S&L opening with phased paybacks
MorAmerica proposes a new S&L United Security Savings Bank with half the initial deposits paid in three equal installments at opening, on year one, and year two. Charles Cebuhar says federal insurance approval should follow, enabling a possible Oct. 1 launch if bankruptcy court changes are approved.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
S&l — United Security Savings Bank
MorAmerica
Charles Cebuhar
The
Gazette
Iowa
Cation
Cebuhar
S&l
Supreme Court narrows Brookfield picketing ordinance scope
The Court says the Brookfield ordinance bans only picketing at individual residences and permits general messaging, limiting targeted home demonstrations while allowing broader protests. Dissenters argue the rule is too broad and restricts expressive picketing near homes. Separate rulings touch on warrantless searches and housing-subsidy legal fees.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Afl-Cio
Brookfield
Lorrie McHugh
Labor Organization
Sandra Day O’connor
O’connor
Victoria
John Paul Stevens
Charlie
William Brennan
Milwaukee Coalition For Life
Benjamin Victoria
Dr. Victoria
William Rehnquist
Byron White
Harry Blackmun
Antonin Scalia
Anthony Kennedy
Thurgood Marshall
Stevens
Brennan
Boston
Dukakis Set to Visit Iowa for Drought Talk
Democratic presidential hopeful Michael Dukakis will visit Iowa this week to address the drought issue. He is slated for a Wednesday night appearance at the Hughes farm near Norwalk, after previously canceling plans due to Kitty Dukakis’s back surgery.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Midwest
Myron Schulz Jr
Burlington
Schulz
Wilbur Johnson
Wayne
Benton
Lowan
Morris
Dukakis
Howard
Ethel Hughes
Norwalk
Massachusetts
Kitty
Potscrubber
Ubber
Iten
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