Beaches contaminated

A bit of a damper for those who want to swim during the holiday weekend...beaches at six state parks have been tainted with high fecal bacteria levels. Safety warnings are posted at Emerson Bay, Geode near Danville, Beed's near Hampton, Backbone near Strawberry Point, Lacey Keosuqua, and Springboard near Guthrie Center.

Holiday Traffic Crackdown

The annual Fourth of July traffic crackdown's under way in Iowa, and runs through the holiday weekend. According to the Des Moines Register, local, county and state agencies will be looking for impaired drivers, and enforcing seat belt and speeding laws as well as other traffic laws.

Corj Futures Down on USDA Data

Corn futures fell 38 cents/bushel to $6.60 for the July contract and 17 cents/bushel to $6.33 for the December contract on the heels of a USDA report saying acreage planted this year was up by 5% to 92-million acres. According to the Des Moines Register the USDA data will pull the rug out from under corn prices which have been swinging wildly all year. Corn hit a 2011 high of $7.99 per bushel in early June.

Windpower Project Gets Boost

At it's final meeting, Iowa's Power Fund Board's approved $2.3 million for a project that'll develop a low wind speed turbine.
Clipper Windpower's developing the project and KCCI reports they're kicking in $18-million to get things moving. The prototype wind turbine will be used to do testing of the new design later this year, with prototype installation scheduled in 2012.
Clipper says they expect the project to create jobs at its plant in Cedar Rapids.

Guilty Plea Over Teens Dancing in Strip CLub

The co-owner of a Cedar Rapids strip club's been sentenced for having underage dancers working in his club last year. 33-year old Justin Brown plead guilty today to exhibiting persons, a misdemeanor, and was given a deferred judgment. Brown, co-owner of Woody's Show Club, will serve a one year self-supervised probation. Court records show at least two teens, ages 16 and 17 years old, performed at the club in 2010.

Teen Drowns in Clear Lake

Clear Lake police say a 16-year old drowned last night while swimming. Jerrard Ramon of Clear lake, was found a few hundred yards from the sea wall around 8:30 last night. according to KCCI police got a call around 4:30 of someone going under south of the downtown boat ram,p A couple of men tried to reach Ramon, but he went under before they could get to him. Investigators say the teen was in jeans, and that may have been a factor.

It's Hot!

The scorching summer heat has sent central Iowans searching for ways to keep cool as heat indices climbed well above 100 degrees. While pools and inside attractions were busy, those with no choice but to work outside had a rough day. Dr. Sydney Leach of Mercy Medical Center tells KCCI they have seen an uptick in heat-related illnesses. Heat advisories are in effect until this evening.