The Lincoln and Jefferson highways were two of the nation's earliest transcontinental roads. These two highways intersected in Colo, Iowa, where a farmer named Charlie Reed had the idea to sell gas to motorists in 1923. He also let travelers pitch tents overnight on his property. On this episode, we learn about the history of the Reed-Niland Corner, with a former Reed Station employee, Scott Berka, who was also instrumental in the site's restoration project of the late 1990s to early 2000s. Then we learn about a new nonprofit, Reed-Niland Corner, Inc. that recently bought the site from the City of Colo to keep the history alive into the future. Later, we head east down the Lincoln Highway to Lisbon, where the McElmeel family has formed their own nonprofit to restore the Meyers Farmstead Historic District and open it to the public as Pleasant Grove Heritage Park.
Clark Kauffman
/
Iowa Capital Dispatch
Sheila Brummer
/
Iowa Public Radio
-
The federal government issued a regional emergency declaration that waives regulations for truckers carrying residential heating fuel in 10 states, including Iowa. Truck drivers carrying propane, natural gas or heating oil are allowed to exceed the federal limits on driving hours until Jan. 15 due to pipeline disruptions. -
Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador Jeff Flake on party politics and restoring balance in Washington — plus how nature is shaping the future of vehicle safety. -
The Des Moines metro's regional transit network introduced a major redesign of its bus routes, with a new focus on high frequency, local routes in denser parts of the metro. The scaled back services are aimed at cutting back on a projected budget deficit.
-
Iowa's hands-free driving law aimed at combating distracted driving goes into effect July 1. Under the new law, drivers can't hold their phone in any way. -
The nonprofit works to reduce barriers to cycling through its bike checkout service and programs aimed at Spanish-speaking, gender diverse and limited mobility individuals. -
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law Wednesday banning cellphone use while driving, unless it’s in a hands-free mode. The law takes effect July 1.
-
Handling a cellphone while driving could soon be illegal in Iowa under a bill that is on its way to the governor’s desk.
-
The top Republican in the Iowa House of Representatives said he is “not going to stand in the way of” legislation cracking down on drivers who are distracted by their phones, as a new coalition gears up to push for a bill that would only allow hands-free phone use while driving.
-
Most of Iowa’s traffic cameras that issue speeding tickets in permanent locations must be turned off after the Iowa Department of Transportation denied the vast majority of cities’ requests to operate them.
