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Grassley says an ethanol deal could be near, but ‘big oil’ may try to derail it

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 18th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s been “hoodwinked” before — and he’s not ready to predict whether ethanol and biodiesel producers will get relief from the federal government. Grassley was part of a White House meeting last week and — while Grassley believes a deal could be near — he’s not ready to celebrate. “I’m not going to announce anything or say: ‘Cheers!’ until I see it on paper because EPA’s putting it on paper and I know there’s a big voice for ‘big oil’ in EPA,” Grassley says.

Grassley says President Trump was surprised his decision to exempt 31 refineries from their ethanol obligations sparked a backlash in farm country. “I would speculate that the president’s tired of dealing with this. He’s more or less said so many times,” Grassley says. “Even back when we were in the White House talking about E15, it just seemed like he could never get to the bottom of the ethanol issue or he couldn’t satisfy both ‘big oil’ and the farmers.”

Last Thursday, Grassley — along with other farm state senators — met with President Trump and other key administration officials to discuss the federal ethanol production mandate. Grassley says the discussion started with a White House plan. “We went in with a simpler plan that, if it comes out on paper the way the White House seemed to agree with us, then I would say we have a win-win situation,” Grassley says.

Grassley says the goal is to reassign the gallons of ethanol the 31 refineries are no longer required to use to other refineries that are blending ethanol into gas.  “I know that there’s a big voice for ‘big oil’ in EPA,” Grassley says. “I’ve been hoodwinked so many times — not just by EPA so many times on this issues, but by other bureaucracies as well, so I’m going to wait and see if what they talked about is the end product.”

Trump met with oil-state senators yesterday (Tuesday) to discuss the deal. Bloomberg is reporting Trump has complained the fued between the ethanol and oil industries is taking up more of his time than dealing with China and Iran.

Elizabeth Warren nabs 2020 backing of Iowa’s state treasurer

News

September 18th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has announced the endorsement of one of Iowa’s last two uncommitted Democratic elected officials, state Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald. “She’s the one I think can address the biggest problems we have, and that is the hollowing out of the middle class,” Fitzgerald said in an interview with The Associated Press. “She’s clear, you understand her message, and I want her fighting for me and all of us.”

Fitzgerald was an early supporter of then-Sen. Barack Obama, who went on to win the presidency. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller also supported Obama but is endorsing Montana Gov. Steve Bullock for 2020. Iowa’s last remaining uncommitted statewide elected Democrat is Auditor Rob Sand. Asked what stood out about Warren in a field of Democrats often aligned on key issues, Fitzgerald declared that Warren “is a Democrat, she is a capitalist, and she wants to make our system work.” He said he’d do whatever the Warren campaign needed to help her win the caucuses.

Warren’s organization is seen as one of the strongest in Iowa, but compared with the other top-tier contenders in the field Warren has been relatively slow to roll out endorsements in the state. After a trickle of endorsement announcements, her first major haul of supporters in Iowa came out just last week, after her strong performance in the primary debate in Houston.
Fitzgerald marks Warren’s 25th Iowa endorsement and her sixth endorsement from an Iowa elected official.

Today’s (Wednesday’s) announcement came as the candidates prepared to return to Iowa for this weekend’s Polk County Democratic Party Steak Fry, a fundraising event that also will serve as a test of organizing strength for the candidates heading into the final stretch of the caucus campaign.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Sept. 18, 2019

News

September 18th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:33 a.m. CDT

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified three southeastern Iowa law enforcement officers involved in a shootout that killed a suspect. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said Tuesday in a news release that Burlington Officers Tyler Henning and Nathan Crooks and Des Moines County Sgt. Kevin Glendening all fired their weapons on Sept. 11 in a confrontation with 20-year-old Caleb Daniel Peterson, of Burlington.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A homeless man shot by police during a confrontation at a Des Moines homeless encampment has been released from the hospital. KCCI reports that 26-year-old Bryan Tyler Norris was booked into the Polk County Jail on Tuesday, charged with two counts of assault on an officer with a deadly weapon, theft and a weapons count. Police say Norris was shot Friday when he threatened an officer with a machete-style knife.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines’ main library downtown has been evacuated and closed after a man walked into its atrium and set himself on fire. Police say witnesses reported the 36-year-old man doused himself with a flammable liquid just before 2 p.m. Tuesday and lit himself on fire. Library staff used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames, and the man was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious burns.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The federal government has finalized rules for most U.S. pork processing plants that remove limits on the speed of production lines and place more animal inspection and food safety tasks with company employees. The pork industry says the first significant pork processing rule changes in 50 years are way overdue while advocacy groups for workers, animals, consumers and the environment say it will endanger workers, increase suffering for pigs and threaten the food supply.

Northwest Iowa woman remains jailed on drug charge

News

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — An Estherville woman remains in custody on multiple charges after an incident that occurred on September 9th, in Estherville. Emmet County Sheriff Mike Martens says the sheriff’s office was executing a writ of removal at an Estherville residence when the defendant in the matter produced a high powered rifle from a vehicle and threatened to kill herself. After about 30 minutes of negotiations at the scene, 44-year-old Jenny Queener of Estherville was taken into custody.

Upon further investigation at the scene, Queener was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine, digital scale, baggies and numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia. As a result, Queener was charged with possession of meth with intent to deliver, a class C felony carrying weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After an appearance before the magistrate, Queener remains in the Emmet County Jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.

Cass County Supervisors to consider applications for County Engineer

News

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting 3:15-p.m. Friday, in their Board Room at the Courthouse. The purpose of the meeting is to consider applications for position of Cass County Engineer.

Applicants will be interviewed at 3:30-p.m., followed by discussion about the candidates, and an offering of the position to one of the candidates. The position was advertised in trade publications and elsewhere, on Sept. 4th, following the resignation last month of Charles Bechtold, who was hired by the County in April, 2016, and began as County Engineer in July, 2016.

The position requires an Iowa licensed professional engineer. Salary will be in the range of $90,000 to $110,000 depending on qualifications and experience. A full benefits package is included.

Man sets himself on fire in downtown Des Moines library

News

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines’ main library downtown has been evacuated and closed after a man walked into its atrium and set himself on fire. Police say witnesses reported the 36-year-old man doused himself with a flammable liquid just before 2 p.m. Tuesday and lit himself on fire. Library staff used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames, and the man was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious burns.

The man’s name has not been released. No other injuries were reported. Police closed Locust Street in front of the library as officers investigate.

I-29 near Honey Creek expected to close late Wednesday

News

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – Sept. 17, 2019 – Due to rising water levels from western Iowa rivers, the Iowa Department of Transportation is anticipating that Interstate 29 will close due to water over the roadway near the Honey Creek area (milepost 66 north of Council Bluffs) sometime later in the day Wednesday, Sept. 18. We don’t expect the flooding to significantly impact travelers on I-29 Wednesday morning, but we are closely monitoring the situation and may have to close I-29 before the afternoon commute.

With the changing river levels, this dynamic situation could change significantly in a short period of time. Travelers should pay close attention to www.511ia.org for updates and plan their afternoon and evening trips.

If I-29 does close traffic heading north will be detoured using eastbound I-80 to the northern segment of westbound I-680 and back to I-29 at Loveland. Southbound traffic will head eastbound on the northern section of I-680 and take I-80 westbound to reconnect with I-29 in Council Bluffs.

Relying on phone or in-vehicle navigation systems may not be reliable since closure changes happen rapidly and navigation systems can route traffic through areas not designed for larger vehicles or heavy traffic.

AHS completes walkway addition between gymnasium and the multi-purpose/wrestling room

News, Sports

September 17th, 2019 by admin

The Atlantic High School recently completed the addition of a new hallway connecting the gymnasium to the Multi-Purpose Room/Wrestling Room.  This was made possible by very generous donations from Little Trojans Wrestling and the Atlantic Booster Club.  This hallway will allow for the movement of people and equipment between the two areas without being exposed to the elements.

Pictured are members of the Booster Club, Wrestling Coaches, Little Trojans Board and Activities Department
1st Row: (L-R). Kristy York, Michelle Behrends, Cherese Smith, Tina Zellmer and Raelyn Barkley
2nd Row: (L-R). Chase Roller, Andy Mitchell and Tim Duff

Grassley turns 86 years old on Constitution Day

News

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Today (Tuesday) is Senator Chuck Grassley’s birthday. “Since the day I was born, I have celebrated Constitution Day,” Grassley said this morning. “That’s because the 39 delegates signing the United States Constitution on September the 17th Is exactly 146 years before I was born.” Grassley is now 86 years old. He’s has served in elected office since 1959, first as a state legislator, then as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Grassley has been a member of the U.S. Senate since 1981.

He recently told reporters to ask him in two-and-a-half years if he’ll run for a ninth term in 2022. Do you think I just sit around and think about reelection?” Grassley asked. Grassley says he’s healthy and sticking with the running habit he started at age 65. Grassley runs a three-mile route four days a week. Grassley has been celebrating his birthday in his Washington, D.C. office with ice cream — a favorite food group for Grassley — as well as lots of donuts.

Fellow Iowa Senator Joni Ernst delivered a platter of donuts this (Tuesday) morning to Grassley, with birthday candles burning on top. Since Grassley is currently the longest-serving Republican senator, he holds the office of president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate.

Sioux City Woman Convicted in Insurance Fraud Scheme

News

September 17th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Des Moines, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division report a Sioux City woman, 28-year old Ashley Oakley, pled guilty Monday in Woodbury County District Court, to one Felony count of Insurance Fraud – Fraudulent Submissions to an Insurer (a Class D Felony). Her plea followed an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau. Oakley received a Deferred Judgment, was given credit for previous time served, and will be placed on probation for two years. Oakley was assessed a $750.00 fine, and ordered to pay $4,422.21 in restitution. Oakley’s conviction stemmed from an investigation which began in April of 2018.

Ashley Oakley

The investigation uncovered that after being involved in a motor vehicle accident in Sioux City, Oakley’s vehicle was determined to be a total loss by her insurance company. During the insurance claim process, Oakley intentionally provided false information to her insurance company indicating that her vehicle loan was paid in full, when in fact a promissory note with a balance of over $8,000 remained. As a result of Oakley’s fraudulent scheme, she received insurance benefits in the amount of $4,422.21 to which she was not entitled and intentionally defaulted on the remaining promissory note balance.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-242-5304.