(Radio Iowa Special Feature) — The state officeholder who is in charge of receiving, investing and distributing state funds is seeking re-election to a 10th term.

State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald, a Democrat, has the longest tenure among state treasurers who’re currently serving. If Iowans reelect him this November, early next year Fitzgerald would surpass the all-time service record of a South Carolina man who was that state’s treasurer for a little over 36 years. Fitzgerald was first elected in 1982. “I’m asking Iowans to reelect me because I’ve been responsible with their money, building up a triple A credit rating for the State of Iowa,” Fitzgerald says, “and then establishing the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, where we return millions of dollars (and) establishing College Savings Iowa, where we have 250,000 kids saving for college.”

Jeremy Davis is the Republican challenging Fitzgerald. He served one term on the Ames City Council and has worked for Republican Congressman Steve King. Davis says if he’s elected treasurer, he’ll appoint a task force to find duplication and wasteful spending in state government.”The state treasurer is the chief revenue officer of the state, but when’s the last time he reached out to Iowans and asked: ‘How do you feel your money is being spent?” Davis says. “‘Is it being spent appropriately by the legislature? Is the governor introducing the type of budget that meets the needs of all Iowans.'”

The third candidate on the ballot for state treasurer is Libertarian Timothy Hird, an engineer from Des Moines. He’s been the long-time treasurer for the Iowa Libertarian Party.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Lottery officials say someone who bought a Mega Millions ticket in Davenport won a $1 million prize. The ticket was bought at a Hy-Vee gas outlet. It matched the first five numbers drawn Tuesday night but missed on the Mega Ball number. Another ticket bought in South Carolina matched all the numbers, winning the $1.537 billion jackpot.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Call it the world’s largest lottery prize that wasn’t. The Mega Millions jackpot that had been announced as the biggest ever at $1.6 billion ended up being the second-biggest at $1.537 billion. The difference likely means little to the suddenly rich person who bought the ticket in South Carolina and won Tuesday night’s drawing. But it raises questions about how lottery officials make estimates and whether they were influenced by a desire to claim the jackpot amount surpassed all others.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A financially troubled historic Sioux City building is set to be sold at auction next month to settle debts of the California development that owns it. The Sioux City Journal reports that the auction is set for Nov. 21 at the Woodbury County Courthouse. The 12-story Badgerow Building, built in 1933, went into foreclosure in January. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its art deco architecture style.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Finance Authority fired its lobbyist for retaliating against a woman who reported being sexually harassed by its director. The agency belatedly released to The Associated Press its Sept. 27 letter terminating government relations director Wes Peterson. An investigation found Peterson was aware of wrongdoing by former authority director Dave Jamison but failed to report it and later yelled at the victim.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A financially troubled historic Sioux City building is set to be sold at auction next month to settle debts of the California development that owns it. The Sioux City Journal reports that the auction is set for Nov. 21 at the Woodbury County Courthouse.

The 12-story Badgerow Building, built in 1933, went into foreclosure in January. That’s when a judgment of more than $5.2 million was entered against the building’s owner, Mako One Corp., and against its managing partner, Bruce DeBolt, for the defaulted portion of a $6 million bond agreement that was secured to pay to renovate and redevelop the building.

The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its art deco architecture style.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Oct. 24, 2018 – On Friday, Oct. 26, weather permitting, additional lanes will open on eastbound Interstate 80 just west of the Missouri River Bridge, creating five total lanes for eastbound I-80 traffic. Lanes will gradually merge back into the existing conditions east of the 24th Street interchange.

“The Nebraska Department of Transportation is wrapping up their construction on I-80 near 13th Street,” said Scott Schram, Iowa DOT District 4 engineer. “We are excited to be able to add extra lanes on the bridge linking Nebraska and Iowa, which will help ease congestion for drivers as they travel east into Iowa.”

The Iowa DOT is in the process of reconstructing I-80, I-29 and I-480 in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area. This comprehensive interstate redesign will modernize the highway system and improve mobility and safety of approximately 18 miles of interstate. Motorists are encouraged to allow for extra travel time while this interstate improvement takes effect.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests. Today (Wednesday), 46-year old Dustyn Russell Bond, of Malvern, was arrested at around 5:45-a.m. for Driving While Revoked. Bond was set at $1,000.

On Tuesday, 29-year old Christopher Lee McDaniel, of Pacific Junction, was arrested at around 7-p.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault, and Interference with Official Acts. He was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

And, 48-year old Thomas Shawn Johnson, of Stanton, was arrested at around 4:35-a.m. Tuesday, for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000.

(Radio Iowa) — Democrats say there’s nothing Republican lawmakers can say to convince them changes in public employee PENSIONS aren’t just around the corner if Republicans retain control of the governor’s office and state legislature. Danny Homan is president of AFSCME Council 61 which represents the greatest share of state workers who are union members — workers who get a pension from the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System or IPERS.

“Anyone who thinks Republicans won’t touch IPERS, take it from me — in 2016, not a single Republican ran on destroying collective bargaining,” Homan said, “not one flyer, not one ad, not one mailer, not nothing.” Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says there have been in the past and will continue to be routine adjustments, to ensure the solvency of the pension system.

“When they increased benefits a couple of years ago, those are some of the things that take place,” Reynolds says. “It doesn’t mean that we’re going to take it away or repeal it.” Iowa Democratic Party chairman Troy Price says Reynolds has sent “mixed messages” by talking about “hybrid or different” pensions like a 401-K style option for future workers, then recently saying there will be no changes for current or future IPERS beneficiaries.

“We’ve heard from our governor on this issue and it further showcases her willingness to say or do anything to win this election, even if it means contradicting her previous statements,” Price said. Reynolds says Democrats are trying to scare people. “When you have no ideas and nothing to run on and you want to hide the fact that you want to raise taxes, that’s when you do the little deflection,” Reynolds says. “‘Look over here. Let’s talk about something that’s not true.'”

The top Republican in the Iowa House says there have been no charges to IPERS and Republicans in the HOUSE have “no secret plans to change IPERS for current employees or new hires.” A key Republican in the Iowa SENATE proposed switching state employees hired after July 1st of 2019 to a 401-K system, but his proposal went nowhere in the 2018 Iowa legislative session. One out of every 10 Iowans are current or retired public employees who are getting or will get an IPERS pension.