Republican Senator Joni Ernst says it “seems heartless” to deport people whose parents brought them into the U.S. illegally when they were children. “What I’ve been doing is kind of querying conservatives and Republicans across the state: ‘What do you think the answer to DACA is?’ And probably 90 percent or better say: ‘We need a permanent solution. They’re parts of our communities and we can’t let them go. They need to be here,'” Ernst says. “And I agree.”

Ernst says President Trump supports the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program, he just requires a deal on DACA to include more funding for border security. Ernst held a town hall meeting in Boone yesterday (Monday) afternoon that was live streamed by The Des Moines Register. Ernst told the crowd she doesn’t “appreciate the rhetoric coming out of the White House” because “so much” of her time is spent answering questions about what the president says rather than the legislation she’s working on. Ernst directly addressed accounts indicating Trump used a derogatory word to describe African nations during an Oval Office meeting. As she visits other countries on congressional trips, Ernst says she tries to stress a “consistent” U.S. message of “level-headedness.”

“We have good friends in other nations…We need to treat them with dignity and respect, just as we would expect to be treated,” Ernst said. “…Hopefully, beyond the administration, they will see that they do have partners.”  A few minutes later, a man in the crowd directly asked Ernst if the president is a racist. “Deep inside, no, I don’t think he’s a racist,” Ernst said. “I think he’s brash and he says things that are on his mind, but I don’t truly think that he is a racist.”  Ernst got crowd reaction to her opinion that ranged from disagreement to applause.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa is caught up in a legal fight with a conservative Christian student group that denied a leadership position to a student who is gay. The case pits a university policy barring discrimination based on sexual orientation against the religious beliefs of a 10-member group called Business Leaders in Christ. The group sued after the state’s flagship university in Iowa City revoked the group’s campus registration in November.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa soon will require that ignition interlocks have cameras so drivers required to take breath tests don’t have other people start the drivers’ vehicles. The vehicles would still start, but the drivers could lose their restricted driver’s licenses and be charged with crimes after the ignition interlock company notifies the state that other people blew into the devices. All repeat drunken driving offenders are required to install the devices in Iowa.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have accused a Coralville woman of beating her 11-year-old son. Joni Reed is charged with child endangerment causing injury and related crimes. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a call Monday from The Associated Press. Police say the two had been separated by the time officers arrived Thursday evening at an Iowa City residence. The boy had a bruise above his left eye and scrapes on his arms. He also complained of head pain.

WEST BRANCH, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two crew members were injured when their ambulance flipped on an icy roadway while taking a patient to Iowa City. The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 80 near West Branch in Cedar County. All three occupants were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and the two crew members already have been released.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors, Monday, approved a request by Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm, to apply for a Water Quality Initiative/Urban Conservation Project grant. Staashelm said he was informed of the grant availability by City Administrator John Lund, and it would be a 50-percent match in order to obtain the full grant amount.

A preliminary design/layout for the Urban Conservation Project grant

One of the projects he’s considering if the grant application is approved, is public gardens planning for the Nishna Park near the Atlantic High School, in cooperation with ISU Extension. The project would require installing two Bio-swales and native plants to help absorb water that ponds in the area and improve storm water run-off along with water quality. Natural Bio-retention filters and rain gardens would be included as part of the project.

The cost estimate for the entire project, ranges from 30-to 35-thousand dollars, minus any plantings that occur and any action taken by the School District to do their part, if they approve. With in-kind labor and other financial juggling, the City’s matching share of the cost could be lowered to 10-to 15-thousand dollars.

City Administrator John Lund said to Staashelm it would be possible to transfer $10,000 out of the Storm Water Fund into the Local Option Sales Tax Fund (LOST) for the project. Therefore if it comes to more than $30,000, some funds would be derived from the LOST account.

Parks & Rec Chairperson Stuart Dusenberry accepts a $500 check from Royal Neighbors member/Parks Board Secretary Jolene Smith for use at the Schildberg Shelter project. (Left to right: Seth Staashelm; Dusenberry; Smith; Board Mbrs. Charlene Beane and Erin McFadden.

In other other business, the Parks and Rec Department accepted a $500 check from Atlantic Royal Neighbors. Jolene Smith, Parks and Rec Board and Royal Neighbors member, explained where the funds are coming from. Last summer, she said, they held a “Difference Maker” out at Sunnyside Park, where they served hot dogs and chips while “Movies in the Park” was underway. Different Royal Neighbor Chapters get to vote on the projects, which are then put into a drawing. The Atlantic Royal Neighbors won a $500 donation check payable to the Schildberg Recreation Area. They would like it to go for picnic tables in the shelter at the Schildberg Rec Area that’s being built this summer.

And, finally, Seth Staashelm said the ice rink opened last week and will remain open while the temperatures allow. Sunnyside Park is open for all winter activities, even Disc Golf, but the roads into and out of the park are closed for the season. The Parks Board will meet next on February 12th and March 12th.