(Radio Iowa) — With a Friday deadline looming to avoid another partial federal government shutdown, Congressional Democrats and Republicans have reached an agreement, at least in principle, over border security. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, says he’s hopeful all parties, including President Trump, will be able to agree to the compromise. “Funding the government and securing our border should not be mutually exclusive,” Grassley says. “Shutting down the government is no way to govern. It costs money to shut government down and it costs money to open it back up.”

The partial shutdown that started in late December ran a record 35 days and furloughed 800-thousand federal workers, or forced some to work without pay. Grassley is putting his trust in the conference committee that the compromise they’ve created will be acceptable and bipartisan. “I’m optimistic that Congress can still get this done,” Grassley says. “It’s in nobody’s interest to shirk the fundamental responsibilities of Congress. I’m also supporting legislation to put an end to government shutdowns once and for all.”

Grassley says no details are being released about the compromise, though reports indicate it includes one-point-three billion dollars to put up 55 miles of fencing at the border, a long way from the five-point-seven billion dollars and two-thousand miles of wall the president wanted. With seven months remaining in the fiscal year, Grassley says one-point-three billion dollars is likely all the government can afford to spend on a fence. “Building and putting it in strategic places where it’s really needed to make more efficient use of border patrol where you don’t have fence is a compromise that the president ought to be able to live with,” Grassley says.

Reports say the agreement would pay for a fence made of metal slats, not the concrete wall the president was pushing. It would also cut the number of beds in border detention centers from around 50-thousand to around 40-thousand. Grassley says firm details about the proposal will be out soon.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have approved a claim with the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP), with regard to a wrongful termination suit. While not naming the individual who sued the County, KJAN has learned it was brought by a former employee of the County Assessor’s Office. Specific details of the settlement were also not released, but Board Chair Steve Baier said the County’s gross responsibility for payroll wages was $2,500. The net amount was $1,972.95. Supervisor Steve Green said afterward, “Thank God for insurance.”

In other business, the Board approved the appointment of Ryan Woodward, from the Lewis area, to fill a vacancy term as Cass Township Trustee through Dec. 31^st, 2022. He succeeds David Denne, who passed away Jan. 23^rd. And, the Board approved a plan to resurface Olive Street (620^th St./Cass County Road N-16) from the Atlantic City Limits to the Audubon County line. The work involves a Hot Melt Asphalt (HMA) resurfacing of the road. The project will go out for bids from this point forward.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports four drug-related arrests. On Feb. 5th, 28-year old Andrew Jackson Rice, of Adair, was arrested for a felony Controlled Substance Violation. Rice was released three days later on a $10,000 cash or surety bond. On Feb. 6th, 55-year old Troy Eugene McKinney, of Creston, was arrested following a traffic stop in Adair County. McKinney was taken into custody on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense (Meth and Marijuana), Possession of drug paraphernalia), and for Driving While Barred. He was released Monday on a $2,000 cash or surety bond. Also arrested Feb. 6th, was the driver of a straight truck, 30-year old Oliver Dante Caton, of Pompano Beach, FL. Caton arrested by an Iowa DOT Enforcement Officer on I-80, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense. Caton was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

On Feb. 8th, 60-year old Kalvin Craig Edwards, of Fontanelle, was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at his commercial/office buildings. During the search, about 1 pound, 6-ounces of marijuana was found in a dial lock safe. A weigh scale was located in a wooden box within the same safe. Plastic packaging material (Sandwich bags) was located in the same room as the safe. And, a text message from a woman by the name of “Amy” indicated the sale of “one-eighth” and the sale of another “one-quarter.” Edwards admitted to the marijuana being his. Authorities noted common “personal use” marijuana amounts are typically one-tenth of an ounce, one-quarter of an ounce, and upwards of one-half ounce, but NOT a pound. Edwards was arrested on a felony controlled substance violation (Unlawful manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance/marijuana, in an amount not to exceed 50-kilograms), and for possession of drug paraphernalia.  Edwards was cited and released.

And, 19-year old Koy Alan Brandt, of Greenfield, was arrested Feb. 8th to serve a court-ordered sentence. Brandt was released Sunday on time-served.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Creston Police arrested two people and cited another, Monday. 27-year old Brady Thomas Salberg, of Creston, was arrested at around 8:25-a.m. Monday, on an outside agency warrant for Probation Violation. His cash or surety bond was set at $2,000. And, at around 7:45-p.m. Monday, 70-year old Harry Gustaff Walter, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. His bond was also set at $2,000.

51-year old Vicky Romo, of Lenox, was cited Monday evening, for Theft in the 5th degree, following an incident at the Creston Wal-Mart. Romo was released after receiving her citation.

(7-a.m. News)

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Federal charges have been filed against two Sioux City residents accused of robbing a bank in northwest Iowa. U.S. district court records say Phillip White and Karen Merrick are charged with bank robbery. Prosecutors say White robbed Iowa State Bank in Le Mars on Dec. 12 and Merrick drove a U-Haul van as the getaway vehicle. Officers managed to flatten the van’s tires and arrest the pair.

The two already have pleaded not guilty to robbery and other charges in the state cases, which have been dropped in favor of the federal prosecution. The next federal hearing for them is scheduled for Feb. 20.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man has lost his lawsuit against a store over use of a motorized store cart in Mason City. Shane Zahn, of Garner, is missing his right leg below the knee and most of his left foot has been amputated. He had sued in November 2017 for an unspecified amount. His lawsuit said he wasn’t allowed to use one of the carts in April 2017 to take his purchases out to his car, so he had to walk out on his hands and knees. The store chain sells a variety of home, outdoors and lawn and garden products.

Mills Fleet Farm says Zahn was informed store policy didn’t allow the carts out into the parking lot and that he could have used a manual wheelchair provided by Fleet Farm to return to his car. A Cerro Gordo County jury took just 15 minutes Friday to return a verdict favoring Mills Fleet Farm.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party is proposing the biggest changes to the state’s famed caucuses in nearly 50 years. State party chairman Troy Price outlined a measure on Monday that would allow people to participate in the caucuses virtually by telephone or smart devices. The idea is to open the first 2020 presidential caucus to people who cannot attend the local political meetings.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill that would eliminate the requirement to obtain a permit to buy or carry a gun in Iowa has been moved out of a three-person Senate subcommittee. Two Republicans agreed to pass it on to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Democratic Sen. Tony Bisignano declined to recommend the bill. He disagrees with allowing the sale of handguns at gun shows and person-to-person with no permit or background check. Supporters say requiring permits and fees to own a gun contradicts the U.S. Constitution.

CENTERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — The father of a man charged with murder in the death of a deer hunter has testified that his son owned numerous guns and kept them “everywhere.” The Daily Iowegian reports Jamison Davis testified Monday in the first-degree murder trial of his son, Ethan Davis. Ethan Davis is charged with killing deer hunter Curtis Ross in November 2017 on public hunting ground near Rathbun Lake. Jamison Davis says his son owned shotguns, pistols, knives and more than one AR-15 style weapon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Starting next year, those pork chops on a stick can be bought with a card. The Iowa State Fair says it will require all food and drink vendors to accept credit and debit cards beginning in 2020. Cash has long been the dominant form of payment for the fried cheese curds, corn dogs and other foods bought by fairgoers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party is proposing the biggest changes to the state’s famed caucuses in nearly 50 years. State party chairman Troy Price outlined a measure on Monday that would allow people to participate in the caucuses virtually by telephone or smart devices. The idea is to open the first 2020 presidential caucus to people who cannot attend the local political meetings.

The move is a response to criticism that the caucuses are difficult for evening workers and the elderly to attend. The six virtual sessions would begin in the days immediately before and on caucus night. The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 3, 2020. The proposal won’t be finalized until the spring.