CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — A Republican candidate is hanging onto a single-digit lead in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District after a recount in a race that will help determine the size of Democrats’ majority in the House of Representatives. The Iowa Press-Citizen reports that Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks had just six more votes than Democrat Rita Hart after the recount wrapped up Saturday in Clinton County, which was the last of the district’s 24 counties to report its results.

A state canvassing board is expected to meet Monday, the legal deadline, to certify the results of the race in which more than 394,400 votes were cast.

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) — A grand jury has found that a deadly police shooting outside a motel in a Des Moines suburb was justified. The Des Moines Register reports that Altoona police announced late Friday that jurors reached the decision not to indict an officer or a Polk County sheriff’s deputy in the September shooting of 51-year-old Jeffrey Meyer more than two weeks ago.

Altoona Lt. Alyssa Wilson, a police spokesperson, said the delay was the result of more than one police agency being involved and the need to assemble and get approval for the release of a dashcam video. The video included the department’s own narration of what happened, with sections sped up or obscured.

The Atlantic City Council is expected to act, Wednesday, on two Mayoral appointments. The first is an Order to appoint Katherine Smith to the Utility Board of Trustees. If she’s approved, Smith would replace Joyce Jensen, who has resigned. The appointment would be until April1, 2023. The second recommendation from the Mayor, is to appoint Adam Skog to the Atlantic Library Board of Trustees. If approved by the Council, Skog would succeed Mark Johnson, who passed away in September. The appointment would expire June 30, 2024.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on passing a Resolution approving the 2021 AMU Calendar Year (CY) Budget. AMU has its own Oversight Board, by according to City Code, the Council must approve their budget in order for it to go into effect, since the utility is an entity of the City. The City traditionally passes the AMU budget without issue, and acknowledges the AMU Board’s purpose and oversight.

The Council is also expected to act on the following:

• The 3rd and final reading of an Ordinance vacating an alley located east of the intersection of E. 9th and Plum Streets.
• The 2nd reading of an Ordinance “Adopting the proposed Amendments to the City of Atlantic Zoning Code, 2018,” as previously mentioned following past Council meetings.
• And, the Council will act on an Order to Approve Change Order #3 for the Atlantic Downtown Revitalization Project,” which will add $1,950 to the project cost, making for a total of $449,329. The specific changes include, at:
  • 400 Chestnut – Repair or replace infill siding on the second floor ($1,125), and
  • 511 Chestnut – Masonry repairs to an interior wall ($825).

The Council meeting takes place at 5:30-p.m., and will be conducted electronically via Zoom

(Radio Iowa) – Due to the pandemic, far more Iowans than usual are staying home for the holidays, which may be the perfect time to sift through crowded closets, drawers and shelves. Julie Braun, a professional home and office organizer, says Iowans should take stock of the clutter in their lives and make a plan for what to do with it. Braun says there’s one thing most of us have way too much of — clothes. “If you think about it, it’s just taking up wasted space,” Braun says, “and if you’re going to shrink or larger, it’s probably going to be out of style by then anyway.”

Taking on the whole garage or basement can be a daunting task, so Braun says to start small and organize each area, like a room or a closet, one at a time. She says a recent client of hers was delighted by the organizational process.  “She loved that feeling of everything is in its place,” Braun says. “I think it’s freeing for people. They don’t feel as bogged down by their stuff.”

Braun says most people keep paper items, like old bills and birthday cards, for way too long. As you sift through old clothes, she hints if you haven’t worn it in a year, donate it.