(Radio Iowa) — A ceremony will be held at the Iowa Capitol early this (Monday) afternoon to formalize Taiwan’s purchase of nearly four million metric tons of soybeans from Iowa and Minnesota. The trade delegation from Taiwan signed documents in Washington, D.C. Thursday and made stops in Iowa this weekend. On Sunday, they visited a farm in northwest Iowa, east of Hinton. Republican Congressman Steve King arranged for tours of farms near Nevada and Fort Dodge, too. “I wanted them to see, just take the ride across the landscape because I’ve learned this from our foreign visitors in the past that I’ve brought here in the past that they come from places where it’s just hard to conceive of the idea of horizon-to-horizon row crop production, really, without a break,” King says. “….Let ’em know you can buy all the grain you can buy and we’re not going to run out here in Iowa.”

King says he and his staff have traveled to Taiwan several times to tout trade and he predicts even more U.S. soybeans will be shipped to Taiwan in the future. “That pipe of exports to China — and I’ll just use it as a pipe size — that’s been shrunken considerably because of the trade protectionism that China has slapped on especially our beans and our pork, but also other products,” King says. “…To replace one big pipe to China we have to replace it with a lot of smaller pipes to places like Taiwan and other countries.” According to King, the U.S. is now providing nearly 80 percent of Taiwan’s soybean supply. The move is likely part of Taiwan’s effort to strengthen ties to the U.S. as China increases pressure on Taiwan, which it claims as part of Chinese territory.

The stronger our relationships are with Taiwan — the business relationships, the friendship relationships, the trade that goes back and forth, the young people that come to the United States to be educated here and our Americans that go there to study — all of those things build stronger bonds,” King says, “and those stronger bonds are a component of the national defense for Taiwan.”

King spoke at last Thursday’s signing ceremony in Washington, D.C. He is not among the dignitaries scheduled to speak at the ceremony this (Monday) afternoon in Washington, D.C. A trade delegation from Minnesota was in Taiwan in August to tout the pending deal.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 28-year old Derek Paul Thomson of California was arrested Sunday, on a Page County warrant for Violation of Probation from a sentencing charge of possession of Marijuana. Thomson was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office. He was unable to post the $5,000 bond and remains in custody pending further court proceedings in the Page County Jail. On Saturday, 23-year old Dillon Steven White Vojchehoske, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested on a Page County Warrant for Violation of Probation, that originated from a sentencing charge of Carrying Weapons.

White Vojchehoske was unable to post the $2,000 cash bond and is being held in the Page County Jail.

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

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Two people were arrested on Burglary charges in Creston, Sunday afternoon. According to Creston Police, 39-year old Seth Preston, and 31-year old Jessica Shadley, both of Creston, were arrested Sunday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on charges of Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Preston was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd offense. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $10,000 bond. Shadley was released from the Adams County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

At around 2:30-a.m. Sunday, 27-year old Mark Lopez, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Barred. He was later released on a $2,000 bond. Saturday afternoon, 19-year old Deserae Osterhout, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County LEC on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. She was later released on $5,000 bond. 35-year old Crystal Oxenreider, of Creston, was cited and released Saturday afternoon, on a charge of Allowing an Animal to Run at large. She was released on a promise to appear in court. And, 39-year old Demion Garrison, of Creston, was arrested Saturday morning for Disorderly Conduct, Interference with Official Acts, and Violation of a Protection Order.

Friday afternoon, Creston Police arrested 42-year old Timothy Hansen, of Creston, for Driving While Suspended. He was later released on a $300 bond. In other news, a Creston woman reported Friday, that she was the victim of an IRS phone scam. The woman lost about $250 in the scam. And, a woman reported Saturday, that someone slashed a tire on a vehicle belonging to a family member, while the vehicle was parked in the 400 block of N. Oak Street, in Creston. The incident took place sometime between 2:30-a.m. and 11-a.m., Saturday. The loss was estimated at $100.

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

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey suggests the economy remains strong in nine Midwest and Plains states, but business leaders are concerned about the ongoing trade disputes. The overall economic index for the region slipped to 57.5 in September from August’s 61.1, but it remained in positive territory. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says he expects business will slow down but continue growing in the next few months because of the trade concerns and rising interest rates.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Members of a family in Walnut escaped a fire at their home, Sunday evening. According to reports, Walnut firefighters were called 710 Highland Street at around 5-p.m., Sunday. Smoke coming from an upstairs bedroom was visible upon firefighters’ approach. The small blaze was quickly extinguished, and no injuries were reported. The cause was not immediately clear.

A camper trailer exploded Sunday afternoon in Crawford County, seriously injuring a man. According to KETV in Omaha, Deputies were called to the scene near Cedar Street and Oak Avenue in Schlewsig. At around 2-p.m., Sunday. Officials said 28-year old Brett Nuzu, of Kiron, had just opened the door to his camper to go outside to light a cigarette when the camper exploded. Nuzu was transported to Crawford County Hospital for treatment of burns to his face and hands. Authorities said he was later flown by medical helicopter to another medical facility for additional treatments.

Officials said the camper was parked behind three buildings, all of which had minor damage to their exterior walls. The camper was destroyed in the blast.

BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — Several hundred runners gathered in the hometown of slain Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts over the weekend to honor her memory with a run. The Des Moines Register reports the run on Sunday in the east-central Iowa town of Brooklyn helped raise more than $20,000 for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Mollie Tibbett’s older brother, Jake Tibbetts, encouraged participants to enjoy the run the way his sister would have.

Twenty-year-old Mollie Tibbettts vanished while out for a run in Brooklyn on July 18. Her body was found in a cornfield more than a month later. A 24-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in Tibbetts’ stabbing death.

(Radio Iowa) — Several media organizations reported late last (Sunday) night that negotiations between the U.S. and Canada have resulted in a new-fangled NAFTA — and President Trump will rebrand the trade deal as the U-S-M-C-A. Midnight on September 30th was the deadline President Trump set for renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. Mexico’s president agreed to renegotiated terms in late August, but talks between Canada and the U.S. stalled. The U.S. demanded a reduction in Canada’s tariffs on American dairy products. Canada insisted on keeping a system in place for resolving future trade disputes. President Trump is expected to approve the new pact with Canada’s prime minister and Mexico’s president before he leaves office December 1st. Congress would then have 60 days to review and vote on the new agreement.

Canada is IOWA’S largest export market. Mexico is number two.