IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign has sued two Democratic-leaning Iowa counties that are making it easy to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, seeking to invalidate tens of thousands of voters’ absentee ballot applications. The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and other GOP groups filed the lawsuits against elections officials in Linn and Johnson counties.

At issue are absentee ballot request forms that the counties are sending to registered voters with personal information already filled in. The GOP lawsuits argue that the auditors are violating a state directive by prepopulating the forms and that any ballots cast in response to the mailings may be subject to legal challenge.

Police in Shenandoah say a man who allegedly attempted to tamper with a SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) at the Shenandoah Fire Station, was arrested Wednesday night on a burglary charge.

Joshua Jorge Colwell

Authorities say Police responding to the Fire Department at around 8:45-p.m. found 42-year old Joshua Jorge Colwell, of Sioux City, in the garage area.

Colwell was arrested on a Class-D Felony charge of Burglary in Third-degree Burglary, Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Page County Jail on $5,600 bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids man has been charged in the fatal beating of his mother earlier this summer over what police say was an effort to steal $50 from her. Police say 49-year-old George Alan Deason is charged with first-degree murder and other counts in the death of 71-year-old Elsie Mae Deason. Police believe George Deason attacked his mother in her home on June 30. She was found the next day with critical injuries.

Police said it appeared she had been severely beaten. She was taken to a hospital, where she died of her injuries on July 23. Police say George Deason was arrested shortly after his injured mother was found, and police confiscated a battering weapon called a slapjack from him.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), says a report about a suspicious vehicle on the side of the road Wednesday evening, near Crescent, resulted in the arrest of 31-year old Adam Paul Glancy, of Council Bluffs. Glancy was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of marijuana/1st offense. Glancy was said to have been uncooperative throughout the incident investigation. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail and held on $2,300 bond.

Wednesday afternoon, 25-year old Derick Wayne Fuller, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested on a warrant for Aggravated Theft/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. Tuesday evening, 19-year old Dylan Floyd Michael Harrod was arrested in Treynor, for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked. Tuesday afternoon, 21-year old Jacobi Christian Mauer was arrested at the Pott. County Courthouse, on a State of Iowa warrant for Violation of Probation.

And, 45-year old Kathleen Marie Gerhardt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order/Contempt of Court, following a report from staff at the Pott. County Jail.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Meyer & Gross Real Estate and the Atlantic Community Promotions Commission, will host a Drive-In Movie experience this Saturday, August 15th. Chamber Executive Director Bailey Smith says the event is being held Saturday because they were not able to hold it June 20th, as originally planned. The Drive-In Movie will be at the Cass County Fair Grounds in the grandstand area, beginning around 8:30 PM with a showing of “Grease”. Cars may begin parking at 7 PM.

The screen is 60 feet long with a high definition projector. A transmitter will be provided to hear the movie from inside vehicles. Attendees will turn their radio to a certain station and the transmitter will play the audio through their car speakers. Entry is $15 per car. Limited parking is available, and tickets must be purchased before the event. Tickets can be purchased at www.atlanticiowa.com. Tickets that were purchased for the original date in June will be honored for this showing.

In consultation Cass County Public Health to ensure all safety measures are met, individuals are not allowed to leave their vehicles, unless it’s to use the restroom, but may sit in the back of vehicles and beds of trucks with individuals from the same household. Outside seating will not be allowed. Concessions will not be available. A porta-potty and handwashing station will be on the fairgrounds. Persons wanting concessions are encourage to stop at Atlas Atlantic Cinema’s curbside pop-up popcorn night before they come to the movie, from 6 PM – 8:30 PM. Visit Atlas Atlantic Cinema’s Facebook page for more information and pricing of the concessions they will be providing curbside.

For more information, visit www.atlanticiowa.com, call the Chamber at 712-243-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com. The Drive-In is sponsored by Meyer & Gross Real Estate, Hy-Vee, Family Crisis Support Network, Nishna Valley Family YMCA and the Atlantic Community Promotions Commission.