(Radio Iowa) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be the headliner at an annual event that in the past has featured Donald Trump and Ted Cruz — well before they OFFICIALLY launched their presidential campaigns. Pompeo is scheduled to speak at The Family Leader’s annual mid-year “Leadership Summit” on July 17th in West Des Moines. Pompeo, an Army veteran, has been President Trump’s secretary of state for the past two years. He was the president’s C-I-A director before that.

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Last year, Pompeo said he is open to running for president after Trump leaves office. Pompeo’s speech in July will be his second major address in Iowa. He spoke in March of 2019 at the World Food Prize Headquarters in Des Moines, telling farmers at that time he was seeing “real progress” in trade talks with China.

Pompeo is a former Kansas congressman. Earlier this year, Pompeo announced he would NOT run to replace a retiring U.S. senator from Kansas. Pompeo says he plans to remain as President Trump’s secretary of state as long as Trump wants him to do so.

(Radio Iowa) — Dyersville’s Summer Farm Toy Show that is held every year on the first weekend in June has been canceled. Thousands of people usually attend the event and National Farm Toy Museum Director Amanda Schwartz says they will switch to an online show. “We want to promote all things farm toy related and especially support our farm toy vendors who are really missing those toy shows and do a virtual show,” Schwartz says. “And that’s going to be on our Facebook page on June 6th. We are going to have all our vendors put together a little promo for their business.”

You can still purchase the 2020 Summer Farm Toy Show tractors – the one-16th scale Minneapolis Moline 445 with New Idea Loader and the one-64th scale White 288 with New Idea Loader. You can order the toy tractors online at nationalfarmtoymuseum.com. Schwartz says they’ve also decided to make a change for next year’s Summer Farm Toy Show — pushing back the date to June 26th and 27th of 2021. “The board thought this was a good pause, a good time to make some maybe a little more drastic change with our dates. Just with farming — maybe pushing it back might be more beneficial to the event,” she explains.

And she says it will allow them to adjust to any other changes that come next year. Schwartz says the school calendar might be a little different next year and this would help with that. “Just a little more flexibility and change things up,” according to Schwartz. “And then this would also change it to a Saturday and Sunday show as well. A lot of people had to take Friday off to attend, so we are hoping that this way a lot of people can make a weekend of it.”

She encourages every to visit the Virtual Summer Farm Toy Show beginning June 6th. The National Farm Toy Museum in Dyersville remains closed to the public for now.

The Guthrie County Sheriffs Office has received a report about a burglary that occurred on 300th Street, north of Casey. The burglary occurred between 6:00 PM and 10:30 AM Sunday, May 3rd, 2020. During the incident, someone broke into a machine shed, and stole a John Deere XUV 825i Gator, and a Honda CRF 80 dirt bike (motorcycle). (See pictures. If anyone with regard to the incident, call the Guthrie County S/O at 641-747-2214.

(Radio Iowa) — At 86 years old, U-S Senator Chuck Grassley is among the older, more vulnerable Iowans who are supposed to be especially careful during the coronavirus pandemic. Grassley joined his colleagues in the U-S Capitol on Monday as lawmakers gathered in person for the first time since mid-March. The Republican from New Hartford says he’s following all the prescribed health guidelines. “So, I do wear a mask,” Grassley says. “I wear one of these homemade masks. I think it feels better and works better for me.”

Maintaining a six-foot social distance isn’t a problem, he says, as only one-fifth of his staff is in the office each day, Monday through Friday, and they’re working from home the other four days. Many Iowans who are considered “essential” have continued going to work during the pandemic, even though they likely didn’t want to do so, and Grassley sees himself as no different. “I’m elected as a senator for the people of Iowa and I have a job to do for Iowans,” Grassley says. “They need representation during this difficult time and I’m doing it. I think I’m taking all of the precautions.”

Grassley says he’s washing his hands “all the time” and using disinfectant on a regular basis. He says he’s back in Washington D-C because “the people’s work must go on.” “The virus has taken tens of thousands of lives and created a real economic mess,” he says. “Congress has already passed legislation totaling nearly three-trillion dollars to combat the virus and we’ll consider additional action if it becomes necessary.”

Caucus and committee meetings are starting today (Tuesday) in larger rooms and Grassley says they’ll spread out with just three senators each at tables that normally seat eight.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will conduct an electronic meeting Wednesday morning, via telephone dial-in. On the agenda for their 9-a.m. session: is action on a township trustee resignation, and appointment; action on a Resolution directing the advertisement for sale, and approving the electronic bidding procedures for, nearly $4.5-million in General Obligation Urban Renewal Bonds, Series 2020, and an Official Statement for the same.

County Auditor Mandy Berg will discuss and the Board will act on, Budget Amendments. County Treasurer Brenda Wallace will discuss topics that include a credit card machine, and wireless internet access. And, the Adair County Supervisors will continue to receive updates and hold discussion, with regard to COVID-19.

Members of the Public Wishing to listen to the proceedings, Wednesday, may call 605-313-6157, and enter access code 526272#

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa non-profits are hoping today’s (Tuesday’s) global focus on philanthropy boosts local budgets in the midst of escalating need. Like many organizations, the Food Bank of Iowa has a “Giving Tuesday Now” button on its website. Michelle Book, the president and C-E-O of the Food Bank of Iowa, says food banks and food pantries are serving tens of thousands Iowans who’ve been laid off recently because of the pandemic. “We have those folks who are now new to need,” Book says. “…On top of the 11-12% of the people we were already serving across the state of Iowa, we now have a new group of people.”

Book made her comments during a recent appearance on Iowa P-B-S. The Center for Financial Education, a faith-based non-profit based in Sioux Center, is making an appeal for donations today (Tuesday). Tricia Driesen, the center’s director, says this comes at a time when their services are in high demand as people who’ve lost their job try to figure out their options. “We can help them by establishing a plan, giving them some ideas on where to cut expenses” she says, “helping them negotiate with some of their creditors.”

Museums, community foundations and churches are the among many organizations around the state making pitches on this “Giving Tuesday Now.” Giving Tuesday is normally the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and over the past eight years it has become a major driver of international philanthropy.