(Radio Iowa) — The Republican state senator who is challenging Republican Congressman Steve King’s bid for reelection is giving up a powerful legislative chairmanship to devote more time to the primary race. Republican Randy Feenstra of Hull has been chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee since 2017. In a written statement, Feenstra cited the panel’s work since Republicans took control of the Senate three years ago — most notably the 2018 bill that cut state income taxes. Feenstra said he had “worked productively” with other Republicans in the statehouse. Feenstra has sought to contrast his legislative record with King’s.

In January, Republican leaders in the U.S. House removed King from congressional committees to signal the G-O-P “won’t tolerate” white supremacy. King has said his comments have been taken out of context and he’s been lobbying to be reassigned to House committees. ANNOUNCER OUT: King faces Feenstra and two other Republican challengers in next year’s primary in Iowa’s fourth congressional district. Yesterday, C-N-N and Bloomberg Politics reported King asked, but was not allowed to fly to Iowa with President Trump on Air Force One. Trump, while speaking at an Iowa G-O-P fundraiser last night, acknowledged several elected officials and party leaders in the audience — but didn’t mention King.

The Montgomery County Fair Queen, sponsored by the Montgomery County Fair Board, will be crowned on Tuesday, July 16, at 7:30 PM at the Fairgrounds Auditorium. To qualify, contestants must be at least 16 years of age and not more than 21 years of age on August 8, 2019 (the first day of the State Fair), have not been married, be enrolled in school (or be a high school graduate), and be an active member of at least one worthwhile organization in her community.

The Montgomery County Fair Queen Contest Judging will be held on Sunday, July 7 at 4 PM in the Conference Center on the Lower Level of the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak. The judging will begin with the introduction of the sponsors and candidates with light refreshments being served, followed by individual interviews.

If you are interested in running for this honor, stop by the Extension Office at 400 Bridge Street for the application form, or you can also download the information at www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery . Please be sure to access all information if you do so online, including the information letter, rules, and entry form. Applications are due at the Extension Office by noon on Wednesday, July 3rd.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman accused of binding her children’s hands and feet to keep them under control has been sentenced to two years of probation. Court records show that 38-year-old Jessica Henderson also was fined $625 during her sentencing last week. She had entered Alford pleas to three counts of child endangerment. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction had the case gone to trial.

School officials contacted police in August about a photograph taken in March 2018 that showed the children tied up on a floor. Henderson has said a friend bound the children when she was in another room. Authorities haven’t said who took the photograph. Police say the children, ages 9, 5 and 4, were taken to a hospital but hadn’t suffered significant injuries.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The son of an Iowa civil rights attorney in the midst of a high profile civil trial against a former governor has been arrested in the courtroom where his mother’s trial is taking place. Polk County Sheriff records say 50-year-old James Barton Conlin, of West Des Moines, was arrested during break in the proceedings Monday and charged with interference with official acts. He was booked into the county jail and released within an hour. The charge is a simple misdemeanor.

Conlin told courthouse officials he was testing the air after his mother complained it was making her ill. Roxanne Conlin blames construction in the courthouse. Court officials refused her earlier request to move the trial. Conlin and her son didn’t respond to a message from The Associated Press but she tells The Des Moines Register she’s furious he was arrested.
She’s representing former Iowa Worker’s Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey in his discrimination lawsuit against former Gov. Terry Branstad and the state.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber reports the Washington Elementary School Parking Lot and drop-off area is closed now and until further notice, while work on the parking lot is being conducted. Persons wanting to attend baseball and softball games should use the Middle School parking lot, or other parking on Maple Street.

ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa (AP) — The hundreds of inductee exhibits in the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame have moved to a new space in Arnolds Park. They can be found now in the same building that houses the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum. Both museums are part of the entertainment complex in Arnolds Park.

The Hall of Fame had been in the Roof Garden, an open-air complex next to the amusement park. The Roof Garden was demolished and is being rebuilt as part of the multi million-dollar Restore the Park campaign.

The Sioux City Journal reports that the new Hall of Fame museum has three times more space than the old version for the photos, videos and memorabilia from bands, musicians and radio personalities.

A man from Henderson was arrested Tuesday evening near Carson. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 31-year old Myles Dustin Longcor was taken into custody following a traffic stop, for Violation of a No Contact/Protective-restraining order. Deputies had been called to a home in Carson, but before they arrived, were informed that Longcor had left the residence and was driving a mini-van. The restraining order was valid for both Longcor and the female protected party.

And, a traffic stop Tuesday evening in Pott. County resulted in the arrest of 31-year old Vitoria Joleigh Hopkinson. She was taken into custody on warrants for OWI/1st offense and Possession of Meth/1st offense, as well as Driving While Revoked.