Governor Kim Reynolds says the state does not need to engage in cash flow borrowing to cover the state’s financial obligations next March and April. “I want to just assure Iowans we have almost half a billion dollars in cash reserves. I don’t think this is a time when we need to be short-term borrowing, ” Reynolds says. “I don’t think it’s necessary.”

State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald has been arguing the state should borrow a lump sum in September, then it can be invested and earn interest until this spring. That’s when the state enters a lean period, waiting for Iowans to pay their income taxes while still making massive monthly school aid payments and meeting state payroll. Fitzgerald says the state “nearly drained” its cash reserves this past spring during that period.

Reynolds will use her authority to withdraw up to 50 MILLION dollars from the cash reserve THIS FALL to cover any red ink in the state budgeting year that ended June 30th. If the deficit is larger, state legislators will have to reconvene and vote to withdraw more. Reynolds says the accountants are still reviewing the books, waiting for state agencies to turn over any unspent funds and for bills owed to the state BEFORE June 30th to be paid.

“I want to just reassure all Iowans that our bills are being paid and have been paid and are being paid,” Reynolds says. “…We’re continuing to collect the facts. We’re doing the due diligence that we need to be doing so that we can make an informed decision on the procedures moving forward.”

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett is running against Reynolds in the 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary. He’s been criticizing Reynolds for the way she and former Governor Terry Branstad have been using the state’s cash reserves this year to cover on-going state expenses rather than make deeper cuts in the budget.

(Radio Iowa)

An unidentified, minor passenger in a semi died Friday, when the tractor-trailer went out of control and rolled over near the Iowa-Minnesota border. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened in Osceola County, northwest of Harris, IA, at around 12:10-p.m.

Officials say the semi, driven by 35-year old Joshua Hamrick, of Spencer, was southbound on Walnut Avenue, when a tire left the roadway. The trailer also left the road and began to slide into the ditch. The trailer slide around the side of the semi and began to roll, causing the semi to make a complete roll before it came to rest on the passenger side near the intersection of Walnut Ave. and 120th Street.

The juvenile passenger died at the scene. The semi was registered to Stahly Family Farms, out of Lake Park, Iowa.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 6:15 a.m. CDT

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a sheriff’s deputy in central Iowa was treated at a hospital after being exposed to an unknown chemical while he was helping serve a search warrant. The Story County Sheriff’s Office says the deputy was with the Central Iowa Drug Task Force as it executed a search warrant Friday in Ames. During the search, the deputy displayed symptoms of being exposed to an unknown chemical. He was evaluated at a hospital and released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lottery players have cooled to the Hot Lotto game to the extent that officials who run the game are ending it. Tickets for the $1 game, which has been around for 15 years, are sold in Iowa and 13 other states but Iowa Lottery officials say popularity has waned and the last drawing will be Oct. 28.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Senate Republicans who lost a sexual harassment and gender bias lawsuit are seeking a new trial. The Des Moines Register reports that a legal motion filed Wednesday says the $2.2 million verdict may have been awarded because of an improper argument by Kirsten Anderson’s lead attorney. Jurors ruled July 18 that she’d suffered emotional distress and damages in the workplace.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Chris Soules, an Iowa farmer who starred on the television show “The Bachelor” two years ago, is scheduled to go on trial in January for leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Soules is accused of driving a truck that struck a tractor being driven by a fellow farmer near Soule’s hometown of Aurora in April.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two separate burglaries in Villisca. Authorities said Friday, one of the incidents happened at Body by Freshour on 4th Avenue. The second took place at Bitchin Rusty Hole, located on 8th Street.  Entry to both businesses was made by force sometime between 2-a.m. and 6-a.m., Friday. Officials think multiple individuals were involved in the crimes.

Information was still being gathered late Friday, as to what was taken. One item that stood out though, was taken from Body by Freshour collision and automotive repair shop: A black 1976 Pontiac Trans Am valued at approximately $55,000. The vehicle has a t-top with 455-cubic inch engine and 4-speed transmission.

This is the vehicle that was reported stolen.

A sizable amount of tools were also taken from the body shop, but a more thorough description and value had yet to be determined.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking for anyone who has information to contact them at 712-623-5107, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-434-2712.

The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office, Friday, provided a list of names of those persons who are running for the Sept. 12th School Board elections in the County.

In the Red Oak School District, there are three vacancies. Those who have filed nomination papers include Incumbents Bret Blackman and Kathy Walker, along with Roger Carlson.

In the Stanton School District, there are three vacancies as well. Nomination papers were filed by Incumbents Mark Lindgren and Brian Bates, along with Amy Tibben and Travis Taylor.

In the Villisca School District, there are two vacancies on the School Board. Incumbent Leland Shipley, and Terry Dalton have filed to run for the seats.

And, for the Southwest Iowa Community College Board, three Incumbents have filed their nomination papers: Dennis Davis – District 1; Jerry Smith – District 3; and Zach Gunsolley – District 6. Kevin Britten filed his papers to run for the District 5 seat.

Voters in Montgomery County will also act on the adoption of a Public Measure asking if Southwestern Community College (Merged Area 14), be authorized to continue to levy a tax not to exceed 6-cents per thousand dollars of assessed value in any one year, for a period of 10 years, beginning July 1st, 2018. A continuation of the 10-year levy would mean monies raised through the tax would be used for the purchase of instructional equipment.

The deadline to Pre-Register to vote in the Montgomery County School Election is 5-p.m., September 1st. After that date, you may register to vote at the Auditor’s Office and vote Absentee. Officials ask you to please register prior to Election Day if you have not already done so. The deadline to request an Absentee Ballott by mail is 5-p.m. Sept. 8th.

The election will be held Sept. 12th, with the polls open from Noon until 8-p.m. If you have any questions on where you will vote, contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office  at 712-623-5127, Monday through Friday, from 8-a.m. until 4:30-p.m., or visit www.montgomerycountyiowa.com, on the web.

Officials with the Cass County Auditor’s Office, Friday, released the list of candidates who have filed their nomination papers during the filing period that spanned July 10th through August 3rd, for the Sept. 12th School Board Elections.

In the Atlantic School District:

Incumbents Josh McLaren and Kristy Pellett, both of Atlantic, have filed to run for re-election to their At Large seats on the board.

In the CAM School District:

Incumbent Gary Dinkla, of Massena, has filed to run for his South District seat, and incumbent Chuck Kinzie, of Anita, is running again for the North District seat. Nick Kauffman, of Adair, who is also an incumbent, is once again running for his At Large seat on the CAM School Board.

In the Griswold School District:

Director 3 seat – Incumbent Scott Peterson, of Elliott, is running for re-election;

Director 4 seat – Incumbent Donald K. Smith, of Griswold, has also filed for re-election.

Three men have filed to fill two At Large seats on the Griswold School Board. They include Incumbent Robert D. Peterson, of Griswold, along with Aaron Houser, of Henderson, and Bruce Brunk, of Griswold.

Candidates who have filed nomination for Iowa Western Community College Director seats include:

District 4 – Scott Robinson.

District 9 – Randy Pash.

All offices are for four-year terms.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says three people were arrested over the past week, on assault charges. 46-year old Andrew Lamont Sewell, of Greenfield, was arrested at around 1:20-a.m. Sunday, for Assault causing injury. He was released the following day from the Adair County Jail, on $1,000 bond. And, on Tuesday, a father and daughter from Fontanelle were arrested on charges of Domestic Assault causing bodily injury. 42-year old Casey Lynn Long and 73-year old Gary Lee Bakerink were released the following day on $1,000 bond, each.

Sheriff Vandewater says 27-year old Cody Robert Cordell, of New Market, was taken into custody Wednesday morning, in Greenfield, following a traffic stop. Cordell was arrested for Driving While License Denied or Revoked. He was released later that day on $1,000 bond. Also arrested Wednesday in Adair County, was 22-year old Ashley Nicole Kelly, of Des Moines, who was wanted on an Adair County warrant for Probation Violation. She was later released on a $1,000 bond.

19-year old Morgan Lawrence Powell, of Adair, was arrested July 30th in Adair, on a Guthrie County warrant. He was transported directly to Guthrie County for processing. And, 21-year old Abraham Petro Riko, of Des Moines, was arrested Wednesday morning on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond or surety.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Chris Soules, an Iowa farmer who starred on the television show “The Bachelor” two years ago, is scheduled to go on trial in January for leaving the scene of a fatal accident. The 35-year-old Soules is accused of driving a truck that struck a farm tractor near Soule’s hometown of Aurora in April. Sixty-six-year-old Kenneth Moser died after his tractor rolled into a ditch.

Sheriff’s reports say Soules left the scene and was arrested later at his home about 10 miles away. Court documents posted online Friday indicate a jury trial has been set for Jan. 18. It’s expected to last four to five days. The charge carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say another newborn has been turned over to state custody under Iowa’s safe haven law. The Iowa Human Services Department said in a news release Friday the child was born July 25 and released to state custody. The department didn’t say where the birth took place.

The department says it’s the 29th time the law has been used to protect the welfare of an infant since the law was approved following a 2001 case in which a teenage mother in eastern Iowa killed her home-delivered newborn.

The law lets parents hand over custody of babies up to 14 days old without fear of prosecution.

A new report from the U-S Food and Drug Administration links consumption of soybean oil to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Iowa Soybean Association president Rolland Schnell says it’s great news for the state’s soybean growers — and for consumers. “Hopefully, it’s going to put to rest some of the naysayers who like to paint soybean oil as a bad food ingredient,” Schnell says. “It’s not and there’s all kinds of research to back up that it is beneficial, looking at it from a health standpoint.”

Schnell says the cooking oil market is important for soybean farmers and the new report will enable manufacturers of soybean oil to tell consumers about the heart-healthy benefits. “It’s very positive and hopefully, the general public will take this report by the FDA to heart and realize its a valuable product for their health,” Schnell says, “and the volume of (sales) will continue to increase.”

Schnell says sometimes soybean oil gets a negative rap, but this move by the F-D-A may change that. “The social media always tries to paint it as a bad thing when it’s not,” he says. “Research will verify over and over that it’s a good thing and to have the government agency come out and support that is real welcome news.”  The F-D-A report recognizes the ability of soybean oil to provide a superior omega-three fatty acid profile while also lowering “bad cholesterol” levels.

(Radio Iowa)