Republican Senator Joni Ernst is joining her friend and political ally Kim Reynolds in questioning whether wealthy businessman Fred Hubbell — the Democratic nominee for governor — has the proper kind of Iowa roots.  “Kim is Iowa through and through and I wish I could say the same about her Democratic opponent, Fred Hubbell,” Ernst said, “but I can’t.”

Ernst’s fourth-annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser attracted about a thousand people in Boone Saturday afternoon. Ernst led a long line of motorcyclists on a 49-mile ride to the event, with Governor Reynolds alongside, riding on the backseat of her husband’s motorcycle. Ernst told the crowd the governor’s opponent “doesn’t appreciate” the state. “Fred was asked if he thought that Iowa was the best place in the country to live and what did he say? ‘No,'” Ernst said. “Are you kidding me? We have a gubernatorial candidate…who doesn’t think this is the best place to live. I have never heard anything more ludicrous in my life.”

During a debate in late May, Hubbell said voters are “dissatisfied” with the status quo and he disagreed with a recent magazine analysis which ranked Iowa as number one among the states in terms of infrastructure, health care and education. Reynolds mentioned Hubbell’s remarks during her speech at the Ernst fundraiser. “Well, Fred, if you don’t think Iowa’s the best place to live, then you just don’t know Iowa,” Reynolds said.

And Reynolds again suggested Hubbell, as part of a prominent Des Moines family, is unable to relate to ordinary Iowans.  “I want Iowa to continue to be a place where it doesn’t matter where you come from, only where you want to go,” Reynolds said, “…a place where hard work and big dreams are more important than famous names and big checks.”

The Hubbell’s family fortunes date back to the mid-1850s, from investments in real estate, railroads and the founding of a Des Moines-based insurance company. Fred Hubbell has contributed three million dollars of his own money to his campaign so far and he’s offered this response to Reynolds’ criticism. “She can attack me all she wants. My wife and I have had a lot tougher experiences than that and so that doesn’t bother me a bit,” Hubbell said.

That’s a reference to the couple’s experience as hostages to airplane hijackers back in 1981. Hubbell touts his experience in corporate boardrooms as an asset. “We’re going to continue to talk about where we want to take this state,” Hubbell said. “You know, she has done a terrible job of balancing the state’s checkbook.”

Hubbell points to last fall’s withdrawal from the state’s cash reserves to balance last year’s budget and the mid-year cuts to this year’s state budget.

(Radio Iowa)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police say a man injured in an altercation at a Cedar Rapids park has died. Police say 38-year-old Scott Dexter died at a hospital of injuries he suffered Tuesday at Greene Square Park.
The case is being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been reported.

The Council Bluffs Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire at around 11:45-p.m., Sunday, in the south parking lot of the Ameristar Casino. A red Chevrolet Tahoe was found to be the source of the fire. The fire quickly spread to five other vehicles on the lot. The Council Bluffs Fire Department extinguished the flames and no one was injured. At this time it is unknown what caused the fire. The Council Bluffs Fire Department is conducting the investigation.

Deputies in Adams County who conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle late Sunday night, subsequently arrested two people on drug charges. Lynette Huber, of Lenox was found to have a valid warrant for her arrest through Union County. The K9 “Baxo” was deployed on the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, Abraham Schweers, also of Lenox, was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (meth pipe), and Operating While Intoxicated. Huber was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Officers called to the Red Oak Middle School at around 8:30-p.m. Sunday, for a civil matter regarding juvenile arguing, ended up citing one of youth into Juvenile Court. The unidentified Juvenile faces a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. After receiving the citation, the youth was released to a parent.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Some Dubuque parents are concerned about the end of an elementary school’s charter status, despite officials saying many of the school’s practices will remain in place. The Telegraph Herald reports that the Dubuque Community School Board voted in January not to renew Prescott Elementary School’s status as a charter school. Officials said they believed the school didn’t see significant improvement in student achievement during its 12 years as a charter.

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man charged in the stabbing death of a Bellevue man has pleaded not guilty. The Telegraph Herald reports that 23-year-old Drew Mangler entered a written plea last week in Jackson County District Court. Mangler is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 59-year-old James Remakel. Police found Remakel’s body after being called to a house in Bellevue on Dec. 25, 2016.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa maker of wind turbine blades has been fined nearly $155,000 for multiple workplace safety violations. The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration levied the fines against TPI Composites for violations at its Newton plant. The citations support complaints from dozens of former workers who say TPI didn’t properly protect them from dangerous chemicals that caused them severe skin injuries.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Many cities in Iowa have implemented new restrictions on fireworks a year after the state allowed legal sales for the first time since 1938. Des Moines and Cedar Rapids both banned the use of fireworks after last year’s season. So have other large cities including Davenport, Waterloo, Iowa City, Ames, Dubuque and West Des Moines. Although cities can ban the use of fireworks, they can’t stop firework sales. Officials expect between 700 and 800 retail locations will sell fireworks this year.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports early this (Monday) morning, Deputies with the Fremont County K9 Unit stopped a vehicle at Old Highway 275 and 310th st in Hamburg, for a traffic violation. During the course of the stop the driver of the vehicle, 30-year old Christopher Wyland,of Hamburg, was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

Wyland, who was out on Pre-Trial Release from previous drug charges in Fremont County, was arrested and transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where his bond was set at $1,000.

C Wyland