DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is in Iowa for a series of fundraisers and campaign stops in a state with the first presidential caucuses. Christie is beginning his day Thursday with a closed-door fundraiser outside Des Moines for Iowa’s Republican Gov. Terry Branstad.

He’ll then head to Cedar Rapids for a fundraiser for Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, followed by a stop at MJ’s Restaurant in Marion, where Christie is set to greet diners and talk to reporters. The day will end with a rally for Branstad at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport.

Christie has been traveling across the country as chair of the Republican Governors Association. The group has raised $60 million on Christie’s watch and gives him a platform to test a presidential run.

A young lady from Stuart was crowned Queen of the 2014 Adair County Fair in Greenfield, Wednesday. Adair County Fair Board Secretary Brenda Meisenheimer reports the honor went to 16-year old Hailey Gross, the daughter of Cindy and H.A. Gross, of Stuart.

Hailey Gross, 2014 Adair County Fair Queen.

16-year old Shelly Soper, the daughter of Clint and Mindy Douglas, of Adair, was named Runner-up.

Also at the Adair County Fair: The title of “Little Miss Adair County” went to Ellie Brewer, daughter of Jeremy & Kim Brewer of Fontanelle. Runner Up – MaKinley Edwards,daughter of Tyson & Megan Edwards of Fontanelle.

Jorja Holliday, daughter of Doug and Jodie Holliday, of Greenfield, was named “Little Miss Congeniality”; “Little Mister” honors went to Camden Reynolds, son of Angela & Josh Reynolds, of Greenfield. Runner-up was Charles Rudolph, son of Scott and Danielle Steele, of Casey; and the title of “Little Mister Personality” went to Colt Douglas, son of Clint and Mindy Douglas, of Adair.

For a full list of activities at the Fair, go to www.adaircountyfair.org. The Adair County Fair continues through Sunday, in Greenfield.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones said there is some potentially good news as far as housing development in the community is concerned. During Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Jones said a small group of investors is looking at building a 24-unit apartment complex in town, and is looking to the City to grant a $300,000 Developer’s Loan with interest, which would be paid back within 2-years. The group doesn’t want any tax abatement or other incentives. The City’s Personnel, Finance and Development Committee will meet later this month with the groups’ representatives and discuss the matter further.

In other business, the Council awarded a contract to Snyder and Associates that allows them to conduct a Nutrient Reduction Study for the Waste Water Treatment Plant, in accordance with Iowa DNR requirements. New Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Tim Snyder recommended the local company because they have the staff and expertise to deal handle the job, and their bid was very reasonable. Snyder said the study will help to determine what Atlantic needs to do within 10-years to reduce nitrates and, potentially phosphorous, from its wastewater discharges.

City Administrator Doug Harris said the City is required under its NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit to conduct the study, because it couldn’t meet all the discharge limits by the time the permit came due for renewal, even with the new plant in action.

The Atlantic City Council met the City’s newest Police Officer, Wednesday evening. Police Chief Steve Green introduced the latest addition to the police force. He appeared at the podium with Tim Olsen, who began working with his fellow officers on Monday.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green (Left) introduces Tim Olsen as the newest Police Officer in Atlantic. (Ric Hanson/photo)

Olsen and his wife Megan are coming to the community from Hampton, Iowa, where’s served for the past year. The couple, who are both originally from Atlantic, is expecting their first child in January.

Tim graduated from AHS in 2010. He went on to get a degree in Criminal Justice from Simpson College. He attained the 4-year degree in just three-years. He’s also a graduate of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Johnston.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) – Offutt Air Force Base will host an air show this weekend after federal budget problems forced the cancellation of last year’s event. The free event on Saturday and Sunday will feature both the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and the F-22 Raptor aerial demonstration teams along with several other flying teams. The public will have a chance to visit Offutt Air Force Base and learn more about the base on the southeast side of the Omaha area. Gates open at 9 a.m. and flying begins around noon.

A free shuttle bus will be offered from various locations around Bellevue, including the former Southroads mall and Bellevue East and West high schools. More details of the air show and all the aircraft that will be on display are available online at www.offuttairshow.com .

The National Taxpayers Union and a D-C based think-tank are touting a new survey which finds a majority of Iowans are opposed to paying sales taxes on internet purchases. Andrew Moyland of the R Street Institute was at the Iowa capitol Wednesday, to discuss the survey with legislative staff and representatives from Iowa business groups. Moyland suggests candidates for all offices should be wary of allowing states to collect internet sales taxes, including prospective presidential candidates like Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Marco Rubio who’ve been campaigning in Iowa. There may soon be a vote in the U.S. Senate on a bill that would give states greater authority to collect sales taxes on internet sales.

“This is definitely coming to a head now and I think that folks who are supporters of this would like to get this done as soon as possible because even supporters don’t want to be on record supporting an internet sales tax bill so close to an election,” Moyland says. Moyland praised Chuck Grassley, Iowa’s Republican senator, for opposing what’s called The Marketplace Fairness Act that would give states broader authority to collect sales taxes on internet purchases. Others who support the legislation say Main Street businesses see more and more people who come in, look over the merchandise, then go online to make the purchase — escaping the sales taxes they’d pay if they bought the product in the store. Moyland rejects that argument.

“There are 46 different states with sales taxes and 9,998 different taxing jurisdictions across the country,” Moyland says, “and so if you’re asking online retailers to have to jump through all those hoops when brick-and-mortar retailers are just jumping through one where they’re physically located, I think that’s the opposite of a level playing field.” According to a University of Tennessee estimate, 88 million dollars in sales taxes that were legally due to the State of Iowa were NOT collected on internet purchases made in 2012. Moyland argues that “pales in comparison” to the sales taxes the State of Iowa fails to collect because the state sales tax is not charged on all services.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A woman who was involved romantically with an Iowa man charged with killing his pregnant wife says she thought he would ultimately leave his wife. Rachel McFarland testified yesterday that she was in love with Seth Techel. He is charged with first-degree murder and non-consensual termination of a human pregnancy in the 2012 shooting death of Lisa Techel.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Fort Madison man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Burlington man. Forty-two-year-old Lenard Polhans is accused of shooting 35-year-old Marvin Sutton to death on June 1st. Authorities say the men were arguing in Sutton’s backyard prior to the shooting.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo officials may soon consider a proposal that would allow authorities to seize vehicles used in certain crimes and hold them until the owners pay a fine. The City Council may discuss the issue at its August 4th meeting. The ordinance would allow authorities to tow and impound cars used in crimes involving drugs and weapons, among others.

MILLVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Officials have approved the dis-incorporation of a small city in northeast Iowa. The state’s City Development Board recently approved the dis-incorporation of Millville, a Mississippi River community with about 20 residents. The Telegraph Herald reports the board will handle outstanding claims against the city.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert is encouraging public safety officials in the area to attend a meeting July 24th in Harlan, with regard to emergency communications. The meeting pertains to the “FirstNet” network, and takes place at 7-p.m. on July 24th at the Harlan Fire Hall (906 Cyclone Ave.). The meeting should last about 90-minutes.

The “FirstNet” network will be a single, nationwide LTE network that makes it easier for public safety users to communicate during emergencies and on the job every day. The new network will provide faster access to information and wireless coverage where public safety personnel need it most.

The Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board (ISICSB) in cooperation with local communities invites anyone involved in public safety to attend a Public Safety/First Responder town
hall meeting near you about the future of broadband for first responders in Iowa. This is part of a series of meetings to educate Iowa public safety members on FirstNet.

The meeting is designed to answer questions such as: Will I be forced to adopt FirstNet services?; Who is this network for?; How does it relate to NG911 (Next Generation 911)?; When will it be built in Iowa? Will this replace LMR?; How much will it cost and what equipment will I need?

The Iowa Statewide Interoperability Board is sponsoring the presentation for public safety officials. For more information about the meeting and to register, go to: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e9khws928ddc7a62&oseq=&c=&ch=

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Braley has $2.7 million in the bank for his general election campaign. Braley’s campaign said Wednesday that the congressman from Waterloo raised nearly $1.7 million between April 1 and June 30. Braley had over $2.7 million in cash on hand at the end of that period. Since announcing his candidacy last year, he has raised over $7 million.

Financial reports were due to the federal government Tuesday. Braley faces Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst in the fight for the seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Harkin. Ernst recently won a five-way primary battle for the GOP nomination. Her campaign had not released any fundraising data as of Wednesday afternoon.

The race is expected to play a key role in the battle for Senate control.