With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Iowa Republican State Sen. Joni Ernst is inching ahead among likely voters in the U.S. Senate race and now has 49 percent to 45 percent for U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, the Democrat, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Five percent remain undecided. This compares to results of an October 23 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, showing Sen. Ernst at 48 percent and Rep. Braley at 46 percent.

Today’s (Wednesday’s) results show independent voters backing Ernst 50 – 41 percent. Republicans back Ernst 90 – 4 percent. Democrats go to Braley 94 – 4 percent. The reverse gender gap in this race continues as women back the Democratic man 50 – 42 percent, while men back the Republican woman 56 – 39 percent. Braley leads 57 – 36 percent among those who already have voted.

Just six days before Election Day, 91 percent of Iowa likely voters who name a Senate candidate say their mind is made up, while 9 percent say they might change their mind. Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll, says “As Election Day nears, State Sen. Joni Ernst is closing in on Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat. Her lead over U.S. Rep. Brue Braley inches up to 49 – 45 percent, giving her the momentum with less than a week left in the campaign. Nothing is for sure, but one would certainly rather be in her shoes this morning than Braley’s. One piece of good news for the Democrat is that he has a 21-point lead among those who already have voted.”

Iowa 3rd District Republican congressional candidate David Young, is hitting the road with a final pitch on why people should elect him to the U-S House of Representatives. The seat, which was left open in this election cycle by Tom Latham, is also sought by Young’s Democrat opponent, Staci Appel.

On Thursday, he’ll hold a meet and greet in Red Oak over the noon hour, followed by similar events in Farragut from 2-until 3-p.m. at the Freedom Corner (601 Hartford Ave.), and in Glenwood from 4-until 5-p.m. Thursday, at the Glenwood State Bank (32 N. Walnut St.).

All of the events are open to the public.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Company officials say federal agents are investigating records seized from Iowa Home Care offices in West Des Moines, Clive and Fort Dodge. Agents from the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were seen carrying boxes of records from the West Des Moines office on Tuesday afternoon.

Pete Deegan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Northern Iowa would not comment other than to say the agents were conducting official business. The company says it “looks forward to cooperating fully with state and federal authorities regarding any questions related to our record-keeping practices.”

Iowa Home Care offers home health care services in 36 Iowa counties, most of which are in central, north central and south central Iowa.

The City Council in Atlantic will hold a special session this evening, at City Hall. During the 5:15-p.m. meeting, the Council will hold discussion with regard to their goals for the City and Vision for the next five-years. There will also be an opportunity for a public forum.

Police in Red Oak are investigating an incident of vandalism in the City’s Legion Park. Employees with the Parks and Rec Department notified police late Tuesday evening, that four park tables had been damaged by vandals. The incident happened sometime Monday or Tuesday. The damage was estimated at $450.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Red Oak Police at 712-623-6500.

A teen accused of killing his 5-year-old Atlantic foster brother last year would throw things and hit inanimate objects during temper tantrums. The Omaha World-Herald says 18-yearold Cody Metzker-Madsen‘s foster mother said in a 2011 email, that he didn’t understand the difference between right and wrong when he was playing and that he didn’t comprehend that if he copied the wrestling moves he saw on TV, that it could hurt him or someone else. Even so, 53-year old Julie Coolman, of rural Logan, said she didn’t believe Cody was a threat to her family. She said he was never aggressive toward them.

The testimony came Tuesday during the first day of Metzker-Madsen’s first-degree murder trial in the death of Dominic Elkins. The teen has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors say Metzker-Madsen, who was 17 at the time, killed Dominic as the two were playing outside Aug. 31, 2013.

Dominic’s body was found in a wooded ravine. An autopsy determined that he died from blunt-force head injuries and drowning. Dominic’s mother earlier this month sued the Coolmans, accusing them of negligence in her son’s death.The lawsuit filed by Dominic’s mother accuses Don and Julie Coolman of failing to properly care for and supervise Dominic and Metzker-Madsen; failing to protect Dominic from harm or unreasonable risk of injury; failing to respond quickly to the incident and Dominic’s injury; and leaving the boys in the care of a juvenile female.

Julie and Don Coolman were away from home at the time of the attack alleged by authorities, leaving the two boys under the supervision of one of the Coolman’s twin daughters; the girl was 12 at the time.

Metzker-Madsen’s attorney is using an insanity defense. Public defender Michael Williams contends that his client suffers from “certain mental health disorders.” Earlier this year, a psychologist and a psychiatrist who examined Metzker-Madsen testified that he showed symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and fetal alcohol syndrome. The psychiatrist, Dr. Arnold Andersen, said in a hearing in April that Metzker-Madsen’s mother used methamphetamine while pregnant with him.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CHARITON, Iowa (AP) — Residents in a southern Iowa county have been creating works of art from hay bales for Halloween. Lucas County’s annual hay bale art contest features more than 30 entries in three towns this year. The roadside pieces include a large gray and white cat, a caterpillar famed for its hunger, and a character from the Disney movie “Cars.”

Lyle Asell, committee chair for the three-year-old contest, says the pieces boost tourism. Visitors have been spotted snapping photos of them and chatting with their creators. Asell says people were skeptical of the contest in its first year, but that the number of entries continues to grow.

Members of the community vote for their favorite pieces, which have been on display for more than a month. The winners will be announced Saturday.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio is campaigning with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst today (Tuesday). Rubio, a possible 2016 presidential candidate, spoke to a crowd of about 100 in Pella. “We desperately need people not just in the Senate, but in our party who understand how a strong America makes the world a better place,” Rubio said. According to Rubio, America is poised to dominate another century, but Rubio says Democrat Harry Reid, the majority leader in the U.S. Senate, is an impediment.

“We can’t start that new American century as long as people like Barack Obama occupy the highest office in the land and that’s why these election’s matter,” Rubio says. “Not only is the person running for the U.S. Senate here, Joni Ernst, a spectacular and special candidate, but the vote here for the senate isn’t just a vote for senator, it’s a vote on who is going to be the next majority leader of the United States Senate.”

Rubio is the keynote speaker this evening (Tuesday) for the Scott County Republican Party’s fall fundraising banquet in Bettendorf.

(Radio Iowa)