Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst says she’s “greatly offended” by a remark Democratic Senator Tom Harkin made last week in Ames and Harkin has issued a written apology this afternoon (Tuesday). Video of Harkin’s remark at a gathering of Story County Democrats was posted online by Buzzfeed yesterday (Sunday). Harkin said Ernst was “really attractive” and “sounds nice” in her campaign ads.

“I don’t care if she’s as good looking as Taylor Swift or as nice as Mr. Rogers, but if she votes like Michele Bachmann, she’s wrong for the state of Iowa,” Harkin said, to extended applause from the Democratic crowd. Ernst was asked about Harkin’s remark this morning (Monday) during an appearance on FOX News.

“I was very offended that Senator Harkin would say that. I think it’s unfortunate that he and many of their party believe you can’t be a real woman if you’re conservative and you’re female,” Ernst said on the “FOX & friends” morning show. “Again, I am greatly offended about that.” Ernst said if her name were “John Ernst” Harkin would not have said those things. Harkin issued a written apology this afternoon, saying he “shouldn’t have said those things” and he regret that Ernst feels offended by what he said.

Harkin added that he has complimented Ernst for running “a very good campaign,” but Harkin said he is “only human and can make mistakes” sometimes in how he expresses himself.

(Radio Iowa)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man wanted on a warrant for escaping from the Iowa Department of Corrections was arrested late this (Monday) morning. 45-year old Fred William Still, Jr., of Creston, was taken into custody at around 11:35-a.m. on Highway 71 in Villisca.

Still, Jr. was being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.

Sioux City police have released video of a chase where parts of a car flew off and hit a police cruiser before officers were able to stop the driver. The lead officer in the pursuit, Ryan Morritz, tells the dispatcher what is happening when the wheel comes off the car he is chasing. “His rim just went through my windshield, ” the officer tells the dispatcher. Another officer asks if Morritz can still see and he responds, “Yeah it’s the passenger side.”

Suspect Chad Hughes

The officer is then told it’s okay to do a maneuver to cause the car to spin out, as the chase has gotten dangerous with car parts flying. The video from a squad car behind the action shows the car spinning out in a burst of sparks and the officer reports the driver is fleeing. “The guy is running east through the corn,” the Morritz says.

The suspect tries to hide, but Morritz has a police dog with him and the dog quickly locates the man. Morritz then reports the man is in custody and they are putting handcuffs on him. The chase started after the report of a suspicious vehicle driving without its lights on around 3:20 A-M Friday. Police charged 31-year-old Chad Hughes with felony eluding, possession of meth, O-W-I and five misdemeanor counts. Hughes is also wanted by the U-S Marshal’s Service. Morritz was not hurt and there was around two-thousand dollars in damage done to his patrol car.

(Radio Iowa)

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) – An audit shows a former employee at the motor vehicle department in Sac County was fired because officials suspected she was promoting a personal business while at work. A state audit released Monday says the department for the Sac County Treasurer’s Office had more than $3,500 in improper disbursements and deposited collections between January 2010 and the end of February of this year. Most of the money was paid to Lisa Phillips, the department’s former deputy treasurer, for compensatory time.

Phillips is accused of promoting a personal business during normal working hours. County workers told officials they saw her spending two to three hours per day doing non-county activities. The audit has been sent to the county attorney’s office and other agencies.

Tuesday’s General Election will be watched closely in Iowa, where six candidates’ names are on the ballot for the U.S. Senate seat held since 1984 by retiring Democrat Tom Harkin. Recent polls have shown Republican Joni Ernst and U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, a Democrat neck-and-neck in the race.

Democratic state Rep. Pat Murphy and Republican businessman Rod Blum are facing off to replace Braley in a tossup in District 1. GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Latham’s District 3 seat also is open and a tossup. Candidates include former Democratic state legislator Staci Appel and Republican David Young, the former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. Experts say the 4th District in conservative northwestern Iowa appears likely to stay with Republican Representative Steve King.

The Secretary of State’s office is open, where incumbent Republican Matt Schultz stepped aside to make an unsuccessful bid for Latham’s congressional seat. Candidates include: Paul Pate; Brad Anderson; Jake Porter and Spencer Highland.

The State Auditor’s race pits Republican Mary Mosiman against Democrat Jonathan Neiderbach. Three candidates are running for Treasurer of State, including incumbent Democrat Michael Fitzgerald, Republican Sam Clovis, and Independent party candidate Keith Laube. Incumbent Republican Bill Northey is running for re-election against Democrat Sherrie Taha and New Independent Party of Iowa candidate Levi Benning for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. And, incumbent Democrat Tom Miller faces a challenge from Republican Adam Gregg, for the Iowa Attorney General’s job.

Incumbent GOP Gov. Terry Branstad faces four candidates, including Democratic state Sen. Jack Hatch. Incumbents also are up against challengers in races for auditor, treasurer, agriculture secretary and attorney general. State Senate and House seats also are on the November ballot.