DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new study confirms what anyone watching Iowa television probably knows already — Gov. Terry Branstad is massively outspending his Democratic opponent Jack Hatch in the Republican incumbent’s drive for re-election.

The data compiled by the non-partisan Center for Public Integrity shows that $2.9 million has been spent on television advertising in Iowa state level races — such as governor or the state legislature — through Sept. 8.

Nearly all the money has been spent on the governor’s race, with $2.2 million coming from Branstad’s campaign, and just $129,200 from the Hatch campaign.

Three people were injured Tuesday evening when a semi struck an SUV in Dallas County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2000 Freightliner semi driven by 24-year old Eric Almanza, of Lenox, was traveling west on Ashworth Road at around 6:15-p.m., when the rig failed to stop at the intersection with Ute Avenue. The semi hit a southbound 2002 Chevy Blazer, driven by 29-year old Nicholas Gordan, of Winterset.

Gordan, and an unidentified minor female in the SUV, also from Winterset, were transported by Dallas County EMS to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Almanza, was transported by Dallas County EMS to Mercy West Lakes Hospital.

The accident remains under investigation.

The City of Atlantic’s Personnel and Finance Committee met Tuesday evening to discuss and act on recommending to the full Council, a severance package for City Administrator Doug Harris. Harris said he was asked to resign last Thursday, and he agreed his last day at work would be October 3rd.

City Attorney Dave Wiederstein layed out the tentative terms of the severance package, which was essentially what was stipulated in Harris contract when he came to the City in Jan., 2010.

The terms are as follows:  Doug Harris will resign as the City Administrator, and his last day of employment will be on October 3, 2014; The City will pay Doug Harris $52,049, which is an amount equal to six months of Doug Harris’ aggregate salary. This amount will be paid to Doug Harris in twelve equal installments of $4,337.42 (twice each month for six months beginning in October, 2014); Health insurance and retirement benefits received by Doug Harris during his term of employment will continue in full force for six months from October 3, 2014. The vehicle allowance and City-provided cell phone will discontinue as of October 3, 2014.; The City will compensate Doug Harris for all accrued and unused vacation and sick time as of October 3, 2014. Unused vacation and sick time will be paid to Doug in eight (8) equal semi-monthly installments beginning in April 2015 through July 2015.; There is a Mutual Release of Liability, and DougHarris agrees to not seek unemployment benefits from the City.

However, Harris said during Tuesday’s meeting that he doesn’t feel comfortable with the part of the agreement which refers to unemployment benefits. In particular, he was concerned about waiving his rights to unemployment benefits “forever.” He said it would be fair, and he agrees not to seek those benefits, while he’s being paid six months salary following his separation, but beyond that, if he is not employed, he wants that option open. There is also the possibility he may be allowed to purchase the laptop he uses, with the exception all city material and information would be removed.

There were a number of people in attendance at the meeting, who voiced their concerns over the sudden, recent developments. There were also questions by the media with regard to how and when members of the Council got together with and without Harris, to discuss his “resignation.” Questions remain as to whether those discussions violated the terms of Iowa’s Open Meeting Law. Wiedestein confirmed the Mayor and Harris had discussed the matter, but Committee Chair Kathy Somers denied there were any other discussions held, and that “No open meeting laws had been violated.”

Harris took over the position in 2010 from Ron Crisp, who retired in Dec., 2009. He recently butted heads with the Mayor and City Council over the Tax Abatement for improvements, which the City’s Legal Counsel, Bob Jostens said cannot legally be retroactive to Jan., 2014. The Mayor and the Council however, chose to make the abatements retroactive, and are leaving it up to Cass County Assessor Brenda Nelson to decide if the project qualifies for an abatement and if so, how much.

The Committee’s recommendation will be sent to the full City Council for action during its meeting on Oct. 1st. That meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports that requests for ABSENTEE BALLOTS (ballots cast prior to ‘election day’ by mail or at Auditor’s office) may be sent or brought to the County Auditor’s office. First day to vote in the auditor’s office is Thursday, September 25, 2014 and the last day to vote in the auditor’s office is Monday, November 3, 2014.

VOTER REGISTRATION: In order to vote in Iowa a person must be registered in the person’s current county of residence, under the person’s present name, and at the person’s current address. Registration forms are available at the county auditor’s office, many State of Iowa service offices and on the Secretary of State’s web site: sos.ia.gov

The county election commissioner recommends that persons not currently registered or who have moved since last registering and are planning to vote in the November GENERAL ELECTION pre-register in the office of the County Auditor as soon as possible. You may register or re-register and vote absentee on the same day.

Reminder: You may also update your registration as you update your address for your driver’s license. Since your Iowa driver’s license is often used as official identification, it’s important that the data shown is accurate. In fact, Iowa law requires residents to notify the Department of Transportation within 30 days of an address change. You may be fined for having inaccurate information on your license if you are stopped by a police officer while driving. The easiest method of changing your address is to visit an Iowa driver’s license station – in Cass County that station is in the Cass County Treasurer’s office, Courthouse, Atlantic, Iowa (there is a $1 fee for updating your driver’s license at the driver’s license station).

ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Dale Sunderman, Cass County Auditor, also notes that if a person chooses, he/she may request and vote a ballot before election day (called ABSENTEE BALLOT). You may request that the ballot be sent to you by mail (USPS) or you may vote at the office of the County Auditor.

IF YOU HAVE THE BALLOT MAILED TO YOU: A written request may be mailed or hand delivered to the County Auditor’s office. (Absentee request forms are available at the auditor’s office and on the Secretary of State’s web site: sos.ia.gov). A ballot along with instructions on how to complete the ballot will be mailed to the requester. The package will include a RETURN ENVELOPE with POSTAGE AFFIXED and an AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPE. For the ballot to be counted, the completed ballot, sealed in the AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPE (the voter must sign the affidavit envelope) must be returned by mail postmarked no later than the day before the election. Alternatively the ballot may be returned by personal carrier to the office of County Auditor before the polls close on election day. All BALLOTS MUST BE RETURNED, whether they were voted or not voted.

IF VOTING AT THE COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE: beginning September 25th, the absentee voter may come to the CASS COUNTY COURTHOUSE during the regular office hours of 8 AM thru 4:30 PM, Monday thru Friday, up through the day before the election and cast a ballot. In addition to regular office hours, the office of Cass County Auditor will be open Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 8 AM thru 5 PM and Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 9 AM thru 5 PM.

The address for the Cass County Auditor / Election Commissioner is:

DALE SUNDERMAN, CASS COUNTY AUDITOR, COURTHOUSE, 5 W 7TH ST, ATLANTIC, IOWA 50022 (Phone:712-243-4570; FAX:712-243-4572)