JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – All five Republican seeking Iowa’s U.S. Senate nomination will debate at Iowa Public Television’s studios in suburban Des Moines.

College professor Sam Clovis of Sioux City, state Sen. Joni Ernst of Red Oak, retired business executive Mark Jacobs of West Des Moines, businessman Scott Schaben of Urbandale and former U.S. attorney Matt Whitaker of Clive are expected to participate in the 90-minute live broadcast, beginning at 7 p.m.

It’s the first statewide televised debate for the candidates, who are vying to win 35 percent of the vote in the June 3 primary. If no candidate meets the threshold, a party convention will decide the nomination.

The Republican nominee will face U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley of Waterloo, the only Democrat seeking the seat held by retiring five-term Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill ending greyhound racing in Council Bluffs but allowing dog owners to operate a track in Dubuque has advanced to a full Senate committee. Casinos in Council Bluffs and Dubuque, which spent $10 million subsidizing dog racing last year, say the industry is dying. The casinos have worked to end racing for years.  Under the bill, Mystique Casino in Dubuque would pay $7 million and Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs casino would pay $65 million into a fund.

Half of it would be used as a retirement fund for breeders and owners who stop racing. The other half would help the Iowa Greyhound Association lease the track in Dubuque. Racing in Council Bluffs would end on Dec. 31, 2015.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will consider the bill Thursday afternoon.

The animal rights group “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” or PETA, wants to erect a 10-foot tall monument near a Sioux City highway where several hundred turkeys died in a truck rollover earlier this month. Alex Moore of PETA sent a letter to the D-O-T requesting permission to put a 10-foot tombstone along the right of way where More says more than 500 turkeys died. Dakin Schultz in the D-O-T’s Sioux City office says the agency has strict policies regarding roadside memorials.
“The Iowa Department of Transportation, for safety purposes, does not permit any memorials along public roadways. At least the state roadways,” Schultz says. He says the D-O-T will send a response to PETA to explain their policy. “Typically when there is a request for a roadway we will not issue a permit for it and we encourage those folks who wish to do that to find other locations,” Schultz says.

The driver of the truck in the April 12th accident was cited for failure to maintain control.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with Governor Terry Branstad’s office say Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will continue a series of town hall meetings across Iowa, including one set to take place in Corning, on May 6th. Other such events will take place in Pella and Reinbeck. Reynolds will talk about the importance of giving students a first-rate education in science, technology, engineering and math. The meeting in Corning will be held in the Corning High School Gym, beginning at 1:30 on Tue., May 6th. In addition to Reynolds, Gov. Branstad and Chris Russell, Data Center Operations Manager for Google in Council Bluffs, will be in attendance. The public is invited to attend.

The Lt. Governor is co-chair of the Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Advisory Council, along with Mary Andringa, CEO of the Vermeer Corp. The Council’s overarching goal is raising student interest and achievement in STEM and building a stronger STEM workforce pipeline.

The town halls will update Iowans on the progress being made by the Council, showcase student STEM presentations and seek feedback from community members about how the Council should set STEM priorities moving forward. Gov. Terry Branstad, Mary Andringa and local business leaders will join Reynolds at select town halls.

Andringa said in a press release that they “Want to hear feedback on the progress the Governor’s STEM Council has made over the past two years, and the priorities we should set as we look ahead.”  She said “The STEM town halls are a way to engage communities in conversation about the value of STEM education and STEM economic development.”

Emergency Management officials in Shelby County say residents who live in, and emergency responders who serve the Shelby County Township of Union, Sections 17 and 18, should be be aware 2300th Street has re-opened. The road was closed March 31st due to a culvert project. The culvert has replaced a bridge one-quarter of a mile west of County Road M-16 on 2300th Street.The bridge was over an unnamed tributary of Moser Creek.

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in finding a woman who has not been seen since the early morning hours of Friday, April 18th.  Authorities say 22-year old Heather Betts, of Council Bluffs, was last seen voluntarily getting into a dark colored “sporty looking” car with a loud exhaust. The woman told  her friends and family that she was getting a ride from someone she described as “An old friend,” and was enroute to either Little Sioux or Missouri Valley, Iowa.

Heather Betts

Betts is a Caucasian woman about 4-feet 8-inches tall, weighs 80-pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black pants with either a yellow or light blue shirt. Officials say she appears younger than her age.

The Council Bluffs Police Dept. is actively investigating her disappearance as a “Missing Persons” case. They say they have no evidence to suggest Betts is in danger, other than her absence and lack of contact with family and friends.

If you have information on her whereabouts, call the Council Bluffs Police Department at 712-328-STOP.