Republican Congressman Steve King says “good things” have happened after past showdowns between congress and previous presidents and Republicans in congress are “more unified” now that the government shutdown has actually happened. “I think there was something that was intimidating members, an unreasonable fear that they would be blamed if the clock ticked past midnight and so we’re past the witching hour,” King says, “and the roof hasn’t caved in. The sky hasn’t fallen and now I’m seeing Republicans dig back in and show more resolve, not less.”

According to King, there have been 17 government shutdowns since 1976, including the 1995 stalemate between congress and President Clinton that King says eventually yielded a balanced federal budget. “Good things do come from these kind of showdowns,” King says, “and we need to hold the line to that even more good can come from this.” Public opinion will resolve the impasse, according to King, who predicts the resolution will come sooner rather than later.”This isn’t going to go on for a long time,” King says. “The pressure builds every day and so each hour that goes by now brings us closer to a conclusion.”

King made his comments during a telephone conference call with reporters on Tuesday afternoon. Jim Mowrer — the Democrat who hopes to face King in the 2014 eleciton — held a news conference in Sioux City, saying the shutdown was “truly unacceptable.” Mowrer said King was “irresponsible and reckless” for “putting the economy at risk to advance his Tea Party political agenda.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Falls legislator Walt Rogers says he’ll seek the Republican nomination for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. Rogers was elected to the Iowa House in 2010 and served as an assistant majority leader. Cedar Rapids businessman Steve Rathje and Dubuque businessman Rod Blum also are seeking the GOP nomination, and former Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate is expected to announce his candidacy soon.

ALLISON, Iowa (AP) — A woman says a northern Iowa man accused of sexually abusing her daughter tried to buy the girl for $50,000. The woman told a courtroom that Clarence Miller made the offer through his own daughter because the woman doesn’t speak English. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the woman testified that she said no to the 80-year-old man’s offer. She also said she didn’t tell anyone about the conversation. Miller’s attorney says his client denies any sexual abuse occurred.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Mason City’s former Human Rights Director claims his job was eliminated earlier this year in part because he had investigated complaints against the mayor’s local business supporters. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports 75-year-old Lionel Foster filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission claiming race and age discrimination as well as retaliation. Mayor Eric Bookmeyer says he’s confident all parties will be vindicated.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 26-year-old Nebraska woman will spend six to nine years in prison for an incident last spring in which she hid a gun in a pot of chili. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Danielle Cherecwich was on parole out of Iowa when she was arrested in April after an officer stopped her car, which had reportedly been used in a failed attempt to pass a fake check earlier that month. When officers checked a container of chili at her feet, they found a loaded .25-caliber handgun.

CUSHING, Iowa (AP) — The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office says a steer killed a western Iowa man who was trying to move the animal. The Sioux City Journal reports 52-year-old Larry Johnson, of Cushing, died Monday night after he was injured while trying to load a 900-pound steer onto a trailer. Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Tony Wingert says the animal injured Johnson while both were inside the trailer.

An ambulance crew rushed Johnson to a helicopter landing zone, but he died before the copter arrived. Wingert says Johnson’s daughter and another person were helping Johnson load the steer. The animal was being moved because it was aggressive and had damaged a pen.

The Atlantic City Council is expected to act on a couple of matters to come before them during their meeting Wednesday evening, at City Hall. The first is a Resolution of Objection, to the location of the POET Ethanol Trans-loading Station. The second, is a recommendation by the Mayor, to approve a contribution of just over $3,000 to the Cass County Agricultural & Educational Association, for the new “Cattle Barn,” at the Fairgrounds.

The Resolution to come before the Council during their 5:30-p.m. meeting, Wednesday, was prepared by City Attorney Dave Wiederstein at the request of Mayor Dave Jones. It cites safety concerns pertaining to the POET ethanol transfer station located within 100-feet of the Downtown Fire District, and encourages the company to reconsider the location of the facility to a site elsewhere in Atlantic. It says also that the City has questionable legal options to pursue in its opposition to the current site, which is under construction.

With regard to the Cattle Barn, the Mayor will ask the Council to consider making a donation to the Fair Board in the amount of $3,008.80, if they want to find a way to keep the Association’s net permit cost for the project in-line with the new building permit fee structure. Last August, the Cass County Ag & Educational Association (Fair Board) asked the Council to waive the $3,500 building permit fee for a new, open cattle barn.

The Council concluded the old fee schedule be adjusted for such structures, and later amended the building permit fee schedule to reduce the per square foot fee, and cap the total building fee to unattached, accessory structures at $500. Under the new fee, the Fair Board would have only had to pay the $500 fee, but it is not retroactive, and therefore does not apply to permits issued prior to Sept. 4th.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on approving the route for the Oct. 12th Fireman’s Parade. The parade begins at 6-p.m. at 2nd and Walnut Streets, and will travel on 6th and Chestnut Streets before returning to 2nd Street.

The Harlan Police Department reports a local teen was charged with harassment and assault, Saturday. 17-year old Ashtun McLaren, of Harlan, was charged after officers were asked to investigate an alleged assault on Zain Harris, also of Harlan.  McLaren was cited for both offenses and released to the custody of her parents.  The complaints were then filed with Juvenile court. That same day, 44-year old James Dowling, of Wellsville, OH, was taken into custody following a traffic stop.  Dowling was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, failure to have a valid driver’s license and speed.

The Harlan P-D said also, complaints were filed last Thursday against an Avoca woman, following an alleged assault. Officers were called to the Stephen Weber residence, in the 800 block of Court Street, for a reported incident of assault. Following the investigation, complaints were filed by Weber charging 31-year old Katherine Hayes, of  Avoca, with assault.  The complaints were filed with the Shelby County Clerk of Court.

And, last Wednesday (Sept. 25th). 78-year old Marilyn Knauss, of Harlan, was taken into custody when officers received a report of a car driving slowly and all over the road.  Officers were able to locate the car and, after the traffic stop, Knauss was taken to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.