(Radio Iowa) – With one more day on the campaign trail, Iowa’s top-of-the-ticket candidates are emphasizing national themes. Republicans like Governor Kim Reynolds frame the election as a referendum on President Biden. Here’s Reynolds Sunday night at a rally in Waukee: “Passionate Iowans…have had it with the direction that this president is taking the country and they are not going to take it anymore,” she said, “so thank you for being fired up.”

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, at the same rally, picked up that theme. “This Biden Administration and everybody associated with it…they want to fundamentally change America…We want to preserve America,” Grassley said, to cheers. Abortion has been a major issue for Democrats. Grassley’s opponent, Mike Franken, drew extended cheers at a Des Moines rally for saying he supports a woman’s right to choose.

“In those deeply personal moments, the last person you need in the delivery room are Chuck Grassley, a constitutional lawyer and the federal government,” Franken said. And Deidre DeJear, the Democrat running against Reynolds, criticizes the govenror for asking a judge let a six week abortion ban take effect in Iowa. “Kim Reynolds wants to be in your doctor’s appointment, helping you make the most important, critical, personal decision that a person could possibly make,” DeJear said, “and that is unacceptable.”

Today’s the last day of early voting in Iowa. Tuesday’s Election Day voting begins at Iowa precincts at 7 a.m.  Election officials say it’s too late to mail an absentee ballot, because absentee ballots have to be inside your county auditor’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday. You may drop off your absentee ballot at your county auditor’s office today (Monday) *OR* turn it in tomorrow (Tuesday) at your precinct, where you’ll be a regular ballot to fill out instead.

(Radio Iowa) – No winning tickets were sold for Saturday’s Powerball drawing and TONIGHT’S (Monday’s) jackpot has now swelled to an estimated one-point-nine BILLION dollars. Three tickets sold in Iowa for SATURDAY’S drawing were one number away from claiming the previous world-record jackpot of one-point-six billion. Those three tickets each matched four of the first five numbers drawn, along with the correct Powerball number.

Iowa Lottery officials say two of those tickets — worth 50-thousand dollars each — were purchased in Clinton and Sabula. The person who bought the other ticket in Sheldon paid a dollar extra for the so-called “Power Play” option and it made their winning ticket worth 150-thousand dollars.

Over five-point-nine MILLION dollars worth of Powerball tickets were sold IN IOWA for Saturday’s drawing. Iowa Lottery officials have released a list of the top 10 retailers for Iowa Lottery sales from Sunday, October 30th through Saturday, November 5th. Half are in the Cedar Rapids-Marion metro and among the 10 top lottery retailers last week, nine are Hy-Vee stores.

(Radio Iowa) – About 160 Iowa National Guard soldiers have begun their year-long deployment to support U.S. and NATO operations in Poland. The soldiers are from the Iowa National Guard’s 1133rd Transportation Company, based in Mason City with a detachment in Iowa City. Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Ben Corell addressed the soldiers during a send-off ceremony Sunday in Mason City.

“We are grateful that each one of you are part of the less than 1% that serve our nation,” Corell said. “We are proud of you and all that you do and we’re thankful for the families that are gathered here today that support you.” Corell had a message for the families in the audience. “I know the mixed emotions you have as we send off these important members of your family,” Corell said. “I know that it is our family members back home who also sacrifice much when our nation calls us away.” Corell described the 1133rd as part of a military tradition that draws its strength from those who volunteer.

“My hope is that the sacrifices made by our all-volunteer force and by our families is recognized for the gift that it truly is for each citizen of our United States,” Corell said. “…You standing in front of me and your families understand this sacrifice. Those who cannot or choose not to serve will never fully understand what it means to have the higher calling and to honorably answer it.”

The 1133rd left Mason City on Sunday headed for Fort Hood in Texas to complete their final training and readiness checks before deploying overseas. The unit was last activated in 2008 to support Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terrorism.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 1:25-p.m. Sunday (today) in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. Police say 36-year-old Katie Marie Pierce, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving without the owner’s consent (an aggravated misdemeanor). At the time of her arrest, Pierce was allegedly in possession of marijuana and suspected methamphetamine (Serious misdemeanors). She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – No injuries were reported but an SUV sustained an estimated $5,000 damage, Sunday afternoon, when the vehicle popped-out of gear and hit a utility pole, in Creston. Authorities say when a 60-year-old woman parked her 2005 Ford Explorer at the First National Bank in Creston, she got out to use the ATM. Her vehicle failed to go into, or stay in park. The SUV rolled across Highway 34 and hit a City of Creston-owned utility pole on the southeast corner of Highway 34 and Sumner Street. The pole sustained minor damage. The accident happened a little after 1-p.m.

No citations were issued.