(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a woman was arrested early this (Thursday) morning. Authorities say 23-year-old Shelby Ann Nelson, of Villisca, was arrested at around 12:22-a.m. in the 900 block of N. Broadway Street. She was charged with OWI/1st offense and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where Nelson’s bond was set at $1,000.

(Radio Iowa) – The Linn County Board of Supervisors has unanimously voted for a temporary moratorium on new applications for large-scale solar projects. Last month, on a two-to-one vote, the Linn County Board approved rezoning land near Palo for construction of large solar fields that will connect to Alliant Energy’s power grid. The moratorium on any NEW applications for utility-scale solar projects in Linn County will last at least three months, but the Board of Supervisors could extend it for as a long as a year.

Officials say it will give staff time to examine Linn County ordinances regarding construction of large arrays of solar panels, like how far away they must be from neighbors. During a public forum on Wednesday, one man questioned whether the moratorium was merely a delaying tactic by opponents of solar projects. Another said once building begins, there’s no turning back and the county should take the time necessary to review its solar-related rules.

County officials say they will appoint a citizens’ committee of Linn County residents to review and make recommendations for the county’s solar ordinance.

(Radio Iowa) – U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy was on the Iowa campaign trail yesterday (Wednesday) with Zach Nunn, the G-O-P candidate in Iowa’s third congressional district.  “I encouraged him to run two years ago. At the time, it wasn’t right for him, but now it the right time,” McCarthy says. “…When I look at the challenges that we have before this nation, I just understand that Iowans want to see a change.” Nunn, who has served in the U.S. Air Force and the Iowa National Guard, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine. Nunn says the Biden Administration’s decision this week to send surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine should have happened long ago.

“Going forward, we need to have a strategy to be able to deter the Russians and help the Ukrainians, but handing over just…billions of dollars with no plan is not a plan for success.” A few Republican candidates have begun calling for an end to U.S. aid to Ukraine. McCarthy says if Republicans gain a majority in the U.S. House, they’ll push the Biden Administration for a plan to end the war.

“You don’t just throw aid. What is the plan to win? What is the plan to end this? And let’s see what it is. What do you need at this moment? And then there’s a check and balance,” McCarthy said. “You never give a blank check — ‘I’ll write anything,’ and you never give a blank check that: ‘I’ll just say no.'” McCarthy also blasts the idea of cancelling U.S. arm sales to Saudi Arabia, as some Democrats have proposed. McCarthy says it would harm relationships with allies if America fails to fulfill its promises.

Both McCarthy and Nunn say after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, decisions about abortion policy should be made at the state, not federal level. Nunn already has voted for some abortion restrictions in Iowa as a member of the state legislature. “I think the court’s been very clear here under the 10th amendment, this is back to the states,” Nunn said. “…Not only the states have the responsibility to do…we really this needs to be a conversation with Iowans and we need to afford them the opportunity to have their voice heard.”

McCarthy echoes those sentiments.  “Well, I’ve watched the Supreme Court decision and what the Supreme Court decision did in my decision is pushes it down to the states,” McCarthy said. “Let the states make that decision.”

McCarthy and Nunn made their comments during an interview with Radio Iowa before a campaign fundraiser in West Des Moines. Nunn is challenging Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne’s bid for a third term in the U.S. House.

(Radio Iowa) -The candidates in Iowa’s new second congressional district revived their strong disagreements over abortion policy during a joint T-V appearance last (Tuesday) night. Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is seeking a second term in the U.S. House. “I think it’s important we have some sort of conversation about how we protect life in this country,” Hinson says. “…It’s why I’ve supported a variety of pro-life policies.” Liz Mathis of Hiawatha is the Democrat running against Hinson.

“I will codify Roe when I get into Washington,” Mathis said. “I will also take government out of women’s health care decisions.” Both candidates said the situation at America’s southern border is dire. Mathis says new technology could help speed up asylum hearings. “I think the Biden Administration has failed at the border,” Mathis said. “When we look at pictures, it looks like chaos and so I believe that we need to hire more border patrol…They’re doing paperwork there and paperwork that is late is making people languish at the border.”

Hinson said the federal government should hire more agents for the border patrol rather than the I-R-S. “Let’s talk about technology,” Hinson said. “I’ve helped as a part of the Homeland Security Appropriations Committee to fund technology that allows us to use drones and specialty cameras to help monitor our southern border so we can stop these bad guys trying to make their way into our country.”

The candidates debated last (Wednesday) night in K-C-R-G T-V studios where both had worked in the past as on-air journalists. Television stations K-C-C-I in Des Moines and K-W-Q-C in the Quad Cities were co-sponsors. Hinson and Mathis will debate once more — next Tuesday, October 18th, on Iowa P-B-S.