(Radio Iowa) – President Donald Trump’s idea of giving his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination for president from the White House has drawn some criticism. Republican Senator Joni Ernst was asked about it today (Thursday) on her conference call with reporters.

Another reporter asked Ernst again after her first answer.

Ernst was also asked about when another federal coronavirus relief package may get done. She says Democrats don’t want to negotiate — and cited the extension of the federal unemployment as an example.

Ernst says nothing can happen if Democrats don’t want to discuss the issue.

Ernst is from Red Oak and is running for her second term in the U-S Senate.

Two people were arrested on separate charges, Tuesday, in Cass County. Sheriff’s officials say 41-year old Ryan James Cook, of Adair, was arrested on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Cook was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

And, 32-year old Joseph Paul Hinton, of Griswold, was arrested Tuesday on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Hinton was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $5,000 bond.

An Iowa appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a law passed last year that does not require Medicaid to pay for sex reassignment surgeries for transgender residents. The Iowa Court of Appeals posted its ruling Wednesday. It agreed with a lower court finding that the legal challenge was speculative because the two transgender residents who sued hadn’t yet been denied Medicaid coverage for surgeries.

The lawsuit claimed the law violated the inalienable rights to liberty, safety and happiness and equal protection sections of the Iowa Constitution. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says it’s reviewing the ruling.

HARLAN – Iowans interested in the results of a DNR study to improve water quality in Prairie Rose Lake in Shelby County can view a presentation on the Iowa DNR’s YouTube channel.

Prairie Rose Lake is on the state’s list of impaired waters for high levels of algae and turbidity. The current study, or DNR water quality improvement plan, shows how these problems are caused by too much phosphorus in the lake. The problems impact recreation on the lake and aquatic life.

The plan explores the amounts and sources of phosphorus entering the lake and offers potential solutions to reduce those levels and work toward fixing the problem. The document is designed as a guide for local resource agencies, partners, stakeholders and residents to improve the lake.

The presentation is available now at youtube.com/iowadnr through Sept. 8. The full document can be downloaded on the Iowa DNR’s website at the following: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/WaterQuality/WatershedImprovement/WatershedResearchData/WaterImprovementPlans/PublicMeetingsPlans.aspx.

Public comments on the plan must be submitted by Sep. 8 to the following:

E-mail: jeff.berckes@dnr.iowa.gov
Mail:  Jeff Berckes, care of Iowa DNR, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St. Des Moines, Iowa 50319

After gathering Iowans’ comments, the DNR will forward the final plan, also called by its technical name of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports a third candidate has filed to run for a seat on the Cass County Ag Extension Council: Jody Steffen from Griswold has filed papers for one of four seats on the Council, in advance of the November General Election.

Marcy Jo Dorsey and Darrin Petty were previously announced as having filed for a seat on the Council. Candidates have until August 26th to file for the position on the General Election Ballot.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County, Wednesday, arrested a Villisca woman. 43-year old Stephanie Briley was arrested on a Page County Warrant for Failure to appear, and Theft in the 5th Degree. Briley was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Page County Jail, where she was being held on a $300 bond, pending further court proceedings.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Police in Davenport have identified two people killed in a motorcycle crash over the weekend. The Quad-City Times reports that 46-year-old Marvin Cobler, who was driving the motorcycle, and his passenger, 32-year-old Sarah Robertson, died from their injuries in the Saturday afternoon crash. Both were from Davenport.

Police say the crash happened when a Jeep turned in front of the motorcycle around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Police say Robertson died Saturday night at an area hospital. Coble died Sunday at an Iowa City hospital.

(Radio Iowa) — Unemployment claims are down for the third straight week. Iowa Workforce Development says the number of ongoing unemployment claims dropped by around five-thousand (5,072) in the last week — and are down by nearly 30-thousand claims in the last three weeks. Ongoing claims have dropped by nearly 85-thousand since peaking in the second week of May. First-time unemployment claims dropped around 200 last week to six-thousand-765. First time claims hit a peak of 64-thousand in the first week of April.

The Cass County Auditors Office says some residents of the County may have received mail from the Republican party, asking you to fill out the Absentee Request Form. In response to numerous questions over those ballots, officials say:
1. Yes they are real and usable
2. No it will not change your party affiliation
3. It is the same request the Secretary of State will mail out in a couple of weeks.
4. You only need to return ONE form per voter. If you fill this request out there is no need to fill out the one you receive from the SOS.
5. They can be mailed to the Cass County Auditor’s office, put in the yellow drop box outside the courthouse or even hand delivered to office. THEY CAN NOT BE EMAILED!

A coordinated effort between the Atlantic Police Department, the Salvation Army and Walmart, aims to collect school supplies for school children in Cass County. A school supply donation drop box will be located at Walmart in Atlantic, from Friday, August 7^th through Sunday, August 9^th.  The collected school supplies will be distributed, along with backpacks, to all school in Cass County. For more information, call the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.