IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — County election boards have started counting a record number of absentee ballots in Iowa, racing toward a Tuesday night deadline to have those votes tabulated. Nearly 956,000 people had sent in their ballots by mail, dropped them off at auditor’s offices or voted early in person as of Monday morning. That is more than half of the total turnout in the election, which is expected to exceed 1.6 million.In all 99 counties, bipartisan election boards could begin counting the absentee votes on Monday as allowed by state law. Some were planning to work all day and late into the night before reconvening Tuesday.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in Sioux City are investigating after a man was fatally shot at an apartment complex there. The Sioux City Journal reports that the shooting was reported just before 7 p.m. Sunday at Park Place Apartments near Grandview Park. Arriving officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Police say the officers rendered medical aid until an ambulance took the man to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim’s name had not been released by midday Monday. Police offered no other details about what may have led to the shooting.

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest Saturday, of 50-year-old Jonathan Finnegan, of Glenwood. Finnegan was for OWI/2nd offense. He has since posted a $2,000 cash or surety bond and was released.

A public hearing will be held during a Special Meeting of the Audubon School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday night. The meeting takes place in the High School Board Room, beginning at 7-p.m.  During their session, a public hearing with regard to the plans, specifications and form of contract, along with the anticipated constructions costs, will be held for the Middle School/High School Renovation Project.

As part of the hearing, the Board will: Review a Resolution call for the Public Hearing; Hold an overview of the project (involving the Design Team); Acknowledge the plans, specs and form of contract has been available for public inspection at the District Office; and they’ll review the anticipated construction costs.

Following the Public Hearing, the Board will discuss further the plans, specs, FOC and Budget estimates of the construction costs. They will then act to approve those items, and approve the advertisement and Notice of Bids for the project. The Board will hold a regular, monthly session, 7-p.m. Nov. 16th.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports just two arrests took place over the past week. At around 2:35-a.m. on Oct. 25th, 37-year old Amanda Jolene McCallon, of Winterset, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, after the pickup she was driving on eastbound Highway 92, was observed weaving back and forth on the road, and nearly went off the road at one point. When a Deputy questioned McCallon, she said she was driving her intoxicated passenger home. McCallon was administered a Field Sobriety Test and Breath Alcohol Content (BAC) test, both of which she failed. She was brought to the Adair County Jail and released a few hours later with a citation.

And, at around 8:25-p.m. on Oct. 27th, 34-year old David Spencer Reeves, of Earlham, was arrested on two Adair County warrants for Harassment in the 1st Degree. Reeves was released the following day after posting bond.

(Radio Iowa) – More than 90 percent of eligible Iowans are registered to vote — and the Secretary of State reports there are a record number of nearly two-point-one MILLION active voters in the state. The monthly report from the Iowa Secretary of State’s office shows there are about 20-thousand more registered Republican voters in Iowa compared to Democrats. A third block of no party or independent voters account for most of the rest.

Sorted out by congressional districts, Republicans have a huge advantage in the fourth district, where registered Republican voters outnumber Democrats by nearly 80-thousand, while Democrats have more registered voters than Democrats in each of the other three congressional districts.

In the third, there are about 10-thousand more registered Democrats than Republicans. And, in BOTH the second and first congressional districts, Democrats hold a roughly 24-thousand voter registration edge over Republicans.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The overall economic index of a monthly survey of Midwest business leaders hit a 16-year high for October, but the manufacturing sector of the economy remains stunted from the coronavirus outbreak. The overall measure of the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index improved to 70.2 in October from September’s already strong 65.1. Any score above 50 on the survey’s indexes suggests growth.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey and says that even with the high index level, manufacturing output remains below levels seen before the pandemic. The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The Nishna Valley Family YMCA Staff and Board of Directors will be hosting a “Community Discussion” on the future of “recreation and quality of life” in Atlantic and the surrounding area. Dan Haynes, Executive Director of the Nishna Valley YMCA says this opportunity for a community discussion will be Tuesday, November 17th at 6:30pm at the Cass County Community Building. All interested individuals, families, organizations and businesses are encouraged to attend and give input and feedback on this subject.

In the past year or two there has been considerable talk about future recreation; outdoor pool and splash pad concepts; senior center issues; community attractions for teens and family fun; and other quality of life issues. These topics are just part of the economic growth, vitality, and quality of life of our communities. The YMCA would like to revisit and focus discussions into a plan of action to move forward. The YMCA Board, city officials, and the park and recreation department will use input and information collected to direct future planning and actions.

All those interested in giving input are invited to attend. We will be using the entire community center but we do ask that you RSVP so that we are able to set the room up to allow for social distancing and the safety of all attending. Temperatures will be taken at the door. Masks as you enter and exit are highly encouraged and will be available at the door. Hand sanitizer will be widely available. Please RSVP to Dan Haynes at 712-243-3934 or email to dhaynes@nishnavalleyymca.com. Questions or comments ahead of time can also be emailed or called in.

Haynes says “We appreciate your time and attention to improving the quality of life for Atlantic and the Nishna Valley Area.”