(Radio Iowa) — Milk prices have steadily fallen the past few years, forcing the closure of 80 Iowa dairies during 2018. Mitch Schulte, executive director of the Iowa State Dairy Association, says retaliatory tariffs from Mexico in answer to U.S. tariffs on Mexican steel are a major part of the problem. “The dairy industry has been dealing with three years of low milk prices and as we started to see the light at the end of the tunnel and higher prices coming, we got hit with retaliation tariffs,” Schulte says. “That’s played a huge part of what’s going on in the dairy industry right now.”

Recent changes to the dairy margin protection program may offer some help for producers, according to Schulte. “When you look back at the margin protection program, the formula that was in that program was wrong,” Schulte says. “It really just didn’t pay out the way that it should have. With the new changes, what we’re seeing is better payouts and more consistency to that program. It really is helping our dairy producers.”

Schulte says passage of a federal Farm Bill would help the dairy industry, but the major fix lies with the need to lift the steel and aluminum tariffs. He notes, Mexico is the Iowa dairy industry’s number-one trading partner. “We need to do all we can to have that open free trade agreement that we had and not deal with those retaliation tariffs,” Schulte says. “A lot of the language that was in that agreement should, at some point, help our dairy producers but those retaliatory tariffs are still in place until they figure out what they’re going to do with the steel and aluminum.”

Iowa is the nation’s tenth-largest milk producing state. With the loss of 80 dairy farms this year, their number is now down to 1,070 dairies statewide.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The man who will serve at least temporarily as the nation’s top law enforcement official is a relatively inexperienced Republican Party loyalist from Iowa who has called for limiting special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. Matthew G. Whitaker, 49, will become the nation’s acting attorney general following the forced resignation of Jeff Sessions. President Donald Trump announced the appointment Wednesday, saying on Twitter that Whitaker “will serve our Country well” and that a permanent attorney general will be nominated later. The former federal prosecutor served as Sessions’ chief of staff for one year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A defiant Iowa Congressman Steve King says his “head is bloodied but unbowed” by an unexpectedly difficult election in which he eked out the narrowest victory margin of his career. His victory over Democrat J.D. Scholten came amid outcry over his association with white supremacist groups, which he says is false, and his hardline views on immigration, abortion and gun rights. King also vows he’ll no longer allow news media or opponents to mischaracterize statements or take them out of context.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Secretary of State’s office says turnout for Tuesday’s election was the highest for a midterm general election in the state. The office said in a written release that more than 1.32 million votes had been tallied by Wednesday morning, marking the highest number for a midterm election in the state’s history. The previous record of more than 1.14 million votes was set in 2014.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Republican wall that has stood in state capitols for much of the past decade now has a few holes in it. Democrats flipped control of seven gubernatorial offices and picked up hundreds of state legislative seats in Tuesday’s first midterm elections of President Donald Trump’s tenure. While Democrats celebrated their gains, Republicans also expressed optimism because they held on to some key positions, such as the governor’s offices in Florida and Ohio.

ATLANTA (AP) — Election officials have long warned about the nation’s aging voting equipment, and voting this week underscored how badly upgrades are needed. Technological meltdowns caused problems and long lines in polling places across the country on Tuesday, leaving voters to wonder why their smartphones seemed to be light years ahead of the equipment used to distribute and count their ballots.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday passed on the third and final readings, of two amended Ordinances, and acted on three Resolutions. The Council approved by a vote of 5-to 1, with Councilperson Linda Hartkopf absent, setting the speed limit on 1,650-feet of Sunnyside Lane at 35-miles per hour, from 2,000-feet south of 10^th Street, where the speed limit is 25, to 22^nd Street. Councilperson Ashley Hayes was the lone No vote.

The Council also approved an amended Ordinance that repeals and replaces a chapter pertaining to Trees, with a New Tree Ordinance to be located under Chapter 155, entitled “Trees.” The change also reflects the shifting of the City Forester position from Parks and Rec Director to Street Superintendent, and clarifies the authority of the Forester.

Prior to a vote adopting the City’s updated Comprehensive Plan, the Council heard from Susie Pellett, of Atlantic. Pellett questioned if there was enough publicity, and input from the public. Alexis Fleener, with SWIPCO (The Southwest Iowa Planning Council), said there were focus group and related meetings. Pellett then asked if those meetings were “advertised,” so the public was aware. Fleener said they sent out invitations after input was derived from the City, of which groups should attend those meetings. E-mails were then distributed to those groups. Fleener then mentioned a community survey that was sent out seeking input on the Comprehensive Plan. She said those are included in the Plan, which is a public document available for review.

A copy of the Comprehensive Plan is available on the City of Atlantic website: (www.atlanticiowa.com/atlantic) or on this PDF link: City of Atlantic Comprehensive Plan 2018. The City’s Comprehensive Plan was last updated in December, 2002. SWIPCO updated the Plan, which was tweaked by the Planning and Zoning Commission and then recommended to the full Council for approval. Councilman Jimerson suggested portions of the plan be reviewed and updated annually, instead of the normal, every 10-years. Fleener that there are sections, such as housing, that can be discussed and revised as necessary, but she and Mayor Dave Jones said there are some limitations on what can be adjusted.

In other news, the Atlantic City Council approved, by a vote of 5-to 1, “Adopting [a] Reservation Fee Schedule for City Park Facilities.” Councilman Chris Jimerson was the lone No vote. The fees would be waived for official City sponsored and partnered events. Under the fee schedule, reservations for the City’s Shelters would be $20 from 8-a.m. To 2-p.m., $20 from 3-p.m. To 9-p.m., or a full-day for $35. Picnic tables will be rented out in the same fashion as shelter reservations. The cost for six tables is $20, 12 tables $35. Tables will be picked up and returned by the renter. Without a reservation, the shelters are available on a first-come first-served basis.

And, the Council approved a Resolution “Obligating funds from the Whitney TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Urban Renewal Area Fund for Annual Appropriation Payment,”  with regard to the Council approved TIF agreement with the Whitney Group for improvements to the Whitney Inn in 2016. This is the first year the City is eligible to capture the taxes paid by the Whitney Group using TIF. Afterward, they will be an annual feature on the Council’s agenda until the $750,000 maximum is paid-off, or 20-years expire – whichever comes first.

Officials with the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa report a Pottawattamie County man was arrested by agents with the FBI, Tuesday in Texas, in connection with sex trafficking and other offenses. 68-Year old Richard John Massey, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on charges of sex trafficking of a minor, coercion and enticement of a minor, and traveling in interstate commerce to facilitate prostitution.

His arrest followed an indictment on these charges returned by a federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of Iowa on October 30, 2018. The offenses are alleged to have occurred between October 2017 and April 26, 2018.

Massey was arrested at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport as he entered the United States on a flight originating from Mexico. On November 7, 2018, Massey made an initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in Dallas, Texas, and was ordered to appear in the Southern District of Iowa on a subsequent date. Massey remains in custody pending proceedings in the Southern District of Iowa.

Authorities stressed that an Indictment is merely an accusation, and that Massey is presumed innocent unless he is proven guilty. The matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Omaha Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Secretary of State’s office says turnout for Tuesday’s election was the highest for a midterm general election in the state. The office said in a written release that more than 1.32 million votes had been tallied by Wednesday morning, marking the highest number for a midterm election in the state’s history. The previous record of more than 1.14 million votes was set in 2014.

The office says nearly 61 percent of Iowa’s more than 2 million registered voters participated in this year’s elections, including the primary election. That marked the highest percentage for a midterm election year since 1994, when turnout topped 62 percent.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A defiant Iowa Congressman Steve King says his “head is bloodied but unbowed” by an unexpectedly difficult election in which he eked out the narrowest victory margin of his career. The Republican’s victory over Democrat J.D. Scholten came amid outcry over his association with white supremacist groups, which he says is false, and his hardline views on immigration, abortion and gun rights.

King, in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, vows he’ll no longer allow news media or opponents to mischaracterize statements or take them out of context. He says the attacks will not intimidate him into backing off the values he believes.

Since first winning election in 2002, King’s vote total has dipped below 60 percent only twice. He defeated Scholten on Tuesday with just 50 percent of the vote.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has resigned as the country’s chief law enforcement officer at President Donald Trump’s request. Sessions announced his plan to resign in a letter to the White House on Wednesday. Trump announced in a tweet that Sessions’ chief of staff Matt Whitaker would become the new acting attorney general. Whitaker is native Iowan and former University of Iowa football player who is currently in charge of the United States Department of Justice. He served as a US Attorney in Des Moines during the George W. Bush Administration.

The attorney general had endured more than a year of stinging and personal criticism from Trump over his recusal from the investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. Trump blamed the decision for opening the door to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who took over the Russia investigation and began examining whether Trump’s hectoring of Sessions was part of a broader effort to obstruct justice.

Red Oak Police report one person was severely injured during an altercation Tuesday night.  Police received a report at around 8:25-p.m. of a male…56-year old Randall James Elarton… was assaulted in the 900 block of east Reed Street. Upon arrival and investigation, authorities determined Elarton had been extensively injured from an altercation that occurred at an earlier time. Red Oak Fire and Rescue began treatment of Elarton, who was later transported by helicopter to Creighton-Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha, for treatment of serious injuries.

Authorities say evidence and an investigation lead them to believe this was a targeted and isolated incident, and there is no threat to the community or the public in general. The investigation continues, and authorities say only the information released is being provided at this time. Additional details will be released when it becomes available.

Several agencies assisted Red Oak Police with the incident investigation, including: The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 Unit; Red Oak Fire and Rescue; Montgomery County Emergency Management; Iowa DCI and the DCI Crime Scene Unit, and the Iowa State Patrol.

(12-p.m. News)

Atlantic, IA – The Parents as Teachers (PAT) program through Cass County Public Health is celebrating National Parents as Teachers Day on November 8^th. PAT is a free program for Cass County families with children ages 0-5, which provides home visits to help young children grow up healthy, safe, and ready to learn. The PAT educators help connect community partners with parents to prepare children for Kindergarten and beyond. Nancy Gibson, Parents as Teachers Coordinator said “We’ve been in Cass County since 1998, and we are a credentialed, evidence-based program. “During our 20 years of service to Cass County we have had the opportunity to serve 450 families and around 700 children.”

PAT educators (left to right) Nancy Gibson and Victoria Means

PAT currently has two different educators who provide monthly home visits to families with young children. During these visits, they work on getting a complete health history, doing developmental screenings to catch any delays as early as possible, check on immunizations, and much more. Children in the program also have access to free vision, hearing, and dental checks. The PAT program is partially funded by a grant from Boost 4 Families.

PAT currently has limited openings, parents who are interested in the program can contact Nancy at 712-243-7475. Referrals are also welcome—anyone who knows of a family that could benefit from participating is encouraged to call.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa employee responsible for issuing private security guard licenses was fired Tuesday for ethical and other rule violations, and a related criminal investigation is under way. A termination letter obtained by The Associated Press shows the Iowa Department of Public Safety fired clerk Joseph Sheehan Jr. after a nearly three-month paid leave. The department tells AP it opened a criminal investigation in August “after a routine review raised concerns related to the issuance of security guard identification cards.” That investigation is still ongoing.

Sheehan’s termination letter says an internal investigation found he violated five department policies, including those governing employee ethics, requiring timely and accurate official reports, barring incompetent performance and requiring employees to follow orders. The letter didn’t elaborate on Sheehan’s wrongdoing but said that his actions were unacceptable and his employment “has been counterproductive to the best interests of the Department.”