(Radio Iowa) — The impact of President Trump’s announced soybean deal with the European Union is unclear. U.S. soybeans are already sold in Europe and China’s market for soybeans is far larger than the European Union’s. Ray Gaesser, of Corning, is past president of the American Soybean Association. “Hopefully our ability to market our products to other countries besides China will be improved and will at least offset some of the China demand,” Gaesser says.

Soybean prices are down 20 percent from March when the U.S. trade disputes with China started to escalate. “US soybeans are less expensive than South American soybeans today, so there’s some good reasons to create new customers and hopefully new relationships for the future,” Gaesser says. Another factor, according to Gaesser, is that the global supply of soybeans is down because of a drought in Argentina. “Most of the South American soybeans, particularly Brazil’s, are going to China now,” Gaesser says, “so the European Union and some of the other countries are needing to come to the United States for supply.”

But some European countries have labeled American soybeans as “genetically modified” and refuse to purchase U.S.-grown beans. Gaesser says he hopes Trump Administration negotiations with the European Union will resolve those conflicts, erase all tariffs and make the European market a larger sales option for U.S. soybeans.

(Radio Iowa) — An Iowa State University study finds if a man opens the door for a woman while on their first date or offers to pay for dinner, some women admire that behavior, while others find it insulting. Pelin Gul, a social psychologist and postdoctoral researcher at I-S-U, is the study’s lead author. Gul says some women find men who make those gestures more attractive, even though their actions may also be seen as “benevolent sexism.” “Women might perceive these men more likely to be patronizing and undermining,” Gul says, “however, because these behaviors imply willingness to protect, provide and commit, it is an important mate preference for women. That’s why they find these men more attractive.”

The results of the study may appear contradictory, Gul admits, and it sends a very mixed message to men about how they should behave. “Men are kind of in confusion,” Gul says. “They want to appear polite. They want to appear benevolent to women, but at the same time they are worried that they are going to come at girls as sexist if they do those gestures.”  Much of the research was done while Gul was studying at the University of Kent in England. She says the work confirmed women prefer men to be benevolent, but contradicting previous assumptions, they found women also recognized the potential harm. “If men know that women desire these behaviors when they are searching for a mate, men acting out those gestures could increase their chances of finding a mate,” Gul says, “however, they should be aware they are likely to be perceived as undermining.”

Gul is a native of Istanbul, Turkey, and has studied at several universities around the world. Being new to the United States and Iowa, Gul was asked what her perception is when people hold the door for her as she’s entering or exiting the buildings on the Ames campus. “Honestly, I haven’t had much experience with doors held for me, not because people don’t hold the doors — they do — but I haven’t had much social interaction here, especially in summer, I don’t see many people around.”

She says other studies have found that women tend to prefer men who make these gestures, and note that women aren’t aware of any negative consequences of men’s attempts at kindness.

Police in Red Oak, Thursday afternoon, arrested a man wanted on a Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. 23-year old Brandon Michael Borgmyer, of Red Oak, was taken into custody on the felony offense and booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $10,000 bond.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report a man and a woman were arrested on drug charges overnight Thursday into early Friday morning. At around 10-p.m. Thursday, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which James Hammerstrom, of Villisca, was a passenger. During the investigation, K9 Baxo was deployed and gave a positive indication to the odor of narcotics. After further investigation, Hammerstrom was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Hammerstrom was additionally given a citation for having an open container of alcohol.

At around 1:30-this (Friday) morning, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Sycamore Avenue and 260th. During the investigation, K9 Baxo was deployed on the vehicle and gave a positive indication to controlled substances. Upon further investigation, the driver of the truck, Kimberly Thompson, of Corning, was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two county auditors say Iowa election officials were told to follow Iowa’s new voter identification law despite a judge’s order blocking some provisions. Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald and Linn County Auditor Joel Miller say Ken Kline, deputy commissioner of elections, told auditors at a meeting Thursday they shouldn’t follow a temporary injunction issued Wednesday by a judge. A Secretary of State spokesman later said officials weren’t aware the injunction had taken effect.

UNDATED (AP) — Michael Avenatti, who has gained national attention as the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels, is scheduled to speak at an Iowa Democratic fundraiser that has been a frequent stop for those seeking the presidential nomination. Avenatti said Thursday that he’d speak at the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding on Aug. 10. Avenatti has said he’d run against President Donald Trump if he seeks re-election and no one else with a good chance of defeating him steps up.

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — A North Liberty man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that 38-year-old Justin DeWitt was sentenced Thursday after DeWitt pleaded guilty in May to two counts each of attempted murder and solicitation to commit murder. Police arrested DeWitt in June 2016 on charges he tried to hire a hit man to kill a former business associate, the associate’s wife and their two children.

BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — Investigators say they have searched a pig farm and other places in east-central Iowa near where a University of Iowa student went missing, but have turned up no sign of her. KCCI-TV reports the pig farm is near Guernsey, about 15 minutes from 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts’ hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. Tibbetts was last seen July 18 jogging in Brooklyn near her boyfriend’s home, where she was dog-sitting. Authorities say Tibbetts’ boyfriend has been ruled out as a suspect.

From left: Princess Nicole Eilts, Queen Emily Saeugling, King Tyler Comes, Prince Cale Pellett

Royalty for the 2018 Cass County Fair was crowned on Thursday night outside the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic. This year’s contest had 8 individuals competing for King and 9 vying for Queen. The candidates all got together for a preliminary group and individual interview with Judges Amanda Graham and Kandie Erickson. Then on Thursday night all the candidates were introduced to the crowd and four finalists on each side were brought up for a Q & A in front of the crowd. The judges then had a little time to make their final decisions.

The 2018 Cass County Fair Queen is Emily Saeugling, the daughter of Aaron and Dana Saeugling. Emily is a member of the Cass County RAMS 4-H club and Atlantic FFA. Emily will be joined in duties this week by Princess Nicole Eilts, the daughter of Tim and Karla Eilts. Miss Congenialty was Myah Rubio, the daughter of Roxane Reyna, Fustavo Rubio & Fredie Martinez.

The 2018 Cass County Fair King is Tyler Comes, the son of Chad and Tresa Comes. Tyler is a member of the Atlantic FFA. Earning the title of Prince was Cale Pellett, the son of Bret Pellett and Lindsay Pellett. Cale was also named Mr. Congeniality.

In addition to the King and Queen contest the Little Miss and Little Mister contest was held. 4 boys and 14 girls entered into the contest in which a name is simply drawn from the entrants for each title. The 2018 Cass County Fair Little Miss is Eden Ohms and the Little Mister is Keagen Dreager.

President Donald Trump is claiming a trade breakthrough with European allies as he visits Iowa, a state where farmers are suffering under tariffs imposed by China in retaliation for Trump’s protectionist policies. Trump told an audience at Northeast Iowa Community College that, “We just opened up Europe for you.” He says farmers will now have access to a big, new market and he is taking credit for the change. The comments come a day after Trump’s meeting with European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The U.S. and EU agreed to open talks to tear down trade barriers, and Trump said the EU agreed to buy more soybeans from American farmers. Trump has enacted tariffs that have been criticized by farmers and manufacturers who warn a global trade war and retaliatory tariffs from countries like China, Mexico and Canada will damage their livelihoods.

President Donald Trump says he plans to sign legislation to reauthorize a program that provides money for job training and related programs for students. That’s according to his daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump, who was with him at a workforce development event in Dubuque, Iowa. Congress last authorized the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act in 2006. Lawmakers passed the bill Wednesday. Ivanka Trump says it will help 11 million students and workers across the country acquire the technical skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital economy. She says it will be “transformative” for education across the country. After she said Trump will sign the measure into law next week, he joked: “Unless I don’t sign it. Maybe I’ll veto it.”

The recent disappearance of an eastern Iowa teen has drawn the attention of some, to the number of Iowans who have been reported missing, most of whom don’t get the intense coverage provided by media as others. According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s “Missing Person Information Clearinghouse” website (https://www.iowaonline.state.ia.us/mpic/), 72 people had been reported missing, as of today (Thursday). Their ages range from 13 to 58.

In southwest Iowa, four people have been reported missing since Monday (July 23^rd):

• 26-year old Luke W. Cox, of Council Bluffs was reported missing Wednesday (7/25).
• 15-year old Belinda A. James, of Council Bluffs disappeared Tuesday.
• 15-year old Gavin S. Palmeros, of Creston, was reported missing Tuesday. (Update – Located and is in good health. )
• And 14-year old Isabelle R. Buckman, of Council Bluffs, was reported missing on Monday.

Other, High Profile cases in the media recently, include: 20-year old Mollie Tibbitts, of Brooklyn, who vanished July 18^th; and 16-year old Jake Wilson, of LaPorte, who hasn’t been seen since April 6, 2018.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — President Donald Trump is hailing a trade breakthrough with European allies as he travels to the Midwest to meet with manufacturers helped by his protectionist tariffs.
Trump is visiting Iowa and Illinois after the U.S. and EU averted a trade war over European auto imports. New talks will aim to tear down trade barriers, address U.S. tariffs on steel imports and push the EU to buy more soybeans, which have struggled under Chinese tariffs.

Trump is holding a roundtable discussion in Iowa after his administration announced $12 billion in aid to farmers dealing with retaliatory tariffs from U.S. trading partners.
He’s also meeting with steelworkers in Granite City, Illinois, who credit Trump’s tariffs on imported steel and aluminum for helping re-open an idled steel mill.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The city of Sioux Falls is facing a wrongful death lawsuit after a 5-year-old Iowa girl drowned in the Big Sioux River at Falls Park. The Argus Leader reports Sioux Falls attorney Brendan Johnson filed the federal lawsuit Thursday alleging the city failed to provide sufficient safety precautions at the park. Maggie Zaiger, of Audubon, died March 18 after falling into the water from the river bank rocks.

Johnson is seeking damages on behalf of Zaiger’s mother, Courtney Jayne. The lawsuit claims the city had ignored recommendations to put up barriers to more clearly distinguish where the rock ends and the water starts.

Officials have since approved building viewing platforms and railings to improve safety. T.J. Nelson, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, declined to comment on the pending litigation.