(Radio Iowa) — California billionaire Tom Steyer says President Trump will win re-election if Democrats don’t nominate a candidate who can compete with Trump on the economy. Steyer, who delivered a speech on the economy today (Monday) in Iowa City, says unchecked capitalism hasn’t worked, but socialism isn’t the answer. He supports a tax of wealth to address what he calls the unjust distribution of income over the past 40 years. “How are we going to do the things that we need to do to make sure we’re investing in the American people, investing in their prosperity and therefore our prosperity, so that we can, in fact, build the kind of human capability that’s going to make us actually prosper in the 21st century,” Steyer says.

Steyer is a former hedge fund manager who is worth an estimated one-point-six BILLION. He says all income should be taxed equally, whether it comes in the form of a paycheck or from investments — so the tax break for capital gains should end.  “I think Ronald Reagan was the president who came up with the idea that every tax is bad and therefore we don’t need to have revenues to invest in the American people,” Steyer says, “but obviously that’s not true.”

He’s proposing a 10 percent income tax cut for lower and middle-income households. Steyer says his ideas would cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans. Steyer is one of three businessmen in the race. Former New York City Mayor and media mogul Michael Bloomberg is worth more than 50 BILLION dollars. Andrew Yang has spent his career launching and supporting start-up businesses.

A 35-year old woman found guilty on two felony charges of distributing a controlled substance to a minor, was sentenced last week to 25-years in prison, but her sentence was then suspended. A judge ordered Karrie Elizabeth McCrea, of Guthrie Center, to instead be placed on three years probation for each count, to be served concurrently (at the same time). McCrea is also required to pay over $3,500 for legal assistance, court costs and other fees. She was ordered to obey a no contact order. All other charges in connection with her case were summarily dismissed.

On June 17th, McCrea gave her stepdaughter and another minor a marijuana joint and glass bong to smoke, during a sleepover. After a search warrant was executed June 28th, McCrea and her husband, 36-year-old Jordan Daniel Liggett, were taken into custody. Liggett was sentenced to probation in September.

(Radio Iowa) — It’s still not known what caused several cars of a freight train to jump the tracks last (Sunday) night in the northern Iowa town of Manly, forcing the closure of a nearby highway. The Manly Police Department responded to the Union Pacific crossing at State Highway 9 last night after the report of some grain cars being derailed. The Iowa Department of Transportation says the roadway re-opened at about 6:15 this morning. No injuries were reported due to the derailment.

A former Colorado resident and his wife, who moved to Iowa to be closer to his wife’s daughter, has erected what’s called the “World’s largest bible,” in Atlantic.

(The hand-made bible is 8-feet wide, 7-feet tall, about 6-feet deep, and it comes in two pieces. Each piece weighs about 200 pounds.)

Ric Hanson/photos 12-16-19

It was first displayed about 9-years ago in Colorado. Albert Morgan’s display can be found at 307 Ridge Road, in Atlantic. Morgan said he normally tries to incorporate Santa, Gingerbread man and other non-secular Christmas decorations, but this year he didn’t have time to do both. Along with the large bible, there’s a church and Angels.

Plans and diagrams for the bible were purchased a few years back, but then a friend helped Morgan modify the plans.

His friend Tim, a Vietnam Veteran, worked on the display for about a year. Half-way through the project, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, but he pleaded with Morgan to allow him to finish the project. It’s in honor of his buddy Tim, who now resides in a Missouri Veteran’s home, that Albert alone, worked to move the sprawling display to Iowa and place it in his yard.

This is the first year for the display, in Atlantic. The public is welcome to stop by the Morgan residence at 307 Ridge Road in Atlantic to check out the “World’s Largest Bible.”

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) – Authorities have identified two people who died Sunday in a two-vehicle crash south of Bellevue, NE. The Sarpy County (NE) Sheriff’s Office says 19-year old Gabrielle Ramirez, and 20-year old Beau Dasher, both of Plattsmouth, NE., died in the crash on Highway 75, beneath the Highway 34 bridge. The sheriff’s office says the crash happened just before 1 p.m. Sunday when a car driven by 27-year-old Joshua Martinez, of Plattsmouth, crossed through the highway median and collided with a pickup truck, driven by 20-year-old Christopher Peters, of Council Bluffs.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – Schools in Burlington will be closed Tuesday to allow staff and students to attend the funeral of an elementary school principal who died last week in a car crash. Superintendent Pat Coen says he decided to cancel school so all who wanted to could attend the funeral for Chris Richards, the principal at Black Hawk Elementary. The funeral will be held at the Burlington High School gymnasium. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports Richards was killed Thursday morning when he attempted to turn from U.S. Highway 61 onto another road and collided with a pickup truck.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce say they will be hosting their Annual Dinner Saturday, January 18th, 2019 at The Venue, at 3rd and Walnut Streets. Bailey Smith, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “The Annual Dinner is a great opportunity for [The Chamber] to reflect on what [they’ve] accomplished, look forward to what [they] will accomplish,” and highlight Chamber Members and volunteers who have invested their time and money back into the organization and the community. The Chamber will be recognizing businesses, organizations and individual leaders in the community. Two people will be recognized and given awards including: ATHENA Award and Distinguished Service Award.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual, business or organization who has made the community a better place to live. They have rendered special services for the benefit of the community and have demonstrated an active leadership role for the betterment of the community through their involvement in business, civic and social service organizations. Nominations for the Distinguished Service Award are due by January 3rd, 2020. You can nominate someone by visiting www.atlanticiowa.com or contact the Chamber at 712.243.3017.

Last year, the Distinguished Service Award was given to Dolly Bergmann for her dedication to tirelessly serving the community any way she can, including: Atlantic Rotary, Trees Forever, Coca-Cola Days Committee, Ambassador’s, Atlantic ATHENA Leadership group and more. The Annual Dinner is sponsored by Deter Motor Company and will begin at 6:00-p.m., with a social, followed by dinner at 6:30-p.m.  You can register for the dinner at www.atlanticiowa.com.