(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she has signed on to a resolution from a fellow Republican that condemns Democrats for failing to follow the proper process in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump. “Because what we’re seeing in the House is the fact that Democrats have been so heck bent on making sure they impeach this president that they are just randomly acting through this inquiry process. It’s not open, it’s not transparent, we don’t have access to the information,” Ernst says.

Ernst told reporters during her weekly conference call that the Democrats in the House are not following through on anything. “We have got to get our work done. The House needs to focus on getting things done like the U-S-M-C-A. And impeachment — if they are going to go down that road — they need to make sure that they are following standards that have been set, practices that have been set in the past. And the president is not receiving that same courtesy right now,” Ernst says.

Ernst was asked if she defends the president’s actions. “I can’t go down that path right now — because again — I haven’t seen all of the information. And bottom line, we don’t even know what the articles of impeachment are. (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi has not indicated what they are trying to do other than go after the president,” Ernst says. “So gain, it’s more of a political show over there than actually getting toward an objective.”

Ernst says she doesn’t have any information to make any kind of a decision on whether the president’s dealings with the Ukraine were an impeachable offense. “As I read through the transcript of the call, of course I didn’t see an impeachable offense there. We will need to hear from additional witnesses and I’m sure that the House will bring those witnesses forward. They will have to. I mean they will have to when they bring it over to the Senate for a trial,” Ernst says. “So again, I want to make sure that I am evaluating all the information as presented by the House prosecutors — that is under the assumption that they are going to send articles of impeachment over.”

Ernst says she will sit as a judge in the Senate if the inquiry moves forward and will make a decision based on the information. South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham, who is the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the resolution.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 9:10-p.m. Thursday, of 42-year old John Robert Burson, from Sidney. Burson was arrested for OWI/1st offense, with his bond set at $1,000.

And, four people were arrested earlier this week on separate warrants, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Department said on Wednesday, 23-year old Johnathan Robert Sibbitt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a warrant for Probation Violation. And 36-year old Misty Bea Petterson, of Glenwood, was arrested for the same type of warrant, at the Mills County Jail.

On Monday, 38-year old Tyler Nicholas Blakely, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on warrants for two counts of Probation Violation. And, on Oct. 4th, 33-year old Shaw Aaron Peterson, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Jail, also on a warrant for Probation Violation.

Peterson’s bond was set at $20,000. Blakely’s bond was set at $10,000. Bond for Sibbit and Petterson were set at $4,000 and $5,000, respectively.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Oct. 24, 2019 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 Office in Atlantic, report southbound Interstate 29 from exit 56 to exit 55 will be closed starting Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. until Monday, Nov. 5, weather permitting. Officials say the closure is necessary to allow contractors to raise portions of the interstate recently impacted by flooding. That will be accomplished by adding layers of asphalt in some areas.

During the closure, traffic bound for Council Bluffs will be detoured using the following route:  south on 16th Street to Nash Boulevard, west on Nash Boulevard to N. 25th Street, north on 25th Street back to I-29 at Exit 55 (N. 25th Street).

Traffic moving past Council Bluffs will be detoured at Exit 71 near Loveland onto eastbound Interstate I-880 (formerly I-680) to westbound Interstate 80 near Neola at Exit 29, to southbound I-29 at Exit 4.

Also at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, one lane of northbound I-29 will open Exit 55: (N. 25th Street). Because traffic can become congested in this area during peak travel times, traffic moving past Council Bluffs will be encouraged to continue using the detour route of eastbound I-80, then westbound I-880 (formerly I-680) until both northbound lanes are open.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa is cutting four staff positions as part of a restructuring of an office that serves communities across the state.
The university announced Thursday that its six-year-old Office of Outreach and Engagement would be closed next fall, and its services and mission will be transferred to colleges throughout the university. UI spokeswoman Jeneane Beck says the move has “eliminated the need for four staff positions” and their employment will be ended when their contacts expire.

Among other programs, the office has housed the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities, in which students and faculty members partner with cities and towns to complete economic development, planning and other projects. Beck says that program will be transferred to the Graduate College next fall. She says the move should not affect ongoing projects in Keokuk, which is the program’s main partner this school year.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reminds residents that the LAST DAY to pre-register to vote in the Auditor’s Office for the 2019 City/School Elections, is Friday, Oct. 25th.  The Auditor’s office will be open from 8 AM thru 5 PM.

PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED BEFORE CASTING A REGULAR BALLOT:

Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a regular ballot.  Voters who are not pre-registered – such as voters registering to vote on election day – and voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence. A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification (or prove residence if required) may:
1) have the voter’s identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct,
2) prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents, or
3) cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of identity/residence at the county auditor’s office after Election Day.
Election Day Registrant attesters must provide an approved form of identification.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS / EARLY VOTING:

AT THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY AUDITOR: Registered voters may vote at the office of the Cass County Auditor.  Last day to vote in the office of the Cass County Auditor is November 4, 2019.
Auditor’s office will be open from 8 AM thru 5 PM. A voter may register and vote absentee / early vote on the same day.

The address for the Cass County Auditor / Election Commissioner is:

CASS COUNTY AUDITOR, COURTHOUSE 5 W 7TH ST, ATLANTIC IA 50022 (Phone:712-243-4570;   Email: auditor@casscoia.us)

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Congressman Steve King was among the 30 House Republicans who staged a sort of sit-in in a capital meeting room where impeachment hearings are being held. King says it is “unimaginable” that anyone would hold secret impeachment hearings and he described the process as “the greatest atrocity” he’s seen in his 17 years in congress. King says he and his G-O-P colleagues raised a “significant ruckus” and stormed into the secure room.

King says he’s standing with President Trump and will continue to push back against secret impeachment hearings. Democrats say they are abiding by rules established in 2015 by Republicans when they were in the majority. King was NOT one of the House Republicans who entered the room with their cell phones, a security breach which prompted a security sweep after the group left.