(NBC News via Radio Iowa) — Iowa Congressman Steve King says he drank from a toilet tank at a migrant detention center recently to show the water was safe for drinking. N-B-C News recorded King during a town hall yesterday (Wednesday) in Eagle Grove as he talked about touring detention facilities for asylum-seekers.

Still frame image from NBC video

“I actually went into that cell where it was reported they were advised they had to drink out of the toilet,” King said. “I took a drink out of there and it was actually pretty good, so I have a video tape and I smacked my lips.”

King told the crowd in Eagle Grove he hadn’t posted the video online, to help put complaints about conditions in the detention centers “in the rear view mirror.” But after N-B-C’s reporter posted King’s comments online, King tweeted out the video . He described the system this way in the audio recorded by N-B-C News:

“These toilets in these prisons are solid stainless steel. They’re built so that they are semi-indestructible by the inmates that are there,” King says. “And in the back, where the lid would be on our toilet, that’s also sealed and there’s a water fountain there and you push the button and the water comes out and you take a drink,” King said. “That’s how it is. It’s not drinking out of the toilet. It’s drinking out of the water fountain that’s integral with the back of the toilet.”

King says he believes a “language barrier” prevented those being held in the cells from understanding the words “potable water” printed on a sign above the tank. A Democrat in congress who visited the detention centers criticized King. She said migrants told her the guards directed them to drink out of the toilet because the water fountain was broken.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office said Thursday, Thomas R Harris has filed to run for the office of the Mayor for the City of Anita. Two other men are running for City Council seats in Anita: Kevin Littleton and Mark Harris.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Agriculture Department has announced the award of $36 million to buy conservation easements on Iowa agriculture land damaged by flooding this year. The funds are available through the flood plain easement component of the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service field offices are accepting applications through Oct. 18.

Under the program, eligible applicants voluntarily agree to sell a permanent conservation easement to the federal government. Compensation is based on the value of the easement rights acquired based on rate caps and market analysis.

The easements may occur on public or private agricultural land and/or residential properties damaged by flooding. Applications will be prioritized by a statewide ranking. The conservation service will work with landowners to restore easements to their natural flood plain condition.

The Glenwood Police Department reports 36-year old Kristy Wilson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested today (Thursday). Wilson was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant. Her bond was set at $1,000.

There were two arrests Wednesday, in Glenwood: 18-year old Christopher Davis, of Omaha, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300. And, 45-year old Brent Vernon, of Glenwood, was arrested Wednesday, for being a Fugitive From Justice. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol says troopers seized 32 pounds of marijuana and other drugs in separate traffic stops on Interstate 80 at York and North Platte. The patrol says the first stop happened just before 8 a.m. Tuesday near North Platte when a pickup truck was pulled over for a suspected license plate violation. Troopers say a search of the truck turned up 14 pounds of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and different types of controlled pills. The truck driver, a 32-year-old man from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was arrested.

The second stop of a sport utility vehicle occurred Tuesday afternoon year York. Troopers say a search of the SUV yielded about 18 pounds of marijuana and 800 THC vape cartridges. Two people from Wisconsin in the SUV were arrested.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports Carmen Sorensen has filed to run for the Griswold City Council on November 5th.  There are 3 seats available for Griswold city council.