(Radio Iowa) — Early this week, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley warned the “United States Mexico Canada Agreement” won’t get ratified in congress if President Trump doesn’t lift the tariffs on steel and aluminum. Joni Ernst, the other Republican representing Iowa in the U.S. Senate, says those tariffs “need to go away.” “Our manufacturers are having a very hard time with that right now,” Ernst said.

Ernst met last week with about 120 people at Kinze Manufacturing in Williamsburg to discuss the impact the tariffs are having in Iowa.The tariffs on steel and aluminum imports also prompted Mexico to impose tariffs on U.S. pork imports.  “One in five jobs in Iowa is tied directly to trade, so this is an area that our manufacturers, our farmers and our ranchers are very, very interested in,” Ernst said. “But right now, the tariffs we have on those products are overwhelming and it is hurting our farm and agricultural income.”

U.S. farm income fell nearly 12 BILLION dollars in the first three months of the year. “I continue to visit with the president about these issues and am encouraging him not only to get the trade deals done as soon as possible, in particular USMCA and long-term China — we need those done, but also to remove those tariffs, so we can move forward,” Ernst says.

Ernst says she met this week with Iowa businesses that distribute canned beverages and heard their concerns about rising aluminum prices.

Sheriff’s deputies in Pottawattamie County responded to a reported alcohol overdose at around 10:55-p.m. Wednesday, in Walnut. A 10-year old boy reported his 11-year old sister drank a bottle of vodka and was very drunk. The parents — Michelle Jones and George Schrader, Jr., — were not home at the time of the incident. Walnut Rescue transported the girl to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, for treatment. Her parents were contacted and instructed to report to the hospital. An on-call Iowa DHS worker was notified. The 11-year old female was referred to Juvenile Court.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, 23-year old Jody Thomas Taylor, of Glenwood, turned himself-in, Wednesday afternoon. After was warrant for Violation of Probation was confirmed, Taylor was transported to and booked-into, the jail. There were also three prisoners from other jails transported to the Pott. County Jail, Wednesday:

• 30-year old Uriah Seth Hardisty, of Council Bluffs, was transported from the Lancaster County Jail in Lincoln, NE., to address a Pott. County warrant for Violation of Probation.
• 42-year old Royce Leon Singleton, of Clinton, MO., was transported from the Johnson County Jail in Centerview, MO., to Pott. County, where he was also wanted for Violation of Probation.
• And, 32-year old Anthony Michael Huff, of Pacific Junction, was transported to the Pott. County Jail from the Sarpy County, NE. Jail. Huff was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Violation of Probation, Theft in the 2nd degree, and on a hold for another agency. His bond for the Theft charge was set at $5,000.

The Walnut City Council, Thursday evening, amended the dates for the Antique Fall Festival. City Clerk Shannon Wood said the Festival will take place Sept. 21st & 22nd, instead of the previously announced dates of Sept.14th & 15th. The Council, Thursday, approved a list of streets that will be temporarily closed.

Walnut is a pass through city for this year’s RAGBRAI, and Wood said planning is just getting underway. She said there was a meeting this past Tuesday, with committees being set-up for vendors, public relations and so on.  Officials will conduct a “dry run” of the course on June 2nd, and then the City will approve what streets will be shut-down for the event.

And, the Parks Department reported on preparations for Little League at the City Parks this summer. Wood said all the Little League games from AHSTW will be played there this summer. Crews have been working hard on making the parks….which she says haven’t been used a whole lot these past few years…ready for action.

The Council also approved a Budget Amendment for the FY 2018-19 Budget, after a Public Hearing.