(Radio Iowa Special Feature) — There’s a tight race in Iowa’s third congressional district as the incumbent faces a well-financed challenger. Simpson College political science professor John Epperson says a lot of money is being spent on this race. “I think Democrats have a chance of picking up the seat, for sure,” Epperson says, “but Young and his allies aren’t going to let it go easily.” Republican David Young has represented the 16 southwest Iowa counties in the third congressional district for nearly four years. Cindy Axne, a small businessperson from West Des Moines, defeated two competitors to win the Democratic Party’s nomination in the district. This is her first run for public office.

To illustrate the stakes in this race, some big name backers have campaigned for these candidates. House Speaker Paul Ryan, Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump have been in the district. “Remember this, a vote for David is a vote for me and our agenda to ‘Make America Great Again,'” Trump said. California Senator Kamala Harris headlined a rally at a community college for Axne.”I want to thank you for everything you’re going to do to help Cindy, because we need her to be in the United States Congress,” Harris said. And Harris emphasized Axne could become the first congresswoman from Iowa.

The split between active Republicans and Democrats in the district is nearly dead even. There are four other candidates listed on the ballot. Bryan Jack Holder is the Libertarian candidate. Holder runs his family’s photography and videography business in Council Bluffs.

Paul Knupp, a minister in Gladbrook, is the Green Party candidate in the third congressional district. Mark Elworth, Junior, has run in federal and OMAHA races as a candidate with the “Legal Medical Now” party and he’s running in Iowa’s third district this year. Joe Grandanette of Des Moines is an independent candidate in the district.

Officials at Cass County Health System said Thursday, their local orthopaedic services are expanding.  Dr. Matt Weresh, orthopaedic surgeon, has now increased his schedule to be on-site three days each week. Zach Hollingsworth, PA-C, will expand his surgical physician assistant role to four days each week.  Both provide care at Southwest Iowa Surgery (SWIS) and Cass County Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Weresh has provided orthopaedic care for over 20 years, and specializes in hip and knee procedures, from total joint replacements to simple joint procedures.  In 2017, Dr. Weresh began providing clinic, surgical and hospital care at CCHS two days each week.  Effective immediately, CCHS will be his only practice site.

Zach Hollingsworth, PA-C, is a physician assistant specializing in surgical care.  He regularly assists Dr. Weresh and Dr. Chad McCance, general surgeon, with surgical procedures and inpatient follow-up care.  Zach also cares for patients in the SWIS clinic, coordinates with the surgeons to evaluate patients and clinical orders in both the outpatient and inpatient settings.  He assists in surgery and coordinates with hospital staff to ensure optimal outcomes for patients.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Matt Weresh, contact SWIS at 712-243-7535.  No referral is necessary.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A priest has moved out of an Iowa retirement home close to a Roman Catholic school, one day after his history of sexually abusing boys became public. The Diocese of Sioux City says that the Rev. Jerome Coyle “is no longer at” the Marian Home, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The move comes one day after an Associated Press story exposed the church’s three-decade cover-up of abuse by Coyle, who admitted in 1986 that he had victimized approximately 50 boys over 20 years.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A medical examiner has testified that a 4-month-old infant found dead and maggot-infested in a baby swing last year weighed only a few ounces more than his birth weight at the time of his death. The Courier reports that testimony came Thursday in the murder trial of the baby’s father, 29-year-old Zachary Paul Koehn, who also faces a child endangerment count in the August 2017 death of his son, Sterling Koehn.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican congressman Steve King is rejecting accusations that he’s associated with an Austrian white supremacist group. Those claims have prompted condemnation from within his own party just days before Tuesday’s election. During a forum with Iowa business leaders Thursday, the eight-term congressman said a Washington Post story this month wrongly characterized his August meeting in Austria as being with the far-right Freedom Party, a group with Nazi ties. The Post says it stands by its story.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have announced an arrest in the shooting death last month of a Des Moines man. Des Moines police said Thursday that 31-year-old Cornelius Davis, of Des Moines, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, robbery and willful injury in the Oct. 4 shooting death of 42-year-old Thurmon Tervale Cole.

(Radio Iowa) — The first company to legally grow marijuana and manufacture medial marijuana products in Iowa held a ribbon cutting Thursday, at their facility in Des Moines as advocates who worked for years to make it possible looked on. MedPharm Iowa’s Lucas Nelson has been in charge of putting the plant together after state law changed to allow for in-state manufacturing.

“I’m sure many of you here probably wondered whether today would even come. Whether long hours the advocates spent fighting for access to medical cannabis in our state would actually result in a change. Whether the debates our lawmakers engaged in would ever result in any meaningful legislation,” Nelson says. “And even if those laws did change — whether anyone would actually accept the responsibility and challenge of being the state’s first manufacturer.” Nelson says those who pushed to make a change in Iowa that lived to see it — and those who did not — should be credited for seeing the facility become a reality.

“Iowans suffering from debilitating medical conditions knew there was an alternative to the pain they lived with daily. They invested thousands of hours pushing for legal access to medical cannabis,” he says. “They testified in front of numerous committees — sharing emotional stories about their conditions, and the conditions from which their children suffered.

Lucas thanked lawmakers for approving the change in the law and the governor for signing it. He then introduced Sally and Steve Gaer, who were lead advocates for medical marijuana as a way to help their daughter with her seizures. Gaer got emotional as she recalled talking to State Senator Joe Bolkcom about how long the process might be to change the law. “I remember him saying it took six years in Illinois to get a program,” Gaer says, “And here we are, four legislative sessions later. it’s awesome.” MedPharm Iowa is a subsidiary of the already successful company Kemin Industries, which makes food supplements.

Kemin C-E-O Chris Nelson talked about the dedication of the new plant. “Really thrilling for us to be at this very important juncture of medical cannabis in the state of Iowa,” Nelson says. He says the Gaers are the ones who inspired him that it was “absolutely one of the things that we had to do.” Nelson says 10-million dollars later the facility can make medical marijuana products to sell in the state. “It’s about the patients, the kids, the patients who are going to benefit from these particular products,” according to Nelson. “We know from the science that’s involved that there’s real benefits to be had — and that these benefits can be realized from products that can be grown right here in the state.” Nelson pledges to keep working to find more benefits from medical marijuana.

“Cannabis as a whole has been lacking very much in the science. The science of what pharmaceuticals require and the science in the application to various diseases,” Nelson says. “The promise that MedPharm makes today is that we are not going to stop in the investigation of the science.” Sally Gaer helped cut the ribbon, and then talked about finally seeing expanded medical marijuana become a reality. “It’s just unbelievable, I’m ecstatic. I mean, it’s hard to believe that something you wished for, hoped for and prayed for actually exists.” Gaer says. Gaer says showing that medical marijuana could help children was a key in getting the law changed. She nows there are still those who don’t support it.

“People are still hung up on the ban on weed from the ’30s and the 70s and it’s not about smoking marijuana — it’s about getting medicine to people that can end all their symptoms that pharmaceuticals aren’t helping,” she says. The company can start selling its medical marijuana on December 1st.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 57-year old Carol S. Jennings, of Riverton, pleaded guilty Thursday, November 1st, to a charge of Bank Fraud. In the plea agreement, Jennings admitted that while employed as the clerk for the City of Riverton, she opened an account with a local bank by providing a falsified document. Jennings also admitted to depositing city funds into the account and converting almost the entire balance for her own personal use.

A sentencing date of February 20, 2019 has been scheduled. Jennings faces a possible maximum sentence of not more than thirty years imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $1,000,000, up to five years of supervised release following release from imprisonment, a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund, and restitution.

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Police in Council Bluffs say the Interstate 480 east ramp to I-29 northbound will be closed overnight in Council Bluffs due to an accident involving a semi. 58-year old Dale A. Shambaugh, of Hatton, ND, was driving a tractor trailer eastbound on I‐480 and crossing over I‐480 to I‐29 northbound when the tractor‐trailer began to tip as it traversed the curve.

Authorities say at some point, either the load or trailer struck a guardrail causing chunks of concrete to fall onto I‐480 westbound. The tractor trailer was hauling large rolls of steel that became separated during the incident. Neither Shambaugh nor any other motorists were injured.

I‐480 westbound was restricted to one lane for about an hour while the concrete was cleaned up. The ramp from I‐480 east to I‐29 North was expected toremain shut down at least overnight. Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement is assisting the CBPD Traffic Unit in the investigation of the crash. Any charges are pending the outcome of the IA DOT MVE’s investigation.

Drivers wishing to go northbound from eastbound I‐480 should proceed south on I‐29 to 9th Avenue, pass under I‐29, then turn left onto I‐29 northbound.