(Radio Iowa) — Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and Democratic challenger Fred Hubbell meet tonight (Wednesday) in their second “live” T-V debate. Dordt College political science professor Jeff Taylor says debates do not sway many voters. “If a candidate makes a serious gaffe or error or some kind of big blunder in the debate, then that could be problematic,” Taylor says. “…But generally speaking, I think debates usually reinforce the base.”

So Republicans will be cheering for Reynolds tonight and Democrats will be cheering for Hubbell. Reynolds says Hubbell didn’t seem to be having much fun at their first face-to-face debate. “It is fun to talk about the positive things that are happening in Iowa…to be the cheerleader of a state that I love,” Reynolds says. “…Everything he says is doom and gloom and negative and I don’t think it’s reflective of the whole story.” Hubbell says he has a different approach to debating.

“I don’t necessarily go on the attack all the time like her ads do and like she did in the debate,” Hubbell says. “I think about things. I approach it with a common sense, bipartisan agenda.” Tonight’s (Wednesday’s) debate will be held at Morningside College in Sioux City and broadcast on K-T-I-V in Sioux City, K-W-W-L in Waterloo and K-T-T-C in Rochester, Minnesota at 7 p.m. The final debate between these two gubernatorial candidates will be EARLY Sunday morning in Davenport.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office late Tuesday night, reported the arrest of a Farragut man on drug charges, following a traffic stop by the Fremont County K9 Unit. 37-year old Alfred Mutchler was charged with (felony) Possession of a Controlled Substance, (Methamphetamine) 3^rd Offense or greater, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $5,300 cash bond.  Authorities say additional charges are pending.

During the traffic stop, K9 “Roby” was deployed and alerted to the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle.  Mutchler was found to have a baggie containing methamphetamine as well as drug paraphernalia concealed on his person.

Mutchler

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — No winning lottery ticket was sold for the latest Mega Millions drawing, meaning the jackpot climbs to $868 million. Mega Millions officials say no tickets matched all six numbers to claim the estimated $667 million grand prize in Tuesday night’s drawing. The numbers were 3, 45, 49, 61, 69 and Mega Ball 9. The next drawing will be Friday. The estimated jackpot for that drawing would be the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office acknowledges Iowa’s voter registration lists are being sold on the internet, but says there’s no call for public alarm. The office said Tuesday that the FBI is investigating reports of voter registration rolls from 19 states _ including Iowa _ being sold online. Spokesman Kevin Hall says the rolls are public records that anyone can buy from the Secretary of State’s Office for about $1,000 and don’t include voters’ personal information.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys for an Iowa farmer who appeared on ABC’s “The Bachelor” say they are close to reaching a deal with prosecutors that would resolve a criminal charge against him related to a fatal crash last year. An attorney for Chris Soules said during a Tuesday hearing that attorneys should know by Monday whether a deal had been reached. Soules rear-ended a tractor, killing its driver. He’s charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — An engineering report blames the failure of a pipe cap for a massive steam release that fatally injured an employee at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. The report from HBK Engineering says the “sudden, catastrophic failure of this cap is the likely cause” of the Sept. 10 accident at a campus dining hall.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man on multiple charges after a search warrant was executed on Tuesday. The search warrant was executed at 103 E Valley Street in Red Oak at 11:44am Tuesday. Officers were there to located phones and/or computers used in a violation of a no contact order. Officers located several phones and computers along with suspected methamphetamine paraphernalia, ammunition, and a small homemade explosive. Officers then arrested 59-year-old Thomas Oscar Anderson of Red Oak for Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or subsequent offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Ammunition as a Felon, Possession of Explosive Device, and 65 counts of Violation of a Protective Order.

Anderson was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on no bond. The investigation is ongoing and more charges may follow.