(Radio Iowa) — Several media organizations reported late last (Sunday) night that negotiations between the U.S. and Canada have resulted in a new-fangled NAFTA — and President Trump will rebrand the trade deal as the U-S-M-C-A. Midnight on September 30th was the deadline President Trump set for renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. Mexico’s president agreed to renegotiated terms in late August, but talks between Canada and the U.S. stalled. The U.S. demanded a reduction in Canada’s tariffs on American dairy products. Canada insisted on keeping a system in place for resolving future trade disputes. President Trump is expected to approve the new pact with Canada’s prime minister and Mexico’s president before he leaves office December 1st. Congress would then have 60 days to review and vote on the new agreement.

Canada is IOWA’S largest export market. Mexico is number two.

(Radio Iowa) — State Auditor Mary Mosiman says she cannot say when a review of the state’s Medicaid program will be released to the public. In June, Mosiman announced her office would examine the data to determine if Medicaid costs have been reduced since private companies assumed management of patient care. The move to privatize the system has become a political issue in the governor’s race. Mosiman, a Republican who is also seeking re-election, says she cannot answer specifics about a work in progress, but Mosiman says the final report from her office will provide “financial clarity” about Medicaid costs. “It will be issued. I just can’t give you an actual date or I would also be behaving politically,” Mosiman says. “…Everything we do in the office is important.”

Rob Sand, the Democrat challenging Mosiman, says he agrees the examination shouldn’t be political, but Sand says the auditor’s office needs to equip voters with the facts about what’s happened since Medicaid was privatized in 2016.  “This is the office that’s supposed to be a watchdog for Iowa taxpayers and I think one thing that a watchdog should be doing is as soon as there’s a major change, you ought to be sniffing around,” Sand says. “We are in a state of upheaval with this issue.”

Sand and Mosiman made their comments this weekend during an appearance on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program. About 680-thousand low income, disabled and elderly Iowans are enrolled in Medicaid. Former Governor Terry Branstad predicted taxpayers would have saved more than 200-million dollars by now due to switching the system to private management. However, a recent report showed per patient costs increased six-and-a-half percent this past year and are projected to jump another 11 percent this year.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests over the past couple of weeks. Yesterday (Sunday), Adams County Deputies arrested Warren Davis, of Winterset, on an Adams County warrant for Failure to Appear. And, at around 10:40-p.m. Sunday, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 25 and 272nd Street. Upon further investigation, Galen White, of Lenox, was placed under arrest for Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense.

At around 8-p.m. last Thursday, Adams County Deputies were notified of a suspicious person at Dollar General. Upon further investigation, Donald Gay, of Corning, was placed under arrest for Public Intoxication.

At around 8:40-p.m. Sept. 22nd, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop, and upon further investigation, Crystal Schwartz, of Nebraska was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Sept. 21st, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of 6th and Davis Avenue, in Corning. Upon further investigation, Arvid Hiley, of California, was placed under arrest for Operating While Intoxicated. Hiley was also cited for Open Container-Driver.