The two major party candidates for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat met face-to-face in an hour long debate early Sunday evening — touting their rural Iowa roots and questioning their opponent’s loyalties. Republican Joni Ernst grew up on a farm near Red Oak in southwest Iowa. Democrat Bruce Braley grew up in the small eastern Iowa town of Brooklyn, where his dad ran the grain elevator. “I have not left my rural roots, but I think congressman you have left those behind in your ‘Beltway’ ways,” Ernst said. Braley said: “I have never forgotten where I came from. That’s why I voted to pass a five-year Farm Bill.”

Each accused the other of being beholden to special interests who’re financing thousands of dollars worth of ads to try to sway Iowa voters. Braley accused Ernst of being beholden to Oklahoma billionaires who made their money in the oil industry. “Congressman Braley you’re not running against these other people. You’re running against me,” Ernst said. “…You are being funded by Tom Steyer who is a California billionaire extreme environmentalist.” Ernst also accused Braley of doing the bidding of President Obama and Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate. Braley countered with this.

“Senator Ernst would have voted to shut down the federal government with Ted Cruz. She’s called President Obama a dictator and thinks impeachment should be on the table,” Ernst replied: “Congressman, you threatened to sue a neighbor over chickens that came onto your property. You’ve talking about bipartisanship. How do we expect as Iowans to believe that you will work across the aisle when you can’t walk across your yard.” Braley responded: “It’s not true. I never threatened to sue anyone. It’s not true.” That exchange came near the end of the debate. Both began by stressing a message to appeal to independent voters. Braley repeatedly tried to tie Ernst to the so-called “Tea Party.”

“I’ll work with anyone who has a good idea that’s good for Iowa,” Braley said. “I’m a bridge builder, not a bridge burner.” Ernst told the audience she provided voters a “clear contrast” with Braley. “I believe Washington is taking our country in the wrong direction and for the past eight years Congressman Braley has been there,” Ernst said. The two candidates broke no new policy ground on issues like the minimum wage and immigration. Braley charged Ernst co-sponsored legislation in the Iowa Senate that ultimately would wind up banning abortion, certain forms of contraception and invitro fertilization. Ernst said she “will support life,” but she also believes “in a woman’s right to contraception.”

Sunday night’s debate was sponsored by The Des Moines Register and broadcast live on KCCI TV in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Bruce Braley and Republican Joni Ernst clashed over health care, Social Security and foreign policy during the first debate of the Iowa Senate race. The candidates in the closely-fought race have largely campaigned using scripted television ads and carefully controlled public events. Both candidates fielded questions from voters last night at Simpson College.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Disease causing bacteria have been found at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Hospital, but officials have not informed patients about the problem. The Des Moines Register reports the VA is planning to spend $6.5 million to address the legionella bacteria that has been found in the hospital’s water pipes. VA pathologist Stacy Klutts says the bacteria are at low levels, so there is little risk of infection at this point.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City police are looking for a man who robbed a convenience store and then forced an employee to leave with him. Police say the robbery at Gasby’s in southern Iowa City was reported at 6:39 a.m. yesterday when an employee hit a panic alarm. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the robbery to call Crime Stoppers at (319) 358-8477.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) —The Pottawattamie County Attorney will review the circumstances of 17-year-old Dakota Escritt’s death on Monday. The Daily Nonpareil reports Escritt was knocked unconscious during the fight when his head hit the tile floor. Escritt died Saturday evening at an Omaha hospital.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Disease causing bacteria have been found at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Hospital, but officials have not informed patients about the problem.  The Des Moines Register reports  the VA is planning to spend $6.5 million to address the legionella bacteria that has been found in the hospital’s water pipes.

VA pathologist Stacy Klutts says the bacteria are at low levels, so there is little risk of infection at this point. And officials say they have been able to control the problem. But critics say patients should be informed so they can make their own decisions, especially because so many VA patients are elderly.

Vietnam War veteran Dick Allison, who used to work at the hospital, says he’s upset administrators aren’t being upfront with the public about the bacteria.

Two people died in separate crashes Sunday morning in Central Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says 26-year old Scott A. Trimble, of Davenport died in a crash near Colfax at around 2:50-a.m., on Interstate 80 westbound, in Jasper County. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Authorities say Trimble was traveling eastbound and fleeing from law enforcement in a 2014 Lincoln, when he lost control of the car after it hit stop-sticks that were set down earlier, by Mitchellville Police. The car vaulted through the median and into the westbound lane, where it collided with a 2013 Freightliner truck driven by 52-year old Michael T. Grodoski, of Lake in the Hills, IL. Grodoski was not injured. Steve Miller, a passenger in Trimble’s vehicle, was injured and transported by ambulance to Skiff Hospital. Police didn’t say why they were pursuing Trimble.

The other accident happened in Polk County, at around 8-a.m., Sunday. The State Patrol says a 2014 Chevy Cruze driven by 55-year old Linda Neubauer, of Des Moines, was traveling north on northeast 56th Street and failed to yield for a stop sign. Her car was hit by a 2013 Ford Taurus driven by 64-year old Nancy Bein, of Bondurant, as she was traveling west on northeast 78th Avenue.

Neubauer, whose car was hit on the passenger side, died later at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Bein was injured in the crash and also transported to Methodist. A report on her condition was not immediately available. The accident remains under investigation.

The Atlantic City Council will meet this Wednesday (October 1st) at 5:30-pm, in the Council Chambers at City Hall. On the agenda is an order to approve a resignation and severance agreement between the City of Atlantic and the City Administrator Doug Harris.  An option is also included on the agenda to enter into executive session upon the written request of the City Administrator to discuss the resignation and severance package. The Mayor and Personnel/Finance Committee reviewed and recommended the agreement be approved last week

Harris and the council have been at odds over recent tax abatement plans and he was asked to resign. An order to appoint his assistant John Lund as the Interim City Administrator is on the agenda as well that would be effective October 4, 2014.

Other agenda items include: Approving a change order on improvements on 17th street project;  Addressing an EPA request to move forward with the nomination of the former dry cleaner site as a National Priorities List Site; A Public hearing on, and order for the disposal of, 1200 Birch Street and 1106 Poplar Street; and, an Order to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with FOX Engineering related to the potential industrial discharge of MAHLE Engine Components to the city’s wastewater system.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday, September 30th at 8:30am in the Board room at the Cass County Courthouse.

The agenda includes a report from the Cass County Attorney.  Atlantic Park and Rec Director Roger Herring will report on a bike rack at the Courthouse. The Cass County Engineer will provide a secondary roads update. The final scheduled report is from the Cass County Mental Health and General Assistance for the month of August.

There will also be an open time for comments and approval of claims.

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will make a stop in Atlantic on Thursday, October 2nd to tour Echo Concrete.  The event is set for 4:00pm at Echo Concrete at 50748 650th Street in Atlantic.

The Cass County Democratic Party has announced that its headquarters is now open at 511 Chestnut in Atlantic. Open seven days a week, the office has candidate information and yard signs available. Residents of Iowa can also register or re-register to vote in addition to signing absentee voter request forms.

Several candidates have already visited the headquarters—Steve Roe who is running for the Iowa House in District 20, Tim Ennis who is running for Iowa House District 21, and Sherrie Taha, candidate for the Secretary of Agriculture. A grand opening is planned for later in the election year.

w/ Chris Parks

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