Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad says he will host a public hearing on a proposal that would reduce the amount of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply. Branstad announced yesterday the hearing will be in Des Moines on January 23rd.

CLERMONT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say four people are dead and two are injured following a vehicle collision in northeast Iowa. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office says 28-year-old Shariff Warsame was driving a Toyota van westbound Friday morning on Highway 18 northeast of Clermont. Authorities say he lost control of the vehicle and struck an eastbound Chevy truck driven by 57-year-old Tony Alan Schlee of Elgin. Warsame and three passengers were killed; 34-year-old Miski Yahye Mohamed; 53-year-old Khadijo Mohamed; and 25-year-old Maryan Kulane.

STORY CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a Missouri truck driver whose body was found near a rest stop in central Iowa. The Story County Sheriff’s Office tells Des Moines television station KCCI the 51-year-old man was found dead in his truck Wednesday night at a rest stop off Interstate 35. The driver’s name was not released on Friday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Prosecutors say they’ve dropped murder and assault charges filed against a man after a shooting on the pedestrian bridge that connects Omaha with Council Bluffs, Iowa. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Thursday that witnesses were evasive or otherwise uncooperative with investigators and prosecutors, so the case against 24-year-old Terrece Cox became impossible to prosecute.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says he will host a public hearing on a proposal that would reduce the amount of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply. Branstad announced Friday the hearing will be in Des Moines on Jan. 23. He says he wants to give citizens an opportunity to testify about a recent proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the amount of ethanol that must be blended with gasoline in 2014.

Iowa is the nation’s leading producer of ethanol, a fuel additive primarily made from corn that produces lower carbon emissions than gasoline. The EPA proposal drew outcry by political leaders from both parties who claimed such a move would devastate Iowa’s economy.

Branstad says he asked White House officials to hold such a hearing and they declined.

A Shenandoah man arrested on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault and Child Endangerment faces an additional charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The Page County Sheriff’s Office says 28-year old Nathan Daniel Binau was transported from the Shenandoah Police Department to the Page County Sheriff’s Office with regard to the warrant.

When Binau was brought to the Page County Jail and processed at around 7:50-p.m, Thursday, he was hit with the Possession charge. Binau remains in the Page County Jail where he was being held without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Thursday, of a Clarinda man. 41-year old Merlin Glenn Lininger was arrested at around 10:30-p.m. on a Driving While Barred charge. His bond was set at $2,000.

David Young, candidate for Iowa’s 3^rd Congressional District was making a tour of southwest Iowa today (Friday).

David Young

One of his stops was in Atlantic, at the KJAN studios. Young, a seven-year former Chief of Staff to U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, hopes voters will elect him to fill the seat being left vacant by 10-term Republican Congressman Tom Latham, who announced last month that he would retire at the end of his term.Young says he’s the best candidate for the job, because things in Washington are “ugly,” and he knows from experience what it takes to get things done.

He’s says working for Senator Grassley for seven-years has given him that experience.  Young says “When you’re working in an office with Iowans (in D.C.), you have to be careful not to get ‘Potomac Fever.’ We always kept each other accountable in the office. When you’re sitting in meetings with Iowans, you hear their heartaches, their problems, their issues, and you just want to work that much harder for them.” He says he learned from Sen. Grassley that’s it’s important to listen to Iowan, carry their values and principles. He said “You can be a man of faith as well, and not sell your soul out in Washington, D.C.”

Young said the “gridlock” associated with the debt ceiling issue is evidence members of Congress aren’t getting the job done, and fiscal discipline is one-way to eliminate the debt ceiling issue. He says he’s willing to work to get that done, and supports a Constitutional Amendment to that end. He also says President Obama needs to negotiate with Congress on the Debt Ceiling issue.

Young says he wants to make the government accountable to its citizens, that includes empowering the individual states to handle issues such as poverty, health care and education, through the use of block grants. He says if elected, he’ll stand up for Iowans’ “Common Sense” principles.

Deborah L. Petersen, Trustee in the bankruptcy case for G & R Feed and Grain Co., Inc., in Portsmouth, reports that since the business filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy on January 1st, 2013, she has taken action to collect all funds on deposit, collect all accounts receivable, sell all assets and collect grain proceeds. Petersen says for the most part, that has been completed, but she is still seeking recovery of several post-petition transfers and will be analyzing several possible preferential transfers.

Petersen has entered into a settlement agreement with Cargill that was also approved by the Court. To make a payment now to creditors, she has filed an Interim Report with the Court. The report proposes a payout of 60% of all allowed claims as reported to the Court or compromised. Absent objections or other delays, Petersen anticipates approval of the Report in mid February.

Once approved by the Court, checks could be mailed by late February, 2014 for the initial distribution. After that process, there will be tax returns and reports to file, fee applications to be approved and paid and other detail work to conclude the case before a final distribution will be made. The timing and amount of any further distribution is unknown at this time.

There will be several fee applications for professionals to be made, tax returns to file and other reports to made before the case will be concluded. Petersen has a recorded message that will be updated regularly. You can hear this message at 712-328-8808, option 8. If you have legal questions, Petersen advises that you should contact an attorney of your choice.

The Atlantic Police Department reports an Audubon County resident was cited following an accident Thursday morning at 7th and Olive Streets, in Atlantic. Officials say Denise Masker, of Atlantic, was traveling eastbound from Olive Street on 7th, and was preparing to turn right into an alley, when her vehicle was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Jamie Madsen, of Kimballton. Damage from the mishap amounted to $2,000. No injuries were reported. Officials say Madsen was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Reduce Speed.

A public meeting will be held in a little over a week in Atlantic, to discuss the future of the City-owned truck parking lot off of Commerce Street. Mayor Dave Jones said during Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, that the Community Protection and Community Development Committees have been discussing the status of the lot, and the fact local individuals have been operating lots as a private enterprise since the City closed it’s lot and cleaned it up.

Jones said a couple of truckers have called wondering what’s going on with the lot. He said in his opinion, “The City should not be undercutting private enterprise.” . He is inviting truck drivers and the public to the meeting, which will be held 5:30-p.m Jan. 21^st, in the Council’s Chambers at the Atlantic City Hall.

Pisgah in Harrison County issued a boil advisory early this (Friday) morning, after a complete pressure loss throughout the water distribution occurred last night. A electrical contact on one of the pumps tripped out and prevented the wells from turning on. The electrical problem has been repaired and pressure has been restored, but the drop that occurred in water pressure could possibly allow bacteria to enter the drinking water.

As a precaution, the city and DNR recommend residents boil water used for drinking and cooking, or use bottled water until test results for bacteria come back clean. Two sets of samples are required so it will be Sunday before the city is affirmed that the water is safe to drink.

Residents should bring water to a boil, boil it for one minute and let it cool before using it for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth and preparing food. Tap water can be used for bathing and similar uses. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms. Bacteria in the water may pose greater health risks for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.

Find more information at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 800-427-4791. The city or DNR will notify residents when the water is safe to drink.

w/ Ric Hanson

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