Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron Corbett says he’s “not sure why” a fellow Republican is challenging his campaign’s legitimacy. Corbett has been campaigning around the state for months as a G-O-P challenger to Kim Reynolds. Last week, former Iowa Republican Party political director Craig Robinson challenged Corbett’s nominating petitions, arguing there are too many duplicate signatures and Corbett doesn’t have the number of petition signatures he needs to qualify for the primary ballot. “If the governor really wants to knock me out of the race, then she should deliver the knock out punch on the debate stage and (that’s) why we’re challenged her to debates around the state,” Corbett says. “…We feel confident we have the appropriate number of petition signatures and will prevail.”

Corbett uses the word “underhanded” to describe the challenge of his nominating petitions. “For the governor to try to skate buy and not have debates and try to get me knocked off the ballot, I mean this doesn’t seem like she’s following in the tradition that has been set for elected officials and the governor in this state,” Corbett says.

Robinson — the former Iowa Republican Party official — says the Corbett campaign’s effort to collect signatures on nominating petitions was “incredibly pathetic” as Corbett barely submitted the minimum number of signatures required — and Robinson says there are more than 100 duplicate signatures. Iowa’s secretary of state and attorney general will convene with the state auditor this (Tuesday) afternoon to decide whether Corbett qualifies for the June Primary ballot. Similar challenges have been filed against seven OTHER candidates, including Congressmen Steve King and David Young as well as a Republican who hopes to run against Democratic Congressman Dave Loebsack in November.

(Radio Iowa)

A man and woman were arrested on separate warrants this (Tuesday) morning, in Creston. The Creston Police Department reports 38-year old Matthew Neipert, of Creston, was arrested at around 1:20-a.m. at his residence, on a Union County Warrant for the charge of Theft 4th. Neipert was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond. And, at around 12:35-a.m., 20-year old Natalie Eslinger, of Creston, was arrested at her residence on a Union County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault – Injury or Mental Illness. Eslinger was being held in the Adams County Jail, while awaiting a bond hearing.

CRESCO, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been scheduled for a man accused of killing his wife in northern Iowa. Mason City station KIMT reports that an Aug. 8 starting date was set Monday for 34-year-old Brian Fullhart. He’s pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and going armed with intent. Howard County District Court records say Fullhart shot his wife with a handgun early March 1 at a mobile home in Cresco and later used a bow to twice fire arrows at officers who’d been sent to investigate gunshot reports. A criminal complaint says one arrow struck a squad car. Fullhart surrendered peacefully to end the more than five-hour standoff.