Iowa Republicans Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are urging their G-O-P leader in the U.S. Senate to cancel an upcoming week-long recess in October. Ernst says it’s time for congress to act on tax reform, immigration policy and a health care fix — for starters. “We have so many issues right now, we can’t prioritize one over the other. All of these committees need to continue working on them simultaneously,” Ernst says. “We need to get these things done and why we didn’t stay here in August to continue working on these issues is beyond me.”

As is traditionally the case, the entire month of August was classified a “work period” outside of Washington for senators. The week of October 9th has been set aside as another work period for senators to be away from the nation’s capital. “I don’t see how we, as congress, get our work done if we are not physically in Washington, D.C., going through the committee process, working on these issues and debating them on the floor,” Ernst says.

Earlier this summer President Trump suggested Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell should resign if he can’t get key G-O-P initiatives passed in the senate. Ernst has not called for McConnell’s resignation. However, a few weeks ago Ernst suggested that if McConnell can’t pull G-O-P Senators together, he should assign someone else who will “inspire” Republican senators to pass tax reform and repeal ObamaCare.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Auditor’s Office, Friday (today) said Bryan Olson-Everett, of Lewis, filed completed nomination papers and is a candidate for the City Council, in Lewis. Olson-Everett is the only candidate to file papers outside the City of Atlantic, in advance of the November City Elections.

Previously, it was announced that Incumbent Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Incumbent Atlantic At-Large Councilman Gerald Brink, Incumbent Atlantic 5th Ward Councilman Richard “Dick” Casady, and Incumbent Atlantic Parks and Rec Board Member Jolene Smith, had filed nomination papers to run for City offices.

The last date to file papers for the Nov. 7th City Elections in Cass County, is Sept. 21st.

A Nebraska man wanted in connection with the Aug. 10th, 2017 shooting of an Iowa woman was arrested today (Friday). At around 10:30-a.m., officers with the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force arrested without incident, 25-year old William Joseph Daugherty, of Omaha. Daughtery was taken into custody at the Comfort Inn & Suites at 1801 South 35th Street. He had an outstanding warrant for his arrest in connection with the shooting of 23-year old Kadie Lynn Clark, of Glenwood. Clark had been shot in the face at a Council Bluffs hotel, but survived her injuries.

Daugherty is currently in police custody at the Pottawattamie County Jail, where he was being held on charges of Attempted Murder and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Daugherty

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) – A southern Iowa high school football coach says five players who appeared in a photo on social media wearing white hoods and waving a Confederate flag next to a burning cross have been kicked off the team. Creston/Orient-Macksburg football coach Brian Morrison tells the Des Moines Register that the Creston High School team is scheduled to play tonight (Friday night), but without the five students.

Morrison also says lawyers are now involved, but that he can’t provide details about whom the lawyers are representing or what they advocate. Principal Bill Messerole has said the students involved have been disciplined, but would not say what that discipline entailed, citing student confidentiality.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Monday, Sept. 11, in honor of Patriot Day. Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is providing public notice of the renewal of corridor preservation for the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvements Project that includes Interstate 80 from the Missouri River east-northeast to U.S. 6 (Kanesville Boulevard) in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County. It also includes I-29 between 25th Avenue on the north to just south of U.S. 275, and I-480 from the Missouri River bridge on the Iowa side to the I-29 interchange.

The Iowa DOT implemented corridor preservation for the project Sept. 20, 2005, which was renewed on Sept. 18, 2008, Sept. 16, 2011, and again on Sept. 12, 2014. Officials say it is the intent of the Iowa DOT to continue to utilize corridor preservation for this project. The Iowa DOT may need to acquire additional right of way or property rights within this designated area.

The notice, issued today (Friday), is valid for a period of three years, and may be refiled by the Iowa DOT every three years. The notice includes a depiction of the corridor preservation area on a map, which is available at www.iowadot.gov/ole/otherprojectinfo.html. Width of the corridor preservation zone varies depending upon the location within the corridor.

Per Iowa Code 306.19(5), each city and county within the designated preservation corridor shall provide written notification to the Iowa DOT of: (1) an application for a building permit for construction valued at $25,000 or more; (2) submission of a subdivision plat; or (3) proposed zoning change within the area. Notification must be provided to the Iowa DOT at least 30 days prior to granting the proposed building permit, approving the subdivision plat, or changing the zoning. Written notification shall include all pertinent information regarding the proposed permit, plat, or zoning change.

If the Iowa DOT, within the 30-day period, notifies the city or county in writing that the Iowa DOT is proceeding to acquire all or part of the property or property rights affecting the area, the city or county shall not issue the building permit, approve the subdivision plat, or change the zoning. The Iowa DOT may apply to the city or county for an extension of the 30-day period. After a public hearing on the matter, the city or county may grant an additional 60-day extension of the period.

The Iowa DOT shall begin the process of acquiring property or property rights from affected persons within 10 days of the Iowa DOT’s written notification of intent to the city or county.

For information regarding the corridor preservation, contact Scott Suhr, District 4 planner, Iowa Department of Transportation, 2210 E. Seventh St., Atlantic, Iowa 50022, by phone at 712-243-3355 or 800-289-4368, or email scott.suhr@iowadot.us.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Roxann Ryan, along with Director of Investigative Operations James Saunders, announce the selection of Acting Special Agent in Charge, Dan Wood (effective September 8, 2017).  State Fire Marshal Wood began his duties today (Friday) as the Assistant Director/State Fire Marshal for the Iowa Department of Public Safety.  He will serve as the 14th State Fire Marshal for the state of Iowa.

Commissioner Ryan says “Our new State Fire Marshal has the depth and breadth of experience that will serve Iowans well. His years of law enforcement experience, along with his years of work in the fire service, are the ideal combination for this job.  He has served in many roles in the Department of Public Safety and within the State Fire Marshal’s office.  He understands the needs of law enforcement, the fire service, and the public safety aspects of the important regulatory work the State Fire Marshal’s office performs.”

State Fire Marshal Wood has an extensive background within the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.  After attending the Department of Public Safety Academy in 1997, he worked as an officer for the Capitol Police, a State Patrol Trooper in District 1 (Des Moines), and a State Fire Inspector.  He has served in temporary roles in the department’s training bureau, the Fire Service Training Bureau, and the Building Code Bureau of the State Fire Marshal’s office. State Fire Marshal Wood has also served with the Waukee Fire Department since 2003, and currently holds the rank of Lieutenant.  He is both a certified firefighter and EMT, as well as a certified peace officer.