The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 24-year old Zachary Thomas Marchese, of Council Bluffs, was arrested by Red Oak Police Wednesday evening. Marchese was taken into custody in Red Oak at around 7-p.m., on an active Pottawattamie County warrant for violation of the State’s Sex Offender Registry/1st offense. Marchese was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

And, Red Oak Police arrested 55-year old Ronald Dean Kammerer, Jr., of Red Oak, at around 5:45-p.m., Wednesday, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. Kammerer was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, pending an appearance before a Magistrate.

Candidates in two of Iowa’s congressional districts debated on live television last (Wednesday) night. The first district debate featuring Republican Congressman Rod Blum of Dubuque, and Democrat Monica Vernon of Cedar Rapids, was held in Cedar Rapids. Security issues were at the forefront of the debate in Council Bluffs featuring third district Congressman David Young, a Republican, and Jim Mowrer of Des Moines, his Democratic challenger. Young questioned Mowrer’s willingness to allow Syrian refugees into the country and Mowrer shot back.

“Do you want to send them back?” Mowrer asked. Young replied: “I want to protect America, Jim,” Young said. “What is your experience protecting America, congressman?” Mowrer asked. Young replied: “My first solemn oath when I was sworn in is to protect and defend the constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic. I’m not going to take a chance and when ISIS says they want to infiltrate our refugee system, I’m going to take it seriously.” Mowrer said: “I lived it. I know what it takes to keep America safe.”

Mowrer says while being a veteran is not a requirement for being a member of congress, he has a “unique perspective” because he is a veteran. The two candidates discussed border security as well. Young is co-sponsoring a bill written after police say a Council Bluffs woman was killed by a speeding drunk driver who was in the country illegally — and who has vanished after posting bail.

“It’s hard for me to believe that he wouldn’t support Sarah’s Law,” Young said, touting the “bipartisan” legislation. Mowrer said: “We need to fix our immigration system top-to-bottom. We have to pass comprehensive immigration reform.” Young said he favors “piece meal…targeted approaches” to immigration problems, rather than “10-thousand page bills.”

Iowa Public Television hosted the third district debate in Council Bluffs. The first district debate in Cedar Rapids was co-sponsored by The Cedar Rapids Gazette and K-C-R-G television.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines hospital says it’s taking action after learning of accusations that a former pharmacy technician there watered down powerful pain prescriptions of hospital patients. Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines says the pharmacy tech is no longer employed there. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that from late August to early October, more than 730 patients were given watered-down drugs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa department that processes unemployment checks will receive a $500,000 grant from the federal government to improve fraud detection and to modernize outdated computer systems. The U.S. Department of Labor said Wednesday it is distributing more than $30 million in grants to 39 state agencies including Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa church is dropping its lawsuit against the state and the city of Des Moines over an antidiscrimination law that church officials believed could force them to abide by transgender bathroom rules. The Fort Des Moines Church of Christ filed a voluntarily dismissal Wednesday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa has filed a lawsuit against a contractor that it blames for shoddy construction work that damaged the historic Old Capitol building. UI hired Knutson Construction to restore and improve the campus icon after a 2001 fire destroyed parts of the building. In a lawsuit this month, the university says it discovered construction deficiencies, including a leaky roof and deteriorated wood siding.