Patty Judge, the Democrat running against Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, opposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require a balanced federal budget. (click on the left side of the audio bars to listen)

Judge served four years as Iowa’s lieutenant governor and eight years as a state senator. The State of Iowa has a balanced budget REQUIREMENT, but Judge says it’s not needed.

Judge made her comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa Public Television. A spokesman for Grassley says Judge “shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near” the U.S. Senate because of the way she and Governor Chet Culver managed the state budget. Grassley campaign manager Bob Haus says Judge and Culver approved too much state borrowing and too much state spending and that’s why they were “kicked out of office” when Culver and Judge sought reelection in 2010.

(Radio Iowa)

Three people was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital Friday evening, following an accident across from the east entrance to the Wal-Mart Store. The crash took place on Highway 71 at around 5:30-p.m., when one vehicle rear-ended another, causing the airbags on the second vehicle to deploy. One of the accident victims was a woman about 32-years of age, who suffered was what described during dispatch reports as a head injury.

Atlantic Police, the Iowa State Patrol and Cass County Sheriff’s Office along with Atlantic Fire and Rescue, responded to the scene. No other details were immediately available.

Ric Hanson photos

Multiple fire departments were called to the scene of a tanker truck explosion and fire at a Council Bluffs Ethanol plant, Friday afternoon. The fire is at 10868 189th Street, the site of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy. The plant, which is near Interstate 29, produces 110 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol every year. It also produces distiller’s grain and corn oil.

All photos courtesy Kristi Engel Beebe.

The fire was reported at around 3:30-p.m. Smoke was visible from Omaha. One person was injured and flown from the scene to an Omaha hospital. Fire fighting foam was applied to control the flames. The 189th Street off-ramp from I-29 was closed as of 4:15-p.m.

No other details are currently available.

A native of Atlantic is weathering Hurricane Matthew, in Florida. Josh Morenz, who lives in Orlando, which is about 45-to 50 miles away from the coast, told KJAN News he hasn’t experienced much of the storm since it rolled it at around 2-a.m local time today (Friday). (click on the left side of the separate audio bars to listen)

Josh is the son of Jeff and JoAnne Morenz, of Atlantic. The 27-year old, who graduated from Atlantic in 2007 and has gone to college, lived and worked in Orlando for a total of 8-to 9-years, says he didn’t have to evacuate the city like residents in many other locations were strongly encouraged to do. He said he’s safe and secure and so are most of his friends in Florida.

Morenz says he has power where he’s at, but other areas aren’t so fortunate.

He said many people were out Wednesday and Thursday night preparing for the storm.

As for those who stayed behind in the danger zone, he says they’re just being stubborn Floridians, most of whom have experienced hurricanes before. But he hasn’t heard of anyone he knows who’ve taken the risk.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a rural Creston man recently reported the theft of property valued at $1,600. The incident happened sometime during the night of Oct. 1st-or 2nd.

Among the items taken was:  Torx screws, a combination square, hammers, crow bars, a tool belt, tape measures, a 5 gal bucket tool bag, a tool box, tin snips, a Bosch Jig saw and blades, a Milwaukee circular saw and blades, a DeWalt angle grinder, a trickle charger, a 12v charger, electric drills, 250 feet of 14-2 Romax wire, drill bits, a DeWalt driver DC825 & charger, a radio, and Rotella diesel oil.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. At around 5:30 this (Friday) morning, 36-year old Charity Nicole Dresen, of Walnut, was arrested for Trespassing and Driving While Barred, after a deputy investigated a reported domestic disturbance involving her ex-husband, in Walnut.

At around 9-p.m. Thursday, a Pott. County Deputy arrested 28-year old Rachel Ann Johnk, of Oakland, for Aggravated Domestic Assault with Injury. According to the sheriff’s report, Johnk’s roommate, 21-year old Ashley Hansen, of Oakland, called to report she had been assaulted. An investigation determined both women suffered apparently minor injuries in the altercation.

And, 33-year old Anthony Frank Trovoto, of Missouri Valley, was arrested Thursday night for having a concealed weapon, driving while barred, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance. A Pott. County Sheriff’s Deputy driving on Highway 6 just east of Interstate 80 noticed a truck on the side of the road with its blinker on.

When he stopped to check on the vehicle which was still running, the Deputy found Trovoto inside slumped forward against the steering wheel, and a dog in the passenger seat. An investigation determined drugs and paraphernalia were in the truck, along with two knives (one was 6-inches long, the other 8-inches). Also inside the vehicle was a baggie which field tested positive for meth, a glass meth pipe, a wooden box with marijuana and a straw.