Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey Tuesday, announced that $2.49 million has been awarded through the “Fueling Our Future 100” initiative to support the installation of 107 new blender pumps and 8 underground storage tanks that can be used to distribute higher blends of renewable fuels. An estimated 187 blender pumps and 25 underground storage tanks will be installed to provide consumers with access to higher blends of ethanol through the program. Among the locations to benefit from the initiative, is the Kum and Go in Stuart, and STAR Energy, in Guthrie Center. This was the 1st round of funding through the program and applications are due Feb. 1st for the 2nd round of funding.

The funding for the projects is from a $5 million competitive grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) program Iowa received to support the initiative. All funds must be matched by non-federal funds, including up to $2.5 million from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure program. The fueling sites applying for assistance will also be required to provide a minimum of $2.5 million.

Pumps and tanks funded through the program are currently required to be operational by December 31, 2016 and continue operations for the intended purpose of dispensing higher blends of ethanol through December 30, 2021. More information about the program, a copy of the application and other materials can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under “Hot Topics.”

A traffic stop late Tuesday night in Fremont County resulted in a Nebraska woman’s arrest on drug charges. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy pulled over a vehicle in Hamburg at around 11-p.m.  The K9 unit was deployed during the investigation, and as a result, resulted in the arrest of 24-year old Janae Austin, of Omaha. The woman was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent.

Inside the vehicle, numerous containers of Butane Hash Oil (a marijuana concentrate), was found. Austin was transported to the Fremont County Jail and held on a $5,000 bond.

A 25-year-old college student who was volunteering on Ben Carson’s Iowa Caucus campaign has died after a roll-over accident on Interstate 80 in western Iowa. A van driven by a campaign staffer hit a patch of ice, rolled and was struck by another vehicle near Atlantic Tuesday morning. The campaign field director and two other campaign volunteers were treated and released from the local hospital, but Braden Joplin was flown to an Omaha hospital for treatment. Carson temporarily suspended his campaign and flew from South Carolina to Omaha to meet with Joplin’s family.

“I think that’s where we need to be right now,” Carson said. Joplin died of his injuries late Tuesday afternoon. Carson released a written statement a few hours later, saying one of the “joys of campaigning is the privilege of meeting bright young men and women” like Joplin. Carson says he’s filled with “a deep and profound sadness” at the young man’s death.

As news of the accident spread on social media, messages of support came from candidates and campaign staff on both sides of the political aisle. Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders began his Sioux City rally last night with a moment of silence in honor of Joplin. Carson says that outpouring of support shows “life will always transcend politics.”

Carson called Joplin and those like him who volunteer for campaigns “the unsung heroes of the political process.” Joplin was a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He was among a group of student volunteers who arrived in Iowa this month to volunteer in the run-up to the February 1st Iowa Caucuses.

(Radio Iowa)