Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump plans to attend a high school homecoming event in Iowa. Campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has confirmed Trump will appear at Urbandale High School’s homecoming event on Saturday night. Trump accepted the invitation from the school’s 2016 senior government class.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Rapids police say they’re investigating the shooting death of a 32-year-old man last week as a homicide. Bryan Edwards died at a hospital after being shot on September 10th in northwest Cedar Rapids. Authorities say investigators don’t believe the shooting was a random act.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two Democratic lawmakers are looking to halt or amend Governor Terry Branstad’s plans to privatize Iowa’s Medicaid program. Senators Amanda Ragan and Liz Mathis on Thursday sent a letter to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, saying they have “grave concerns” about the privatization plans. If a denial is not an option, the lawmakers ask that the state be subject to additional terms, including a longer time period to phase-in the new program.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Secretary of State Paul Pate says Iowa residents with a state driver’s license or photo ID will be able to register online to vote by January 1st. Earlier this year, the Iowa Voter Registration Commission approved a rule allowing qualified voters to visit a website where they can register. Pate estimates 93 percent of eligible voters use the online system.

The filing deadline has passed for those wanting to be included on the ballot for the Nov. 3rd City Elections in Cass County. In Lewis and Wiota, there will be a races to fill a limited number of seats on the City Council, while a Mayor’s race will be featured in Anita. Other than that, there are no contested races in the other cities. Public Measures will also be on the ballot for voters to decide, in four of the eight cities in Cass County. The final list of names appearing on the ballot include:

In Atlantic, all four incumbent Councilpersons have filed for re-election. They include Dana Halder – At Large, Chris Jimerson – 1st Ward, and Linda Hartkopf – 4th Ward and Ashley Hayes in the Third Ward. And, Dick Casady, who was appointed by Mayor Dave Jones earlier this year to fill a vacancy in the 5th Ward, is on the ballot. There are no challengers for those respective seats. Incumbent Stuart Dusenberry also filed papers for an open seat on the Parks and Rec Board, in Atlantic. He also is unopposed.

Voters in Atlantic will also have to make up their minds on Public Measure B, which asks “Shall the City of Atlantic, in Cass County, Iowa, issue its bonds, paid with local option sales tax (LOST) revenue in an amount not exceeding the amount of $875,000 for the purpose of paying for the cost of restoring the historic ballroom/theater and creating a multi-purpose facility on the second and third floors of City Hall?”

In Anita, Ben Daughenbaugh and Timothy Miller will vie for the title of Mayor. Incumbents Thomas R. Harris and Jeff Bohnsack have filed to run for two open seats on the Anita City Council.

In Cumberland, incumbent Mayor Nancy Virginia Couglin is unopposed for re-election, while incumbent Sandra K. Eversole and Scott W. Becker are running for two seats on the Council. Catherine Landstreet-Howard is unopposed in her run to fill a vacancy seat on the City Council, so there are no contested races in Cumberland.

In Griswold, no one filed to run for Mayor, so the position will come down to a write-in vote. Incumbents Ryan Askeland and Lisa Cook, along with Carmen Sorensen, are running unopposed for three open seats on the City Council. Voters in Griswold will also be asked to decide on Public Measure C, which asks if the City should change the Mayor’s term from a two-year term to a four-year term.

In Lewis, Jon E. Mosier in unopposed in his bid for Mayor, while five candidates, including Incumbent Duane Scott Anderson, Leroy Easter, Marvin Bradfield, Kristy Bassett and Nona Erickson are running for just three open seats on the Council. Lewis voters will also decide on Public Measure D, which asks if an annual levy, the amount of which will not exceed a rate of twenty-seven cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of the taxable property, is authorized for providing moneys for public library services?

In Marne, incumbent Mayor Randy Baxter is running unopposed for re-election. Three incumbents: Alan Cranston, Lori Holste and Angela Redler, along with Michael Jensen and Kyle Frederiksen, are running for five open seats on the City Council, so there is not a contested race there. Marne voters also have an issue to vote on. Public Measure E asks “Shall an annual levy, the amount of which shall not exceed a rate of one dollar and fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of the taxable property in the unified law enforcement district be authorized for providing additional moneys needed for unified law enforcement services in the district?”

In Massena, incumbent Mayor Linda Reineke is unopposed for re-election, while incumbents Kevin and Adam McCunn have filed for re-election to one of three seats on the City Council, with Micah Lee running in an Appointed position on the Council.

In Wiota, incumbent Ford Lillard is running again for Mayor, and there will be a three-way race for two seats on the City Council, with incumbent Jon Schwarte competing against Steven R. Havens and Jim Fischer.

Friday, October 23rd
The deadline to PRE-REGISTER to vote for the Regular City Election is 5:00 P.M. on this day. This applies to registration in person (including registration at driver’s license stations or agencies) or by mail. After today, a person may register to vote at the Auditor’s Office and vote an absentee ballot. The process is the same as for registering to vote on Election Day and specific documentation must be provided. If possible, please register before Election Day.

Friday, October 30th
Deadline to Request Absentee Ballot to be mailed for the Regular City Election is at 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3rd ELECTION DAY
Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Polling Places:
Red Oak Gold Fair Building, Red Oak Fire Station, First Christian Church, Elliott Community Building, Stanton Fire Department, Grant Fire Department and Villisca Community Building

Those requesting Absentee Ballots by mail should complete their requests as soon as possible and return them to the Auditor’s Office. Absentee Ballot requests will be filled as soon as the Ballots are available.

The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. If anyone has questions about voter registration, absentee ballots, or voting, call the Auditor’s Office at 712-623-5127 or visit www.montgomerycountyiowa.com

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two Democratic lawmakers are seeking to halt or amend Gov. Terry Branstad’s plan to privatize Iowa’s Medicaid program. Sen. Amanda Ragan and Sen. Liz Mathis on Thursday sent a letter to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They say they have “grave concerns” about the privatization plans and ask that federal officials deny Iowa’s application to set up the private system.

If a denial is not an option, the lawmakers ask that the state be subject to additional terms, including a longer time period to phase-in the new program. They argue that the plan to implement the new system in January is moving too quickly.

In a statement, Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers says the shift will help the state find savings, while improving care.