Iowa Senator Joni Ernst took the lead Wednesday, in introducing a bill that would cut federal funds to Planned Parenthood in the wake of the release of videos showing leaders in the organization talking about harvesting body parts from aborted babies to be sold. Ernst was joined at a Washington, D-C news conference by seven other Republican Senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

“The recent footage depicting Planned Parenthood’s role in the harvesting of organs — heart, liver, kidneys — of unborn babies is morally reprehensible and vial,” Ernst says. “The American people, Republicans and Democrats alike, are horrified by the utter lack of compassion shown by Planned Parenthood for these women and their babies.” Ernst says people in both parties are upset by the videos, including a Democrat candidate for president.

“In fact, now Hillary Clinton is calling these Planned Parenthood images ‘disturbing.’ And I agree. These videos are hard for anyone to defend, and hit at the moral fiber of our society,” Ernst says. Ernst says the bill she is backing will take away federal dollars from Planned Parenthood. “In addition to de-funding Planned Parenthood, our legislation ensures that federal funding taken from Planned Parenthood will be made available to other entities that provide health services for women,” Ernst says. She says the bill won’t hurt the availability of health services for women.

“I want to make clear that there will be no reduction in overall federal funding to support women’s health,” according to Ernst. Ernst was asked if the bill would also include state funding. “What we are discussing right now is just that federal legislation, and then how those state dollars, local dollars are handled, is another issue that will have to be addressed later on,” Ernst says. She was also asked if she is against all research using fetal tissue.

“That is a separate issue. What we’re seeing right now is absolutely reprehensible. There are a number of questions that have been raised by these videos,” Ernst says. “I have joined and led 49 other Senators in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell asking that she take a look at this. We want to make sure that any documents regarding this issue are preserved and that she is doing a thorough investigation. And we will see what the results are after she does that.” Other Republican Senators who appeared with Ernst are: Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas; Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune of South Dakota; Deb Fischer of Nebraska; Johnny Isakson of Georgia; James Lankford of Oklahoma, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Tim Scott of South Carolina.

Democrat Hillary Clinton’s campaign released this statement from Jill June, the former president of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland in response to the Republican Senator’s news conference: “Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood are nothing but a callous and political attempt to put ideology ahead of the health and well-being of Iowa women. We’ve seen this movie before. Senator Ernst and other Republican senators should drop their latest attack on Planned Parenthood that provides health care each year to nearly 60,000 patients in Iowa and surrounding states, including in hard to serve rural areas. Hillary Clinton believes health care should be left between a woman and her doctor – full stop. It’s time politicians stop trying to insert themselves in these personal decisions and instead focus on the issues Iowans elected them to solve.”

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The founder of a large transportation company based in Cedar Rapids has died. CRST International, once known as Cedar Rapids Steel Transport, says Herald “Smitty” Smith Junior. died Monday at his home in eastern Wisconsin following a brief illness. He was 91. Smith founded the company in 1955.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in eastern Iowa are increasing their presence at recreational trails in the area after a woman said she was sexually assaulted while jogging at a state park in Waterloo. The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office tells KWWL-TV authorities are encouraging people to stay alert and to use the trails with a friend.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Federal authorities believe a man suspected of robbing a credit union in Iowa with an assault rifle is the same man suspected of robbing banks in several states. The FBI says the “AK-47 Bandit” robbed banks in California, Idaho and Washington in 2012 and a bank in Nebraska in 2014. Authorities say a man entered the Iowa Heartland Credit Union in Mason City on Tuesday wearing a black ski mask.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Some residents of a mobile home park in Davenport say they still don’t know where they’ll live next as a deadline looms to leave the property. The Quad-City Times reports that Lake Canyada Mobile Home Park residents were notified by the park’s management company, CFLane, that they must leave before the end of the day Friday.

A reminder from the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce: Mark Saturday August 8th on your calendar, because that’s the date for AtanticFest! Downtown Atlantic will be filled with fun activities for all ages. Come early and enjoy a pancake breakfast, or start the day off with a run through town in the Annual Road Race with a new route, or enjoy a leisurely Tractor Ride.

There will be crafters from all over southwest Iowa, as well as some of the best food vendors to help satisfy any appetite. Kids can enjoy the pony rides and bounce house, while the adults can relax in the beer garden or play in the all new Bags Tournament. There’s free entertainment throughout the day, including local favorites Glass House Prophet, and Dirt Road Divide.

Make sure you also enjoy the 17th Annual Car Show and Motorcycle Show, as there will be some amazing vehicles there that you can’t see anywhere else. AtlanticFest is brought to you by our presenting sponsor First Whitney Bank & Trust. AtlanticFest will be Saturday August 8th, with Something for Everyone.

For more information about AtlanticFest, you can go to www.AtlanticIowa.com
or call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at (712)243-3017.

Authorities in Council Bluffs say a woman suffered a minor head wound during an altercation Wednesday afternoon. Bluffs Police Sgt. Chad Meyers says officials received word at around 12:37-p.m. that a stabbing had just occurred at 2610 Avenue B. Officers responded.

An investigation determined 33 year old Jennifer Miller and 51 year old Carol Packard had been involved in a physical disturbance in front of the residence they shared, and at some point during the disturbance, Packard displayed a folding knife and swung it several times at Miller.

Miller suffered from a small puncture wound to left side of her head. She was transported to Mercy Hospital by ambulance, treated and released. Packard was arrested for aggravated assault and transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections.