(Radio Iowa) – California Congresswoman Katie Porter says one of the lessons she learned growing up in southwest Iowa during the Farm Crisis was that Washington politicians weren’t there for Iowans when it really mattered.  “Iowa’s not just a place you visit every four years,” Porter said. “It is a home. It is a place where people are raising families and building an economy, taking care of loved ones.”

Porter was last (Wednesday) night’s keynote speaker for Progress Iowa’s 6th Annual, but first-ever virtual Corn Feed fundraiser. Porter, who was born in Fort Dodge and grew up in Lorimor, talked about the day in 1983 when the bank in Afton failed and was closed. Porter shifted to the 2020 campaign as she concluded, telling Iowa Democrats there’s work to be done at both the national and local level.

“I know that campaigning this year looks a little different,” Porter says, “…It’s more phone calls and less large rallies, but those conversations count just as much.”

Porter is a former consumer protection lawyer and law professor who won a first term in the U.S. House in 2018. She’s garnered the attention of Democratic Party activists for the way she questions witnesses at congressional hearings, including her quizzing of the U.S. Postmaster General last month. She now joins past presidential candidates like 2020 Iowa Caucus winner Pete Buttigieg as having been a keynote speaker at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — As Iowa sees some of the highest rates of coronavirus cases in the nation, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’ll wait to determine whether her move to close bars in six counties causes spread of the virus to slow before considering additional steps. Reynolds says the soaring number of confirmed virus cases is largely due to infection among young people, especially those in the college towns of Iowa City and Ames. That trend prompted her last week to order the closure of bars. Now, she says it’s best to wait to see if those moves will cause numbers to drop. If not, she will consider additional actions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is suggesting government statistics on coronavirus infections and deaths have been inflated. Ernst, who is facing an unexpectedly tough reelection fight, is echoing a discredited conspiracy theory. Ernst made the comment after a man at a campaign stop in Waterloo, Iowa, said he believes the numbers of cases and deaths are being exaggerated. Experts refute that and some data suggests the toll is higher than the official count. Ernst said she, too, is “so skeptical” of the official numbers. In a statement later Wednesday, she referred to the government-reported death toll as fact.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police are investigating the shooting death of a man at an apartment complex near Drake University. Officers were called to the complex Wednesday afternoon. They found a 36-year-old man dead from apparent gunshot wounds. The man was identified Wednesday night as Sean Newman. Police say they believe the shooter and the victim knew each other and there is no danger to the public. No other details were released. The death is Des Moines’ 16th homicide of the year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A longtime special education teacher with Des Moines Public Schools has died of complications from the coronavirus. District spokesman Phil Roeder said the teacher at the Ruby Van Meter School for intellectually disabled students fell ill after an out-of-state trip and died this week. He did not release the teacher’s name or gender for privacy reasons. The death is believed to be among the first of an Iowa educator during the pandemic. A 73-year-old gym teacher at Iowa City Regina High School died in April, and the state’s coronavirus website lists only one known death of an educator. Roeder said the teacher had not been in the classroom for several months.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, approved several matters to come before them, recognized a long-time City employee, and discussed COVID-19 related issues. The Council first-off tabled action on their Consent Agenda items related to Tree Trimmer permits for Cook Hauling & Tree Service/Cook Roll Off Service, and Steve’s Tree Service, due to unresolved questions pertaining to proof of insurance. They then recognized Sandy Walter, who has served at the Atlantic Wastewater Treatment Plant for the past 20-years, ensuring the City is in compliance with State and Federal Regulations.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones reads from a plaque presented to Sandy Walter (Ric Hanson/photo)

The Council approved the slightly revised 1st Reading of Amended Ordinance with regard to Sanitary Sewer System hookups. The latest version calls for “The owners of any houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation of other purposes situated within the City Limits,” to install at the owner’s expense, suitable toilet facilities and a building sewer connecting to such facilities directly with the proper public sewer, “within 30-days after date of official notice from the City…provided [the] public sewer is within 500-feet of the [owned] structure.”

The Ordinance says also, “No private sewage disposal system shall be installed, repaired or rehabilitated where a public sewer is available withing 500-feet of the structure.” Final determination of availability shall be made by the Waste Water Department Superintendent. In addition, “Properties with septic systems installed prior to Sept. 2nd, 2020, shall be exempt…until the septic system fails, or until the property is sold, or conveyed…and [at that time] will be required to have a public sewer connection. Billing for sanitary sewer service will begin the date of official notice to connect to the public sewer or the property owner makes the connection, whichever occurs first.”

In the Council reports, Councilman Jim Behrens, who attended Tuesday’s Fire Department meeting, said the decision was made to cancel this year’s Atlantic Fireman’s Parade, but the October 4th breakfast will take place, with social distancing. He said also the Fire, Police and Sheriff’s Departments are looking to purchase a Search and Rescue drone sometime next year. And, Mayor Dave Jones said “If we have Halloween [Trick or Treating] this year, it will be on October 31st…we’ll play it by ear,” with regard to COVID-19.

Mayor Jones said also he was approached by Alan Zellmer and a small group of farmers, about what it would take to get a Splash Pad in town. The group is thinking about donating money from a tractor pull and other events, to help pay for the popular attraction other cities have. Jones said the budget is tight right now, so “It won’t happen this year for sure,” and it takes a lot of planning, so he’d like to see committee comprised of citizens and a Council representative to explore the current costs and designs of such a facility.

Council Bluffs Police are on the lookout for a man who robbed a Subway Store Wednesday afternoon.  Authorities say at around 3:46-p.m., an unknown male wearing a blue baseball hat, sunglasses, light blue surgical mask, long sleeve blue sweater and blue jeans entered the Subway located at 208 East Broadway.

The man ordered a sandwich from an employee, and while the employee was preparing the order, the suspect pulled out a black handgun and demanded money. The man took an undisclosed amount of cash and the business’ telephone.

He fled the store westbound in the alleyway between Broadway and Kanesville Blvd. As of the latest report, the suspect had not been identified. No one involved in this incident was harmed. The case is currently being investigated by Council Bluffs Police Criminal Investigations Division.

Anyone with information regarding the crime is encouraged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Criminal Investigations Division at 712-328-4728 or they can contact Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867. Please do not approach this person, as he is to be considered armed and dangerous.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police are investigating the shooting death of a man at an apartment complex. Police officers were called to the apartments on the city’s north side Wednesday afternoon. They found a 36-year-old man dead from apparent gunshot wounds. A suspect has not been apprehended.

Police say they believe the suspect and the victim knew each other and there is no danger to the public. No other details were released. The death is Des Moines’ 16th homicide of the year.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest today (Wednesday) of 24-year old Joshua Kisler, from Glenwood. Kisler was taken into custody on a warrant for OWI, with his cash or surety bond set at $1,000.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has issued, at the request of Audubon Fire Chief Tyler Thygesen (representing the Fire Chiefs of Audubon County), a Burn Ban. The Ban on open burning became effective at Noon today (Wednesday), and shall remain in effect until such time as Thygesen notifies the State Fire Marshal that conditions dangerous to life or property, no longer exists.

Violation of the Burn Ban constitutes a simple misdemeanor.

Officials with the Clarinda Community School District have confirmed action was being taken after two students contracted coronavirus. In a letter to parents Wednesday (posted below), Clarinda School Superintendent Chris Bergman confirmed the Clarinda High School students tested positive for COVID-19. The letter (also posted on the District’s Facebook page) said “In consultation with Page County Public Health and the district’s school nurse, the district is taking appropriate safety measures.”

Bergman says the students are at home recovering, and will not return to school until the isolation period has expired, and symptoms have improved. In order to avoid the virus’ spread, contact tracing for exposure is in progress, in order to communicate with any individuals requiring a quarantine. Page County Public Health will contact those individuals. Also, Bergman says staff and students will be required to wear face coverings whenever present on district grounds–inside and outside–until further notice.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds held a Press Conference this (Wednesday) morning, during which she said she is re-opening the Iowa Small Business Relief Program for bars and taverns closed by last week’s proclamation in certain counties. She said also she will not bow to calls for a mask mandate to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. With regard to the ISB Relief Program, Reynolds said those businesses in just a handful of counties will receive assistance.

The program will be run through the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

The Governor says she’ll wait to determine whether her move last week to close bars in six counties causes spread of the virus to slow before considering additional steps. Reynolds says the soaring number of confirmed virus cases is largely due to infection among young people, especially those in the college towns of Iowa City and Ames. That trend prompted her to order the closure of bars. Now, she says it’s best to wait to see if those moves will cause numbers to drop. If not, she will consider additional actions.

Reynolds was asked why she doesn’t act on a mask mandate, which the White House Task Force recommends for Iowa. The Governor said “We do know through the data, where the [highest positive test numbers] are at.” Johnson County is one of those hot spots. Reynolds said she’s added additional mitigation steps to control the rise in cases, and they are beginning to work.

She said she continues to emphasize “personal responsibility” in reducing the spread of the virus.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A Fort Dodge woman already serving a prison sentence for setting fire to an Iowa mosque three years ago has now pleaded guilty to causing a fatal 2018 crash. The Messenger reports that 26-year-old Aisha Ismail pleaded guilty Tuesday to vehicular homicide by reckless driving for the July 2018 head-on crash on a Webster County road that killed 20-year-old David Fliehe, of Humboldt.

Under a plea deal, Ismail’s sentence for the death would begin after she has completed another sentence of up to 10 years for second-degree arson, stemming from a June 2017 incident in which she started a fire at The Islamic Center, a Des Moines mosque.