(Radio Iowa) — The three presidential candidates who addressed a crowd of A-A-R-P members in Cedar Rapids yesterday (Wednesday) showcased the Democratic Party’s debate about how to achieve universal health care coverage. Former Maryland Congressman John Delaney suggests a “Medicare for All” policy endangers Democrats. “As a matter of politics, I think if we run on telling half the country, because literally over 150 million Americans have private health insurance, that we’re going to make that illegal and you have to get some new government program, they’re not going to trust us,” Delaney said, “and they’re not going to vote for us.”

Delaney calls his alternative “Better Care” — giving Americans under the age of 65 the option of being covered with a basic, federally-funded health care plan or taking a tax credit that’s equal to the plan’s annual estimated premium. Tulsi Gabbard, a congresswoman from Hawaii, is a “Medicare for All” supporter. “Really what this is is about making sure that every single person who is in need of care is able to get that care, regardless of how much money you make or how little money
you make, how much you have or what pre-existing condition you have,” Gabbard said.

While Americans will pay higher taxes, Gabbard says health care costs will be “drastically” lowered by eliminating the administrative costs of private insurance — plus the efficiency of having just one billing system. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet says the public opposes “Medicare for All.” “We have to raise massively in this country to pay for it,” Bennet said. “…There’s nothing nuanced about almost 200 million people having to go on a government plan just becuase Bernie Sanders says it’s what everybody should have.”

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is a leading proponent of Medicare for All. Bennef is proposing an alternative he calls “Medicare X” — creating a Medicare-like public option Americans could buy. Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan was scheduled to speak as well, but event organizers were notified about an hour before the forum was to begin that Ryan would not attend. A-A-R-P and The Des Moines Register will host two more candidate forums. The first, on Friday afternoon, will be held in Sioux City.. Saturday’s forum will be held in Council Bluffs.

The Creston Police Department says a man living in the 1000 block of N. Poplar Street, in Creston, reported Wednesday that sometime between 8-p.m. Tuesday and 7-a.m. Wednesday, someone took his wallet containing cash and credit cards. The wallet was taken from his vehicle parked outside of the man’s home. The loss was estimated at $40. And, 72-year old Hyvis Oerlyn Thatcher, of Creston, was cited Wednesday in Creston, for allowing an animal to run at large in the 500 block of W. Montgomery Street. Thatcher was released on a Promise to Appear in court.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Beginning this Friday, the Fire/Tornado Siren in Cumberland will be sounded weekly for testing at noon, on Fridays. In case of impending or possible storms, the Cass County Communications  Center will not sound them unless necessary. Cumberland Assistant Fire Chief Brad Penton reminds residents, one long blast of the siren is for Tornadoes, while a cycling up and down is for a fire. Penton says the sirens did not go off during Tuesday’s severe storm/nearby tornado, due to a circuit breaker that had tripped in the control box.

He says the Cass County Comm. Center tried to trip the sirens and Cumberland Fire tried to trip them manually. When they didn’t work still, Fire crews drove around town with the truck sirens sounding. Cumberland’s Fire/Tornado siren is now working as it should, but the tests will be conducted on a weekly basis to make sure they are functioning as required.

Severe storms that entered western Iowa Wednesday morning brought hail and wind damage to parts of Shelby County. The National Weather Service in Omaha says thunderstorm wind damage was reported in Portsmouth just before 10-a.m. Wednesday. An estimated 10-to 20-trees were blown onto buildings, roads and cars, in Portsmouth. The Fire Hall in Portsmouth was damaged, three grain bins and a machine shed were destroyed. Winds at the time were estimated at 70-mph. At around the same time, crops were laid flat 2 miles west/southwest of Tennant, along Shelby County road F-58. And, at around 10:15-a.m., 1-inch diameter (quarter-size) hail was observed 5-miles south of Harlan.

In Guthrie County, a thunderstorm wind gust of 50-mph was reported at around 10:50-a.m., along with heavy rain and pea-size hail. There were no immediate reports of damage there, however.

Storm damage in and near Portsmouth (Photos submitted to our sister station KNOD in Harlan)

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa State Fair will have 50 new foods available when the gates open in August. Spokesperson Mindy Williamson says they try to add some new foods each year. “I think our highest number yet has been 42 — so this is the most new foods we’ve ever had and we are super excited. Our concessionaires are getting very creative and they know the benefit of having something new for fair goers,” Williamson says.  She says the new foods will join the favorites like porkchop on a stick. “It gives people the choice if they want to come try something new at the fair — or if they want to stick with their old tried and true favorite,” Williamson says.

They held a contest to judge some of the top new foods. One of the choices is “Georgie’s Roast with the Most Wrap.” She says it is the traditional pot roast with a new twist which is putting it in a wrap to make it more mobile for people to carry. Another top newbie is The Chief, which is a new creation of Navajo barbecue fried bread with slow-smoked beef brisket. “The brisket that’s in there and the special slaw that she has on it are new,” Williamson says, “But also the Indian bread is with a special rub as well. So, it is a special taste.”

Williamson says they are asking people to go in and vote for their favorites from the top 10. Williamson says they have a new app you can get at the App Store for you I-phone, or the android phone will automatically update. You can vote for your favorite. Williamson says you can also use the app at the State Fair to find your favorite new and old foods.  She says they recently had a delivery that signals the countdown to the final days before 2019 opening. “The butter was just delivered last Friday, so the butter cow sculpture will start working some of her magic in the next couple of weeks,” according to Williamson. “And then our companion sculptures this year are Sesame Street.”

The sculpture will make some of those characters in butter to go along with the butter cow. She says the are excited to see the work begin on the butter cow. “Whenever the butter gets delivered it’s official — that the Iowa State Fair is going to start shortly,”Williamson says.  To see a complete list of the new foods, go to www.iowastatefair.org. This year’s fair begins August 8th and runs through the 18th.

Elizabeth Zaiger was selected as the 2019 Audubon County Fair Queen during a ceremony on Wednesday night.  Zaiger, the daughter of Jason and Ann Zaiger, will preside over activities at the fair this week and will represent Audubon County at the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest in Des Moines August 6-10.  She inherits the crown from 2018 Queen Rachel Mosinski.  Erin Irlmeier, daughter of Ken and Sandy Irlmeier was the first runner-up.  McKenna Nielsen, daughter of Randy and Melanie Larsen, was named the second runner-up.  Other contestants included Abby Bruch, Allie Detweiler, Mary Svoboda and Adrian Zach.  Judging was conducted a week ago during interviews with judges Martin and Jo Reynolds.

CLICK HERE to hear an interview with the Queen and the runners-up.

Mary Svoboda, Abby Bruch, Adrian Zach, 2019 Queen Elizabeth Zaiger, Erin Irlmeier, McKenna Nielsen, Allie Detweiler and 2018 Queen Rachel Mosinski.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman accused of stealing more than $6,100 in a credit card scheme has pleaded not guilty. Woodbury County court records say 36-year-old Amy Inniss-Reyes entered the plea Tuesday to a charge of theft. Her trial is scheduled to start Sept. 17.

A criminal complaint says Inniss-Reyes was managing two Exact Eye Care branches in Sioux City between April 19 and May 30 when she used three of her credit cards to obtain fraudulent refunds. The complaint says she also told investigators that she made copies of 20 patients’ personal records, intending to use them to obtain loans. The copies were recovered from her home.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 13-year-old eastern Iowa student has been found guilty on three charges after he pointed a gun at a teacher and pulled the trigger, but the jury declined to convict him of attempted murder. The Quad-City Times reports jurors convicted the boy Wednesday of carrying weapons on school grounds, assault while using or displaying a dangerous weapon, and assault with intent to commit serious injury.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Police say the bodies of two people have been found in a Burlington apartment. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports neighbors called police Wednesday morning after not seeing a man who lived in the apartment for several days. The officers who responded found the two bodies. Police Lt. Adam Schaefer says the bodies had been in the apartment, “for some time.” Schaefer says the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and state crime lab would assist in the investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Charles Grassley is declining to answer whether he thinks President Donald Trump’s comments toward four minority women in the U.S. House were racist. Asked by reporters Wednesday about Trump’s comments, Grassley would only call for civility among elected officials. He says officials should avoid name calling and shouldn’t question others’ patriotism. Trump tweeted that four Democratic women of color should “go back” to their home countries. All are U.S. citizens. Three are U.S. born.

Red Oak Police say a woman was arrested on an assault charge at around 11:35-p.m., Wednesday. 39-year old Rose Amber Eppenbaugh, of Red Oak, was taken into custody in the 1800 block of E. Summit Street, and charged with Domestic Assault. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond, pending a court appearance.