Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was in Atlantic last Friday, visiting with staff and administrators at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Afterward, he spoke with KJAN’s Jim Field about health care and other issues, including NAFTA. (You can listen to the “Heartbeat Today” interview under the podcast link found at kjan.com, under the “Programs” tab)

With regard to healthcare, two separate approaches to the Affordable Health Care Act (Obama Care) are being bandied about. Grassley said on one side, hearings are set for September on a Bi-partisan bill to deal with the issue. The other one, which could be bi-partisan, but is currently partisan, is picking up support.

US Senator Charles Grassley visited Cass County Health System on Friday, August 25th. After a tour of the facility with CEO Brett Altman, Senator Grassley met with CCHS administrators and staff. A number of healthcare issues were discussed, including the importance of continuing both the federal support for Medicaid and the 340B pharmaceutical program, which provides funding from pharmaceutical companies for discounted medications for patients. “We certainly appreciate Senator Grassley taking time to visit,” Altman said. “It was a great opportunity to showcase our first rate medical facilities and share with him the great work being done by our dedicated staff here at CCHS!” (Photo provided by CCHS)

Grassley says something has to be done to allow people to buy private health insurance. As for NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement), Grassley says it’s important, especially for Iowa, not to have NAFTA upset. President Trump proposed getting rid of NAFTA during the election, but his views have since wavered, according to Grassley. He says Trump may be wanting to renegotiate NAFTA, and there is support from other changes, to at least make some updates or changes to, the agreement.

Grassley says the U-S has opened discussions with a hard bargaining position, but “That’s typical of how you start to bargain,” and he doesn’t think there will be a lot of damage done to NAFTA, particularly from the standpoint of agriculture.

And, with regard to President Trump’s threat to shutting down the government if he doesn’t see action soon on the border wall, Grassley said he hopes it’s just a bargaining tactic. He says experience has shown it’s costly to shut down and then at some point re-open the government. Shutting down the government, he says, “Would be a very bad thing to do.”

Grassley said also, he wishes the Press would focus more on what’s being accomplished in Washington than on what’s controversial, because there are bi-partisan efforts to move the country forward.

A call about a disturbance early Sunday morning, in Oakland, resulted in an arrest. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 18-year old Shane Elam Rouse, II, of Oakland, was taken into custody at around 3:50-a.m., for Disorderly Conduct/Fighting, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Authorities say a Deputy was dispatched to the area of Hill Street for a disturbance involving two males in the street who were fighting. When the Deputy arrived, he was unable to locate the subjects. Another Deputy stopped an SUV that was leaving the are of the disturbance. The vehicle was pulled over in the Casey’s parking lot, in Oakland.

Rouse was a passenger in the vehicle. The report says Rouse’ knuckles were bloody. He acknowledged he had been in a fight with three people in ski masks on Hill Street, because they disrespected his girlfriend. Rouse was alleged to be “Extremely intoxicated and uncooperative.”

Based on his own admissions with regard to the incident, he was placed under arrest, at which time a marijuana pipe was found in his boxer shorts, near his groin. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail without incident.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston say three people were arrested over the past few days. At around 1-a.m. Sunday, 28-year old Maria Rodriguez Muffley, of Creston, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. She was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

At around 12:25-a.m. Saturday, 21-year old Emery Mullen, of Des Moines, was arrested in Creston for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

And, 38-year old Seth Preston, of Creston, was arrested Friday morning on a Union County warrant for Failure to Comply with the Pretrial Release Program, on original charges of Controlled Substance Violation, Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense – Marijuana, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. Preston was being held without bond, in the Union County Jail.

Authorities said also, Becky Sale, of Lorimor, was cited Aug. 23rd, for Failure to Abate a nuisance on property she owns in the 100 block of S. Stone Street.

Iowa’s new collective bargaining law that went into effect this year requires teachers and other school employees in 14 school districts and community colleges to hold recertification votes next month. The leader of the state’s largest teacher union is trying to get the word out. Iowa State Education Association president Tammy Wawro has visited all 14 schools urging teachers and other employees to watch for that envelope in the mail “It’s the most busy time of year for them and it’s imperative that their voice is heard,” Wawro says.

Wawro says under the law anyone who doesn’t vote will be counted as a no whether or not they’re union members. And if the vote falls short, the master contract covering all school employees goes away. Wawro says employees will have two weeks to return paper ballots by mail. ” If a unit does not recertify — the contract is gone. What concerns me is that that people don’t understand,” Wawro says.

The first ballots will be mailed out September 12th. The I-S-E-A is fighting the new law in court.

(Radio Iowa)

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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DECATUR, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska Transportation Department says a Missouri River bridge that connects Decatur, Nebraska, to western Iowa will reopen Monday morning, well ahead of schedule. Weather permitting, the bridge will open to one lane of traffic controlled by flaggers or temporary signals. Width restrictions will remain in place.

Workers have been making structural repairs to abutments on each end of the bridge, and pavement leading up to the bridge on each side is being replaced. The reopening had been scheduled for Sept. 11.

A collision between a car and a pickup late Sunday morning in Red Oak, caused $5,000 damage altogether, and resulted in both drivers being cited. Red Oak Police say 90-year old Carol Deane Sharpe, of Red Oak, was traveling north 4th Street at around 11:35-a.m., when he failed to obey a stop sign. His 1993 Ford Ranger pickup was struck on the left rear side by a 2003 Chrysler Sebring, driven by 14-year old Kennedy Ann Lamb, of Red Oak. Lamb was traveling east on Highway 34 when the collision occurred.

A passenger in the pickup had a minor injury, according to Police, but refused medical treatment. Following an investigation, Lamb was cited for Violation of a School Permit, and Sharpe was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The man who ran U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign in Iowa is joining the Democratic nomination race for David Young’s U.S. House seat.

Pete D’Alessandro says progressive agendas need to be at the forefront during the 2018 elections if Democrats hope to make any gains in Congress. He envisions a campaign that trumpets a new plan for Iowans and Americans rather than just opposing President Donald Trump. He told The Des Moines Register : “We have to be offering a vision.”

D’Alessandro served as political director for Gov. Chet Culver before joining Sanders’ campaign in 2016 and is the sixth Democrat to announce a run in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Des Moines.

Around 20 Red Cross volunteers from Iowa are in Texas, helping victims of devastating flooding from Tropical Storm Harvey along the Gulf Coast. Marty Schiessl of Dubuque spoke with KCRG-TV this (past) weekend shortly before driving an Emergency Response Vehicle to Houston. He said preparation is key. “You prepare the best you can and then just go with the changes as they come about,” Schiessl said.

This is his ninth national deployment and Schiessl was told he’d be serving food to those in need. “We’ll be going not only to the temporary shelters that they have set up for the affected people who had to evacuate but also as the people get back into their neighborhoods and start fixing up their damaged homes we’ll be going through and feeding house to house,” Schiessl explained.

Schiessl told KCRG he volunteers simply because he enjoys helping people and he encourages other Iowans to give it try.  “If anyone has time in their life to help out and become a volunteer, you know take the time to do that. Get some training and help out and make a difference in your world,” Schiessl said.

In addition to the 20 volunteers, four Emergency Response Vehicles from Iowa are in Texas.

(KCRG via Radio Iowa)