The polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday for Iowa’s Primary Elections. There’s just one statewide primary — for Democratic voters. Four candidates are competing in the Iowa Democratic Party’s Primary for the chance to face Republican Senator Chuck Grassley. Patty Judge of Albia is a former Iowa lieutenant governor and state ag secretary. She entered the race after Grassley’s pivotal role in filling a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court became a flash point. “Washington isn’t working very well,” Judge says, “and Chuck Grassley just isn’t getting the job done.”

Forty-nine-year-old Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, a state senator, says he provides the “best contrast” against the 82-year-old Grassley. “Iowans are desperately looking for new leaders who can do the job,” Hogg says, “and I’ve done the job for 14 years in the Iowa Legislature.” The Des Moines Register’s recent “Iowa Poll” found Judge leading the race with 42 percent support. Hogg was in second with 25 percent.

Fifteen percent of likely Democratic voters were undecided. The other two candidates in this race ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2010. Bob Krause got six percent in the “Iowa Poll” and Tom Fiegen got five percent. Krause, who is from Fairfield, says the middle class is being “hollowed out” and it’s time for federal action. “I’ve talked that issue ’til it’s blue in the face,” Krause says, “because that’s what I think it’s going to take to win in November.”

Fiegen says he visited each of Iowa’s 99 counties last year and is halfway through visiting each again this year. “I am hearing the pain of Iowans,” Fiegen says, “and for the all the promises of the politicians in DC and Des Moines, that pain is not getting better.” Fiegen is a bankruptcy lawyer from Clarence.

Six years ago about 73-thousand voters cast ballots in the Democratic Primary to pick a foe for Senator Grassley. Turn-out was far greater on the Republican side six years ago. Terry Branstad was seeking a return to the governorship in 2010 and nearly 230-thousand voters participated in the Republican Primary featuring Branstad, Bob Vander Plaats and Rob Roberts.

(Radio Iowa)

There are Primary Elections in three of Iowa’s four congressional districts tomorrow (Tuesday) and one of those races features an incumbent congressman. Steve King, the Republican congressman for Iowa’s fourth district, faces Republican challenger Rick Bertrand, a state senator from Sioux City. Bertrand says King is an ineffective congressman because he “doesn’t work well with people within his own party.” “Likeability is a key in business and it’s a key to being a good legislator,” Bertrand says.

King offers this rebuttal. “Time after time after time I’ve been effective,” King said. “I’ll continue to be effective and just because he wants the seat doesn’t mean that I’m not.” King and Bertrand debated Friday night in a forum co-sponsored by K-S-C-J Radio, K-T-I-V T-V and The Sioux City Journal.

(Radio Iowa)

Tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) Primary will determine which of three candidates will be the Iowa Democratic Party’s nominee in the third congressional district.  Freshman Republican Congressman David Young is seeking reelection in the third district and the Democrats who’ve lined up to challenge him are Desmund Adams, Mike Sherzan and Jim Mowrer. Mowrer ran against Republican Congressman Steve King in 2014, moved to Des Moines afterwards and is running for congress again, but in the third district.

“We cannot let the party of David Young and Donald Trump carry out their extreme agenda that is completely out of touch with Iowans,” Mowrer says. Sherzan is a retired businessman from West Des Moines who says Young ran as a moderate in 2014, but Young’s voting record in congress has been conservative. “He, time and time again, has done nothing but take orders from the senior officials in the Republican Party,” Sherzan says. “He doesn’t stand out as a leader.”

Adams, the other candidate in the third district race, accuses Young of “flip-flopping” on a ban against discrimination of federal contractors who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. “I think that we need leadership in this district that best represents a broad coalition of individuals,” Adams says. Adams, who is from Clive, was a high-school drop-out who is now a lawyer.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says the newly approved state oversight of Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program will make it one the most transparent in the country, but health advocates remain skeptical. The Iowa Department of Human Services is required under new legislation to submit quarterly and annual reports. The reports detail how three private insurance companies are running the state’s roughly $4.2 billion health care program for poor and disabled residents.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City architect is asking for city officials for support in seeking state tax credits to build a 14-story workforce housing highrise downtown. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that Kevin Monson, president of Neumann Monson Architects, has provided the city with new plans for the mixed-use building that would include 72 workforce housing units. Monson said the residential units will cater to young professionals.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The Dubuque Police Department is seeking the public’s help in developing a policy to govern the use of police body cameras. Last year, the department received a $61,000 federal grant and donations to outfit all city police officers with body cameras over a two-year period. The Telegraph-Herald reports that police are asking the public to review and comment on a draft policy to guide officers on the use, retention and release of body camera footage.

ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa (AP) — The trial of a Pomeroy man accused of killing a North Dakota man is set to begin Monday. The Fort Dodge Messenger says 48-year-old Freddy Crisp is charged with first-degree murder for the November shooting death of 41-year-old Dale Currie Potter, of Devils Lake, North Dakota. Deputies found Potter dead at a Pomeroy house on Nov. 10. Agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation arrested Crisp eight days later.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Ten western Iowa firefighters spent their day off helping renovate a Habitat for Humanity home for a mother and her child. The Daily Nonpareil reports the off-duty firefighters showed up Friday to spent the day working with Council Bluffs Habitat for Humanity officials on the refurbished home on Fourth Avenue. The firefighters hung siding and attached shingles on the main home and a backyard shed.

Council Bluffs Habitat for Humanity Construction Manager Teresa Johnson says the volunteers were a big help. Johnson says the house was originally built in the 1930s and a mother and child will move in later this summer. Now that the firefighters have finished the roof and siding, other volunteers, Habitat officials and the mother will do some painting and cabinet work.

(Update: The suspect vehicle was located at around 4:50-p.m. Sunday, and was impounded to be checked for evidence.)

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County are asking for your help in solving a residential burglary that took place Sunday morning. Authorities say at around 8:10-a.m., a residence north of Villisca was burglarized by a heavyset white male who wore tan shorts and a grey t-shirt. The suspect walks with a limp. He was driving an older, “beatup” black Lexus with license plates that were a red lettered, plastic dealership-style. The suspect’s first name might be “Joe.”

Anyone with information about the incident or suspect is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 1-888-434-2712.

ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa (AP) — The trial of a Pomeroy man accused of killing a North Dakota man is set to begin next week. The Fort Dodge Messenger says 48-year-old Freddy Crisp is charged with first-degree murder for the Nov. 10 shooting death of 41-year-old Dale Currie Potter, of Devils Lake, North Dakota.

Crisp has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set to begin with jury selection Monday at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Rockwell City. Authorities say deputies were called to a Pomeroy address early the morning of Nov. 10 on a report of someone having been shot. Deputies found Potter dead at the scene. Agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation arrested Crisp eight days later. Crisp is being held in the Sac County Jail on $1 million bond.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A trail system connecting Plymouth and Woodbury counties is being the latest among an array of Le Mars community betterment projects. The Le Mars Daily Sentinel reports that the PlyWood Trail involves 16 miles connecting the existing trail heads from the north end of Leeds to the south end of Le Mars.

The $20 million project is in its infancy, with trail mapping expected to be complete in June 2016. To date, $60,000 has been raised through donations by cities along the trail including Sgt. Bluff, Sioux City, Hinton, Merrill, and a private donation from Wells Enterprises.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says the newly approved state oversight of Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program will make it among the nation’s most transparent, but some health advocates remain skeptical. State officials are also beginning to determine plans for organizing and delivering some information required under the oversight.

The Iowa Department of Human Services is expected to submit quarterly and annual reports. The reports will detail how three private insurance companies are running the state’s roughly $4.2 billion health care program for poor and disabled residents. Various groups will also monitor the program, which switched to private management on April 1.

The companies will submit raw data to DHS. The department will provide analysis of the data for clarity to the public. Health advocates argue raw data should also be posted online.

These pictures were taken by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson at around 7:45-a.m. today of the smoldering remains of a home at 319 N. Main Street, in Bridgewater. The fire was reported at around 8:51-p.m. Saturday. Crews remained on the scene late this morning. (See earlier post for more information. To view the full screen image of the home, click on an image. A new page will open. Click on the for wider view)