Bloomberg News is reporting that President Trump has directed the E-P-A to table proposals that would weaken the Renewable Fuels Standard. Governor Kim Reynolds spoke by phone with President Trump Wednesday morning and a few hours later she told reporters in Pella that she intends to keep lobbying on the issue. “It’s not done until it’s done and if you ever think that it is, you’re mistaken,” Reynolds said, “so you don’t stop until you get the final numbers.”

Reynolds spoke at a news conference in Pella. She was joined by leaders in the renewable fuels industry. Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, says it was “discouraging” to see a federal agency “regressing” on Trump’s 2016 campaign pledge to “protect” the Renewable Fuels Standard. “So I urge President Trump and Administrator Pruitt in the EPA not to buckle in the interests of certain oil companies and refiners, but rather stay true on promises made on the campaign trail,” Kimberley said. “…This is about ‘America First’. This is about American jobs, American energy, national security and, certainly, it’s about rural America and the American heartland.”

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director Monte Shaw says E-P-A’s initial proposals weren’t “good news” and it was important that President Trump get that message. “Quite frankly, it looked like the EPA was looking for just about any and every excuse it could find to lower the numbers for both corn ethanol, biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol,” Shaw said. “It kind of felt like the EPA was saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to put up a giant sign across rural America that says: “Closed for business.”‘ And people got upset. People were disappointed and, to a certain extent, people even felt betrayed.”

On another front, Republican Joni Ernst has used her authority as a U.S. Senator to block a confirmation vote on the man Trump has nominated to run the renewable fuels program inside the E-P-A.  “Able to hold their feet to the fire on a pathway to receive those strong reassurances on these biofuel volumes and the EPA’s commitment to follow both the letter and the spirit of the RFS,” Ernst told Radio Iowa yesterday afternoon.

Chuck Grassley, Iowa’s other Republican Senator, hosted a meeting in his office earlier this week for a group of Midwestern senators who spoke face-to-face with Pruit about these concerns.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Republican governor says President Donald Trump and the head of the Environmental Protection Agency told her they’re committed to a federal program that mandates that biofuels be blended into gasoline and diesel. The issue comes amid a proposed plan by the EPA that could lower targets of the so-called Renewable Fuel Standard. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she had separate phone calls Wednesday with Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. The issue could test Trump’s support in Midwest states.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Uncertainty and confusion are mounting as millions of Americans prepare to select health insurance policies when the new open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act begins on Nov. 1. The uncertainty is especially pronounced in Iowa, which is seeking last-minute approval from the federal government to revamp its insurance market. The experts are not sure what to tell callers who want to know what their insurance is going to look like.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The city of Des Moines is acknowledging that a former police officer falsely told investigators she warned an unarmed man to “get back” before fatally shooting him. The Des Moines Register reports that video and audio recordings of Vanessa Miller’s patrol car show she didn’t warn 28-year-old Ryan Bolinger before firing her weapon in 2015. The city’s attorneys say the circumstances of the shooting made a warning unfeasible. Miller acknowledged the disparity as part of a wrongful death lawsuit.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has killed a rule designed to protect the legal rights of farmers who raise chickens and hogs for the nation’s largest meat processors. The rule would have made it easier for farmers to sue companies they contract with over unfair or deceptive practices. It was rolled out in the final days of Barack Obama’s administration. But the USDA delayed it after President Donald Trump took office. On Tuesday, the agency withdrew it for good.

Atlantic City Administrator John Lund, Wednesday, updated the City Council on the budget process. Lund said a lot of work on the budget has already been accomplished. Operating budgets he said aren’t looking that bad. The trouble has been in the area of Capital Projects, which he said could reach a breaking point, where the City is spending more than it takes in.

He said another area of concern is the Debt Capacity. Lund says the City will have paid off 2011 series bonds at the end of the current Fiscal Year. That will lower the Debt Capacity. Speaking with County Assessor Brenda Nelson, the total assessed value was $352-million. City’s can borrow up to 5-percent of the total assessed value, or $17.6-million dollars, in Atlantic’s case.

The City currently has eight outstanding debts amounting to $13.5-million, which Lund says puts us at a Debt Capacity  of 77-percent. That will drop to slightly below 75-percent by the end of the Fiscal Year. The eight remaining debts will all fall off in clusters, in 2019, 2026, 2028  and 2035. The YMCA debt – which is a Revenue Bond – will be paid off in 2024.

All factors considered, Lund says the bottom line is that the City needs to watch its spending practices. He says the City’s days of borrowing money for the long term are over, at least for now. Revenue bonds are an option, but anything not tied to property taxes is a risky proposition.

Councilman Gerald Brink said the answer is more new construction., but Lund said that comes with a caveat: As long as that didn’t require the City to borrow money to help finance construction., and as long as the new construction is getting the taxable value on the books. If we offer incentives like tax abatement, we’re long delaying any benefits the City itself sees. Lund said “It’s good for the business and good for the property owner for sure, but it doesn’t do anything for the City for an extend period of time. He agreed, that it IS an investment in the future, though.

The City of Atlantic’s Community Development Committee, Tuesday, recommended the City shelve a proposal to institute a Mandatory Garbage pickup program. City Administrator John Lund said during Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, that after he conducted extensive research and crunched the numbers and logistics of implementing the program, it just wouldn’t work out.

The Committee recommended instead the City pursue problems with junk properties – more specifically rental properties- through the landlord ordinance. Lund said he’s in discussions with the City’s Bonding/Financial Attorney and County Treasurer Tracey Marshall, about other options, including moving Storm Water billing and landfill fees onto the property tax bill on a per capita basis, meaning you would no longer see the every six months Storm Water billing card from the City.

The whole reason for discussion about a landfill fee boils down to EPA regulations and requirements that leave the County and it’s Cities with few options other than to implement a fee. The landfill currently operates on a tipping-fee basis, or the amount of pounds that are brought in.

Councilman Dana Halder said gave a little more insight into why the Community Development Committee decided to recommend against a Mandatory Garbage pickup fee. He said with as many carriers as there are in Atlantic and their differing prices, they decided to focus on the enforcement aspects of garbage and the ordinance on maintaining properties.

He says once See-Click-Fix program is officially rolled-out to the public, neighbors will be more willing to inform the City about nuisance properties and letting the City deal with property owners to resolves those issues. In other business, the Council passed the second reading of an Ordinance amending the City Code, with regard to “Parking Regulations.”

And, Councilman Halder reported that the Library Reading Garden will be closed when the Library closes each day, and the gate locked, in order to deter vandalism. Halder reminded the public also, about homeowner and home repairs programs that are available through SWIPCO.

And finally, the City is looking for a reliable cleaning service. Proposals need to be received at City Hall by this Friday, Oct. 20th. Proposals should be from persons who are insured and bonded, but all applications will be reviewed.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — Iowa prison officials are facing renewed criticism from a union representing correctional officers following an attack by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison that left a staffer hospitalized.

Prison officials said in a news release that the inmate used a weapon in the Wednesday attack to strike the staffer several times. A statement later released by the union said the staffer was stabbed five times by an inmate wielding two 10-inch shanks. Prison officials said later Wednesday that the staffer was in stable condition in the hospital.

Danny Homan, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 61, says the inmate is associated with a white supremacist prison gang, and that prison officials have ignored staff warnings that attacks by inmates were planned.

A Corrections Department spokeswoman on Wednesday declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a two vehicle accident occurred Wednesday morning in Stanton. Deputies responded to the accident at 9:00am at the intersection of Halland Avenue and M-63.

After investigation it was determined that a 2016 Nissan owned and operated by 70-year-old Linda Hicks of Stanton was northbound on Halland Avenue and stopped at the stop sing of the intersection with M-63. A white 2008 Dodge Caravan owned by Dennis Reynolds of Stanton and operated by 43-year-old Tanya Danick of Stanton failed to stop behind Hicks and struck the rear end of the Nissan.  No injuries were reported and no citations were issued.

Damage was estimated at $1,200 to the Nissan and $1,400 to the Reynolds vehicle.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Americans across the country are grappling with unanswered questions as they prepare to select their health insurance plans when the new sign-up period for the Affordable Care Act begins in two weeks.

The uncertainty is especially pronounced in Iowa, which is seeking last-minute federal approval to revamp its insurance market. The confusion, of course, is also coming from Washington, where President Donald Trump is pushing to allow the purchase of stripped-down coverage plans and has moved to cut off subsidies that help keep people’s insurance costs down.

In Iowa, the “navigators” and others whose job is to help people understand the health care market are not sure what to tell callers who want to know what to expect.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has killed a rule designed to protect the legal rights of farmers who raise chickens and hogs for the nation’s largest meat processors. The rule would have made it easier for farmers to sue companies they contract with over unfair or deceptive practices.

It was rolled out in the final days of Barack Obama’s administration. But the USDA delayed it after President Donald Trump took office. On Tuesday, the agency withdrew it for good. Farmers who have waited years for the rule are expressing disappointment. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa farmer, accuses the Trump administration of “pandering to big corporations.”

Poultry and pork industry trade groups say the rule would have reduced competition and driven meat prices higher.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — Iowa prison officials are facing renewed criticism from a union representing correctional officers following an attack by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison that left a staffer hospitalized.

Prison officials said in a news release that the inmate used a weapon in the Wednesday attack to strike the staffer several times. A statement later released by the union said the staffer was stabbed five times by an inmate wielding two 10-inch shanks.

Danny Homan, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 61, says the inmate is associated with a white supremacist prison gang, and that prison officials have ignored staff warnings that attacks by inmates were planned.

A Corrections Department spokesman didn’t immediately return phone and email messages Wednesday seeking comment.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) – Prison officials say a staff member has been hospitalized after being assaulted by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. The Iowa Corrections Department says the penitentiary restricted inmates’ movement Wednesday after the assault. A news release says the inmate used a weapon to strike the staff member several times. Other staffers helped their injured colleague subdue the inmate.

The staffer was taken to Fort Madison Community Hospital and then to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. The staffer’s name hasn’t been released. Online court records don’t yet show the inmate has been formally charged.