OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A survey report suggests the economy continues to grow in nine Midwest and Plains states. The Mid-America Business Conditions index jumped to 57.2 in January from 50.6 in December. The survey was conducted before much of the bad news was reported about the coronavirus outbreak that originated in China. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the outbreak could harm the regional economy in the weeks ahead. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota. Survey organizers say any index score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline.

(Radio Iowa) — The spread of the coronavirus and the recently signed phase one of a trade agreement has put a lot of focus on China. Iowa State University agricultural economist Wendong Zhang is from China and says many Americans don’t fully understand the size and population of China. During a presentation in Le Mars, he says the Wuhan (WOO-hon) area at the heart of the outbreak is an example. “Most people in Iowa and across the U-S never even heard about the city — but that city is actually is home of 11 million people — that’s how big China is,” Zhang says. “…there’s a hundred million people who share my last name — that’s how big China is. That’s how big China is. That’s one of the reasons we are talking about China and demand.”

He says the coronavirus could cause issues with carrying out the trade agreement with China. “There are significant challenges logistically in terms of meeting the targets outlined in the baseline trade deal. Especially when you think the soybean export season is November to April. We will likely see the virus stay there for an extended period of time. We likely won’t see that go away until May,” Zhang says. Zhang says the trade deal between China and the United States is significant.”This is a really good thing for U-S agriculture — but there is still a whole lot of concerns about whether these promises are too good to be true,” according to Zhang. “Because these promises will reach a level we really haven’t seen before, and the 88-page agreement doesn’t have a whole lot of concrete details.”

He says the Chinese people are in desperate need of protein.”Pork, beef and poultry, because China currently has African Swine Fever where they lost 40 percent of their hog inventory, which is larger than the entire U-S inventory,” he says. He says China has a lot of other needs as well. “There’s also a growing demand for the consumer products as well — infant formula, wine, peanuts and fruits, vegetables, avocados,” Zhang says.

Zhang says the Chinese have more respect for the food safety inspection process in the U-S than they do for their own country. Zhang says it is unknown how much impact the coronavirus will end up having on the trade situation.

(Radio Iowa) — The fast-spreading outbreak of the coronavirus overseas is evidently causing gasoline prices to fall in Iowa. Rose White at Triple-A-Iowa says the illness that has sickened at least 10-thousand people and killed more than 200 has forced China to restrict the travel of tens of millions of people.  “With the temporary reduction in some transportation services in China, the reduced demand for products appears to be impacting the global market prices,” White says. “China is the second-largest oil consuming nation.”

The actions by the Chinese government trying to halt the spread of the disease are having a significant impact on the global demand for oil. “Crude oil prices have dropped substantially during the past month,” White says. “In the U.S. trading market, crude has fallen from $64 a barrel down to $51, just during the past month.” In turn, gasoline prices across the U-S have been dropping, too. They’ve fallen a dime a gallon in the past month, from two-58 to two-48. “In Iowa, the state average is 20-cents lower than the national average, currently at $2.28 a gallon,” White says. “Prices have dropped 9-cents a gallon in Iowa during the past month.”

The motor club says the state’s cheapest gas is in Cedar Rapids at two-22 a gallon, while it’s the most expensive in Dubuque at two-34.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa caucuses are small local meetings where neighbors and strangers stand up to show their support for a particular candidate, and to persuade others to join them. They’re also the first opportunity for Democrats to express their preferences in what’s been a long and tumultuous primary. Iowa’s 41 pledged national delegates are awarded based on the results. The winner of the caucuses may also get a boost in fundraising, media attention and momentum in the following primaries. A bad performance could also doom a candidate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The voting in the Iowa caucuses is finally starting. The candidates have been racing around the state all weekend trying to fire up voters and make a last appeal to people struggling to make a final decision about who to support in the crowded field. Campaigns and voters acknowledged a palpable sense of unpredictability and anxiety as Democrats begin choosing which candidate to send on to a November face-off with President Donald Trump. Four candidates are locked in a fight for victory in Iowa and others are in position to pull off surprisingly strong finishes.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Roughly one month after the federal government announced a new crackdown to keep e-cigarettes away from children, state lawmakers in Iowa and Nebraska are forging ahead with similar proposals of their own. Both states are considering new laws to raise the minimum age for vaping to 21 years old in addition to other measures to try to restrict the product. An Iowa Senate Subcommittee advanced the measure earlier this month to raise that state’s legal age from 18 to eliminate the conflict with federal law. In Nebraska, a legislative committee will review its own bill on Tuesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A small, yet critical battle is going on within the big Democratic presidential field. Several candidates are jockeying to secure the backing of their party’s establishment wing. Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar are fighting for the political and financial support of the party’s leading donors, elected officials and pragmatists who are eager to unify behind a moderate alternative to the leading liberals Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. The first answers will come Monday in the Iowa caucuses. That’s when voters will begin sorting out the fight between progressive candidates and their more moderate rivals.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa State Patrol and Division of Criminal Investigation are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the person responsible for entering and damaging the Iowa State Capitol Building in the early morning hours of Sunday, February 2nd.  Authorities say at approximately 2:55 a.m., a young male forcibly gained entry to the State Capitol Building and caused damage. Authorities believe the suspect sustained injuries to his hands and/or arms, which may be significant.

1st Floor North_Profile

1st Floor – North face

Investigators are sharing two images captured on surveillance cameras, and describe the suspect as a white male with dark hair who is approximately six feet tall and weighing between 180 to 210 pounds. The suspect appears to be wearing a green short-sleeved t-shirt, dark pants and light-colored shoes.  Authorities are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact the Division of Criminal Investigation at 515-725-6010.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – On the eve of the Iowa caucuses, the Democratic presidential candidates are hustling across the state. They’re trying to fire up voters and make one last appeal to people still struggling to make a final decision about who to support in the crowded field. Campaigns and voters acknowledged a palpable sense of unpredictability and anxiety as Democrats begin choosing which candidate to send on to a November face-off with President Donald Trump. Four candidates are locked in a fight for victory in Iowa and others are still in position to pull off surprisingly strong finishes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A small, yet critical battle is going on within the big Democratic presidential field. Several candidates are jockeying to secure the backing of their party’s establishment wing. Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar are fighting for the political and financial support of the party’s leading donors, elected officials and pragmatists who are eager to unify behind a moderate alternative to the leading liberals Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. The first answers will come Monday in the Iowa caucuses. That’s when voters will begin sorting out the fight between progressive candidates and their more moderate rivals.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – For the first time, the Iowa Democratic Party will report three sets of results from its presidential caucuses. And there’s no guarantee that all three will show the same winner. Each set of results represents a different stage of voting in the caucus process. The new rules for Monday’s contest were mandated by the Democratic National Committee in a bid to make the process more transparent. The Associated Press will report all three results but will only declare a winner in Iowa based on the number of state delegates won by each candidate.

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa caucus is just around the corner and candidates are heating up the criticism. Joe Biden didn’t name Bernie Sanders, but he told voters in Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday that he wondered why some candidates don’t know how much their proposals will cost. The youngest of the Democrats, 38-year-old Pete Buttigieg, says this is no time for taking the risk of meeting a new challenge with a familiar playbook. Meanwhile, the Des Moines Register has decided to pull results of its final poll because of a problem with its survey questioning.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang says he will “shock” the nation with his performance in Monday night’s caucuses. He says one reason will be his support from Republicans, who he claims back him because he’s focused on the same issues as President Donald Trump. Speaking at a rally at a downtown Des Moines hotel Saturday night, Yang told a packed ballroom that he’s laser-focused on solving the same problems that Trump pointed out — but has actual solutions that people will see and feel.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign is showing signs of strength heading into Monday’s Iowa caucuses – and a source of tension at its heart. Sanders’ more strident supporters tend to demand that everyone unite behind the Vermont senator if he’s the Democratic nominee but are less forceful in pledging to back the nominee if it’s not him. Sanders himself is trying to tamp down that divide, insisting Saturday in Iowa that his campaign will support the nominee and that he expects others to do the same. If Sanders achieves unity by compromising on stands he has taken for decades in political office, he could disappoint supporters.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — Some former Democratic presidential candidates could still win votes and make an impact on Iowa’s caucuses Monday. The caucuses essentially allow voters to express support for two candidates in two rounds of voting. During the first round, voters can show support for anyone they want, even if that person isn’t running for president. Some Iowa supporters of former candidates Cory Booker and Kamala Harris say they plan to support the senators during the first round of the caucuses, even though Booker and Harris have bowed out of the race. But they also say the gambit is an attempt to blunt Bernie Sanders’ momentum on the second round.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater has announced his plans to seek re-election. On his social media page, Vandewater said Saturday that his nomination papers will be at all of the Republican caucus locations in Adair County and the Democratic caucus location in Greenfield. He said also, “My nomination papers have been copied onto bright orange paper to stand out from all the rest.”

LINCOLN, Neb (AP) – Roughly one month after the federal government announced a new crackdown to keep e-cigarettes away from children, state lawmakers in Iowa and Nebraska are forging ahead with similar proposals of their own. Both states are considering new laws to raise the minimum age for vaping to 21 years old in addition to other measures to try to restrict the product.

An Iowa Senate Subcommittee advanced the measure earlier this month to raise that state’s legal age from 18 to eliminate the conflict with federal law. In Nebraska, a legislative committee will review its own bill on Tuesday.

The Cass County Democratic Party is ready for the 2020 Caucus, which will be held this Monday, February 3rd. Party Chair Sherry Toelle says “Caucuses are gatherings of neighbors where Democrats meet to organize their precinct for the upcoming election, discuss important issues; and declare their Presidential preference. In addition to electing delegates to the county convention, caucus goers address key issues that are important to their communities, and elect local party leadership.” Persons wanting to attend the Cass County’s Democratic Caucus must be registered by no later than 7-p.m., Monday. The doors will open at 6-p.m. In Cass County, you must attend the caucus at the caucus site for your precinct.

Democrat Caucus sites are as follows:

• Anita, Grant & Lincoln Townships—Anita High School
• All Atlantic wards—Atlantic High School;
• Benton & Franklin Townships—Wiota Community Building;
• City of Griswold, Pleasant & Noble Townships—Griswold High School;
• City of Lewis, Cass & Bear Grove Townships—Lewis Community Building;
• City of Marne, Brighton, Pymosa, Washington, & Grove Townships—Atlantic High School;
• City of Cumberland, & Union Townships, Edna & Victoria Townships,
• City of Massena, & Massena Township—CAM Middle School.

There are five main goals for the caucus: conduct party business, determine Presidential preferences, elect delegates to the county convention and committees, elect representatives to the Cass County Democratic Central Committee, and discuss resolutions to the Party platform.

Cass County Republicans will hold their caucus, also. Business at their sites include: Selecting persons to be the Precinct meeting chair and secretary; Holding the Presidential Poll; Selecting individuals to serve on the County Central Committee, Delegates and Junior Delegates to the County Convention on March 14th, and discussing amendments to the County Platform.

Republican Caucus Sites:
Precinct 1:  Atlantic Ward 1 – Atlantic Elks Lodge (411 Walnut St.)
Precinct 2:  Atlantic Ward 2 – Armory (2nd & Poplar)
Precinct 3:  Atlantic Ward 3 – Atlantic Public Library
Precinct 4:  Atlantic Ward 4 – Zion Lutheran Church (811 Oak St.)
Precinct 5:  Atlantic Ward 5 – Heritage House (1200 Brookridge Cir.)
Precinct 6:  Lewis; Cass & Bear Grove Townships – Lewis Fire Department Meeting Room (401 W. Main St.)
Precinct 7:  Wiota; Benton & Franklin Townships – Wiota Fire Department (311 Center St.)
Precinct 8:  Marne; Brighton, Pymosa, Washington & Grove Townships – Atlantic Airport (59706 Airport Road)
Precinct 9:  Edna/Victoria Townships – Massena Library (122 Main St.)
Precinct 10:  Anita; Grant & Lincoln Townships – Anita Community Center (805 Main St.)
Precinct 11:  Griswold; Pleasant & Noble Townships – Griswold Community Bldg. (601 2nd St.)
Precinct 12:  Massena City & Township) – Massena Library (122 Main St.)
Precinct 13:  Cumberland; Union Township – Cumberland Library (119 Main St.)

Red Oak Police arrested two people on separate charges early this (Sunday) morning. At around 12:35-a.m., officers arrested 46-year old Jody Lee Michaelsen, of Red Oak, for Simple Assault. Michaelsen was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond. And, at around 3:10-a.m., Red Oak Police arrested 25-year old Kalie Rose Baker, of Shenandoah, for OWI/1st offense. Baker was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.