Republican Congressman Steve King is striking back at Democratic Senator Tom Harkin for suggesting King is wrong to suggest the October 17th “debt limit” date is a fiction. “I hope Tom Harkin understands when we reach the debt limit that doesn’t mean default,” King says. “Default on our debt would be if we failed to service our debt which requires that we pay the interest and then, at a minimum, roll over the principle of our debt which means we could borrow money from the Saudis to pay off Chinese bonds or vice versa or we could borrow money from the American people to pay off bonds from Saudi Arabia or China.”

Harkin said last Thursday it is “bizarre” for King to suggest the president has the authority to reorder federal spending plans, pay the interest on the national debt, and put off repayment of the bonds. That would be like telling creditors to “take a hike,” according to Harkin. King accuses Harkin of “injecting a fear factor” into the debate and King argues Americans are paying enough taxes to the federal government to cover the interest on the debt. “We’re spending about eight percent of our cash flow, of our revenue stream, on interest. That’s roughly $18 billion a month. We’ve got some $240 billion or so a month coming in,” King says.

“We’re a long ways from defaulting on our debt.” King, though, says congress cannot go “indefinitely” without voting to raise the so-called “debt ceiling” unless there are significant cuts to the federal budge “But reaching the date of October 17 is not a drop dead date. It is not a default date,” King says. “It’s just a date that the government, the Obama Administration has said they think they run out of borrowing capacity.” King cites last week’s analysis from Moody’s — a credit-rating agency — that concludes the U.S. government “would continue to pay interest and principal on its debt” even if congress fails to raise the debt limit. King says the debt limit is an “effective check and balance” congress can use to influence the president to make concessions.

(Radio Iowa)

One person died Sunday afternoon during a rollover accident on Interstate 29  in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol says 33-year old Miki Lynn Bailey, of Council Bluffs, was trapped in her SUV and had to be extricated by fire and rescue personnel. Officials say Bailey’s 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling north on I-29 at around 2:10-p.m. near the 43.85 mile marker, or about two-miles south of Council Bluffs,  when a non-contact vehicle slowed for a slow moving vehicle in the right hand lane.

When Bailey swerved to avoid a collision, the Jeep went out of control and entered the median, before rolling over. Bailey, who was not wearing a seat belt, was flown from the scene by LifeNet helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she died from her injuries. The accident remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report an investigation into a domestic situation in rural Red Oak has resulted in an arrest. 30-year old Christopher R. Fowler, of rural Red Oak, was taken into custody on a charge of Domestic Assault, a simple misdemeanor, after the incident took place at around 4:25-p.m. Sunday, at his residence. Fowler was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

A man from Spencer, in northwest Iowa, was arrested Saturday night in Red Oak, for Breach of Peace. 24-year old Joshua Clarence Sieverding was taken into custody at around 11:40-p.m at 1220 east Senate Avenue, in Red Oak. Sieverding was being held over the weekend in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 cash bond.

Authorities investigating a Sept. 24th structure fire in Red Oak released new information over the weekend with regard to a vehicle that may have left the scene just prior to the incident. The blaze took place at 1508 north 2nd Street. A vehicle described as having a loud exhaust is believed to have left the scene prior to the blaze. Anyone with information about the incident or who may have observed anything suspicious at around 8:24-p.m. on Sept. 24th near the scene of the fire, is asked to call the Red Oak Police Department at 712-623-6500, or Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

Police in Red Oak say a Villisca man was arrested early this (Saturday) morning, on charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  22-year-old Thomas Dale Mace, of Villisca, was taken into custody at East Summit Street & North Eastern Ave in Red Oak. Mace was taken to the Montgomery County Jail, where was being held on $1,000 cash bond.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday evening in the media center at the high school. During their 7:30-p.m. session, the Board will hear special presentations from School Resource Officer/Cass County Deputy Corey Larsen, Eric Miller (with regard to CASE curriculum), and Design Alliance architect Jerry Purdy, with regard to progress on the Middle School renovations.

The Board is also slated to take action on: An electric bid for the AHS auditorium light system; A concrete bid for the preschool playground at the Washington School; A carpet bid for the Schuler S&P room; and administrative matters.

Discussion items near the end of their meeting will cover District goals for 2013-through 2019, and Bonding for Capital Projects.

Officials with the City of Walnut say the Walnut Merchants Association will hold a costume swap in conjunction with their Walnut Halloween Haunt, which will take place on Saturday, October 26th, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The event is sponsored by McCurdy’s Pumpkins of Atlantic.

The costume swap allows you to unload your old costumes, and if you don’t have one, a costume can be picked up free of charge the night of the Walnut Halloween Haunt. Face painters will also be available to help complete even the most terrifying looks. The swap will be held at the Walnut Public Library. Costumes can be dropped off at any of the following businesses: Frannie’s Attic, Sugar Grove Antiques, Bulldog Antiques, or City Hall.

When you’re all dressed up, enjoy the activities that will be taking place in Walnut’s downtown, including after-hours shopping, trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, and free chili and hot chocolate to keep warm.

If you have your costume ahead of time, post your photo on Walnut’s Facebook page: “Fans of Walnut, Iowa’s Antique City.” The pictures will be collected and a winner will be chosen and announced that night! Prizes will be announced closer to the evening of the event.

Find the link at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fans-of-Walnut-Iowas-Antique-City/343002367130.

A Mills County investigation into the theft of a stolen vehicle resulted in its recovery Friday in Red Oak. Authorities say the Mills County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a stolen 1998 Ford F-150 pickup belonging to Michael Johnson. Through their investigation, officials were able to ascertain the vehicle would likely be in Red Oak.

Officers with the Red Oak Police Department were contacted, and the parked vehicle was located in the 200 block of east Valley Street, in Red Oak. The pickup was impounded and all information gathered turned over to the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. The incident remains under investigation.