Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she called out U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack over the happy picture his department is portraying when it comes to the current state of the farm economy. “A week or so back he had met with a group and was trying to paints a very rosy picture of the farm economy — but that’s not what I am hearing — and I really did press him on that issue,” Ernst says.

The Republican from Red Oak says the things she sees in the state goes against what the former Democrat Iowa governor is saying about the farm situation.”Right now we see corn is at three dollars and under ( a bushel), I’ve seen that at my own hometown at the Merch in Red Oak. It is really hard for our farmers to get ahead with commodity prices being so low,” Ernst says. ” So, I will continue to press him on that.”

Ernst says her concern is the U-S-D-A regulations and programs aren’t helping smaller farmers. “He tried to tout a number of programs that U-S-D-A has, but again I think the things that they promote — the GIPSA (Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration Rule) is a great example of that — it really does inhibit some of those small beginning farmers from even getting a fair start,” Ernst says. Ernst was asked if Vilsack is doing a good job as Ag Secretary.

She focused her answer on the department and not Vilsack. “I’m not going to say yes or no about his role as ag secretary,” Ernst says. “But what I will say is that I think U-S-D-A as a whole is trying to paint an optimistic rosy picture of what is going on, but in reality that is not what is going on. And I hear that every day in Iowa.” Ernst says farmers need less government regulation not more. She referred back to the GIPSA Rule.

“What I fear is that this will cut out those small farmers, those small operations, they won’t be able to engage in the contracts like we see some of the larger packers doing. So, this is an issue that has been brought up by the Iowa Pork Producers, they have spoken to me about this, they have great concerns there. As, well as some of those packing houses,” according to Ernst. She says the packing houses want to have a supply of livestock from a variety of sources and are worried the rule will prevent that. Ernst made her comments during her weekly conference call with reporters.

A U-S-D-A spokesperson issued this response to Ernst’s comments:
“Secretary Vilsack is a tireless champion for American agriculture, and has said several times recently that ‘it is always the wrong bet to bet against the American farmer, rancher, and producer.’ Median farm family household income has held steady at historic highs for the last two years, as a direct result of the hard work and good management by our farm families. Meanwhile, farm debt-to-asset ratios are near record lows, showing the underlying fundamental strength of the American agriculture.”

“This is why yesterday Secretary Vilsack expressed cautious optimism about the state of the agricultural economy, but at the same time he understands the challenges many producers are going through right now because of prices and oversupply in some parts of the sector. USDA recognizes that 10 percent of U.S. farms are highly or extremely leveraged, and that is why we have used every dollar of our farm loan authority and every last dollar of our CCC authority to provide help and assistance to those who need it. Specifically, USDA enrolled 1.76 million farmers in the new Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs, which have provided $5.3 billion in financial assistance for crop year 2014, to more than one million farms. The past seven years have been the strongest in history for agricultural exports, while the past five years have been the best in history for median farm household income. Census data shows that incomes in rural America grew by more than 3 percent last year, on pace with income in metro areas. Rural communities are also beginning to see population growth, a dramatic fall in poverty and hunger, and more jobs in the last two years than at any point since 2007. There is concern, and the Secretary expressed that, but there is also cautious optimism. And that is why we have invested more resources than any prior Administration in the future of America’ rural communities, especially our young people and our new and beginning farmers.”

(Radio Iowa)

(re-posting due to server error)

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in locating two suspects involved in the Thursday morning robbery of a bank. At around 9:30-a.m., two black males entered the Council Bluffs Savings Bank at 1751 Madison Avenue, and announced they were robbing the bank. One suspect then jumped the teller counter while the other suspect stood near the counter displaying a handgun. The suspects then fled the business with an undetermined amount of cash.

The classic red and white colors of Coca-Cola will be prevalent in Atlantic this weekend, as the community welcomes fans of the soft drink from all over the Midwest to town. Visitors and locals alike will be celebrating the communities’ 24th-Annual Coca-Cola Days this Friday and Saturday. It’s the second largest mini-convention of Coca-Cola collectors in the United States, second only to Atlanta, Georgia.

The schedule of events include, on Friday:

• A Tailgate Party for everyone from 5:30-to 6:30-p.m. at the Rock Island Depot (102 Chestnut Street)
• A Sneak Peek from 6-to 8-p.m. at the Herring Building, located at 2nd & Poplar.

On Saturday:

The Show, Swap & Sell takes place from 9-a.m. until 2-p.m. at the Herring Building.

There’s also the 2016 Coca-Cola Days Raffle, where, for $5 a ticket, you have the chance to win a custom Coca-Cola pop machine or a grill with a taste of Atlantic inside. The Coca-Cola Machine is custom made by Bob Lansdown of Atlantic Bottling and will be the final machine he builds for Coca-Cola Days. The Char-Broil grill being raffled is filled with items donated by area businesses.

The grill was donated by Cappel’s Ace Hardeware and will be filled with items donated by area businesses including: meat from Atlantic Locker, dinner for two at Weitzel’s Restaurant and Bar, Stay at American’s Best Value Inn and Suites (formally Atlantic Super 8) and custom Coca-Cola bbq tools.

Raffle tickets are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Atlantic Coca-Cola Center and Museum.  Tickets can also be purchased from Coca-Cola Days committee members. The raffle will take place at 2-p.m. Saturday, at the close of the Show, Swap and Sell at the Herring Building.

For more information on Coca-Cola Days, call toll-free 877-283- 2124, or go to AtlanticIowa.com, on the web.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has been charged with arson and other counts after police say he locked his live-in girlfriend in their home before trying to set it on fire. Television station KTIV reports that the woman called 911 on Wednesday afternoon to report that her boyfriend had threatened to kill her and had started a fire in the home. Officers say they found a burned paper bag on the living room floor.

In addition to arson, 39-year-old Karl Lyons has been charged with false imprisonment, domestic abuse assault, criminal mischief and public intoxication. He’s being held in the Woodbury County Jail on $25,000 bond and could not be reached for comment.

Officials with the State Library of Iowa have announced that the Atlantic Public Library has met the conditions for State accreditation, as outlined in “In Service to Iowa: Public Library Standards 6th Edition.” Accredited libraries receive a higher rate of compensation through the State Library’s Enrich Iowa Program. They also receive a Certificate of Accreditation signed by Governor Terry Branstad and other dignitaries. The accreditation is valid through June 30th, 2920.

Of Iowa’s 544 public libraries, 349 – including the Atlantic Public Library – are accredited. State Librarian Michael Scott said “The Director and Board of Trustees of the Atlantic Public Library and the City of Atlantic, are to be commended for this achievement and their commitment to excellence in public library services for their community.”

For more information on the State Library’s accreditation program, go to www.statelibraryofiowa.org.

A jury in Page County has found a Clarinda woman guilty on felony charges of 2nd Degree Arson and 2nd Degree Burglary. 33-year old Brandy Lee Allison faces up to 10-years in prison and fines of up to $10,000 when she’s sentenced Oct. 19th.

The charges were the result of an investigation into a fire at 214 W. Logan Street, in May. Authorities determined carpeting in the home’s kitchen was intentionally set on fire. The blaze caused $5,000 damage. No one was injured. The home’s owner managed to extinguish the flames. Clarinda Fire fighters helped to ventilate the home.

Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack will be campaigning in southwest Iowa tomorrow (Friday), on behalf of Democrat Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Clinton’s campaign says the U-S Ag Secretary will be in Council Bluffs for a Volunteer Appreciation event beginning at 10:15-a.m. Friday, at the Council Bluffs “Iowa Together” office (217 S. Main St.), and at the restored Depot in Creston (116 W. Adams St.), for a “Rural America Infrastructure” event, beginning at 3:30-p.m.

U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack

During his visits, Vilsack will focus on Clinton’s plans to strengthen the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and investments in rural infrastructure. Go Mrs. Clinton’s campaign site (hillaryclinton.com) to register for either event.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Motorists enjoying the first signs of fall are advised to maintain the speed limit.  From September 23-25, the Iowa State Patrol will join participating law enforcement from Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas and Oklahoma in a Regional Speed Enforcement Campaign. Officers will be on the lookout for those who are traveling above the speed limit on all roadways.

The Patrol’s Colonel Michael VanBerkum says “The main goal of the Iowa State Patrol is to help ensure that all who travel on Iowa’s roadways arrive to their destination, and arrive there safely. The campaign is aimed to modify unsafe driver behavior through concerted enforcement efforts.”

Sgt. Nate Ludwig with the Iowa State Patrol says “Speeding is a serious problem on Iowa roadways and has contributed to multiple traffic crashes, especially those that resulted in deaths. Too many of our fellow citizens are impacted by drivers who drive too fast for the road conditions or exceed the speed limit. In order to get drivers to slow down and reduce the number of crashes and fatalities, we plan to intensify enforcement of posted speed limits in Iowa.”

The Iowa State Patrol will be working with county and local law enforcement this weekend across the state, with primary efforts on Interstate 35 and Highway 30.

Pat Hoye, Chief of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, said “There has been a significant increase in Iowa fatalities, currently Iowa  has seen an increase of 18% from this time last year.” Nationwide, 27% of crash fatalities in 2015 were related to a driver exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions. Fully 86 percent of all speeding-related traffic fatalities occurred on local roads — where the posted speed limits were 55 miles per hour or under.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph and nearly five times as likely as a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Nine men who were convicted of sex crimes, served their prison sentences and are now indefinitely confined to an Iowa mental health unit have filed a federal lawsuit against the state, claiming its civil commitment program is unconstitutional. They say the program fails to offer adequate counseling and other services that would rehabilitate them enough for release.

The lawsuit, filed in September 2012 in federal court in Cedar Rapids, highlights the difficult balance between keeping dangerous sexual predators off the streets and not violating their constitutional rights. More than 5,000 people are believed to be held in sexually violent predator programs in 20 states and the federal Bureau of Prisons.

Judges in Minnesota and Missouri found programs similar to Iowa’s unconstitutional in the past year and ordered changes.