DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Net income for U.S. farmers is expected to fall by nearly 32 percent this year because of low crop prices and increasing expenses, placing many farmers in an unprofitable situation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released estimates on Tuesday that show 2015 is expected to be the second year in a row that farmers will see their income fall. Income was down 16 percent from 2013 to 2014.

The report estimates net farm income will be $73.6 billion in 2015, down from $108 billion in 2014. It was at a record $129 billion in 2013. The report also anticipates that as income falls, expenses will increase by one-half percent. Government programs that pay farmers when commodity prices are low are expected to increase 15 percent this year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A plan to increase the state fuel tax to pay for road improvements is moving forward in the state Legislature. Lawmakers in the state House and Senate said Tuesday that identical legislation had been introduced in both chambers to hike the tax by 10 cents. That would provide $215 million annually for the state’s network of bridges and roads, many of which are in disrepair.

The hearing process is expected to start tomorrow in both chambers, with full votes coming perhaps later in the month. Iowa’s fuel tax — now 22 cents per gallon for gasoline, including fees — hasn’t been raised since 1989.

Sen. Tod Bowman, a Democrat from Maquoketa, and Rep. Josh Byrnes, a Republican from Osage, expressed optimism that the legislation could find support in both chambers.

The operator of a snowmobile was injured last week in Harlan, when the machine spun out and hit a sign before tossing the driver off. The Harlan Police Department says Tanner Weed, of Harlan, was driving a 2006 Polaris snowmobile westbound on the shoulder of Exchange Street on Feb. 2nd, when machine crossed the road, it hit a patch of ice and started to spin. Weed was ejected from the machine when the snowmobile hit the curve sign. He was transported to Myrtue Medical Center to be treated for leg injuries.

Police in Harlan arrested a 60-year old Harlan man Monday, after they investigated a report of a car hitting a retaining wall at the Town and Country Credit Union. Robert Bogler was charged with OWI and Failure to Maintain Control. He was taken into custody after he left the scene and officers tried to stop his vehicle. Police followed him to his residence, where he was placed under arrest. The incident caused damage to the retaining wall and vehicle. A dollar amount of the damage was not given in the Police report.

Harlan Police made several arrests on Saturday. Officials say 35-year old Nicholas Gaer, of Harlan, was arrested as a result of the investigation into the theft of a van taken from the lot of Express Lube and Tire. The stolen van was located at the Sleep Inn, Harlan. Gaer was taken into custody at the Sleep Inn and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with two counts of burglary 3rd, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of stolen property.

32-year old Carly Summers was arrested Saturday, following a traffic stop. Summers was taken to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and violation of one way traffic designation. 44-year old Eddie Peterson, of Harlan, was taken into custody Saturday, following a traffic stop. Petersen was taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving under suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to prove security against liability – non accident.

And, two subjects were arrested Saturday after officers responded to a call in reference to two persons fighting outside the Lincoln Pines Apartments. 37-year old Clinton Gardner and36-year old  Paula Burnison, both of Harlan, were both taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where they were both charged with intoxication in public.

Last Thursday, Harlan Police arrested 61-year old Thomas Myers, of Earling, after authorities received a report of an intoxicated male who would not leave the bar. Myers was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with intoxication in public and disorderly conduct. And, on Feb. 2nd, two subjects were arrested in connection with an alleged drug purchase caught on video at the Casey’s store. 49-year old Joell Onstad was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of a controlled substance. As a result of the investigation a warrant was issued for 40-year old Billie Jo Thompson, of Dow City, for the delivery of a controlled substance. Thompson was arrested on that warrant on February 5th by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says those who question her status as a “combat veteran” are questioning thousands of other men and women who honorably served their country. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, was asked about the issue Monday and says the criticism is likely generated by liberals after she gained attention on the national stage by winning her Senate race and then giving the Republican response to the president’s State of the Union address.

“It’s very unfortunate, because I am very proud of my service. And by law I am defined as a combat veteran,” Ernst says. “I have never once claimed that I have a combat action badge. I have never claimed that I have had a purple heart. What I have claimed is that I have served in a combat zone. I have serve with 150 soldiers who supported our warriors up in Iraq and we all gave very honorable service.” An article in the Huffington Post questioned Ernst calling herself a combat veteran because she never came under fire. Ernst, is lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard and did a tour of duty in Iraq leading a transportation company.

“There are many, many other soldiers, airmen, seamen out there who have served, that haven’t actually been hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy, maybe they haven’t been under fire. It was only by luck and the blessings of God that my soldiers did not encounter an assault, that we did not run over an I-E-D,” Ernst says. “To dishonor our service by saying we are not worthy of being call combat veterans, is insulting to the majority of men and women who served their country honorably,” Ernts says.

Ernst says the men and women she served with are no less valuable soldiers than anyone else. “You know it’s unfortunate, I think they are throwing a bucket of cold water on those who stepped forward, raised their right hand and said they will defend our country against all enemies, whether foreign or domestic,” Ernst says. “I will honor those veterans and continue to do so until the day I die.”

Ernst says all soldiers who served in a combat zone in Iraq “encountered difficulties” and it’s unfortunate they are being disparaged.

(Radio Iowa)

A man who was wanted for being a Fugitive From Justice, was arrested today (Tuesday), in Montgomery County. 24-year old Brian Lee Atteberry, of Shenandoah, was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, on warrants out of Nebraska and Missouri.

A stolen vehicle led to a foot pursuit in Council Bluffs that later resulted in the arrest Monday morning, of a Fremont County Man. According to Bluffs Police, 32-year old Justin E. Johnson, of Sidney, was arrested on suspicion of 2nd-Degree theft, Possession of a Concealed weapon and eluding, charges.
Officials says when the owner of a Ford Mustang started his vehicle to warm it up at around 7-a.m., Monday, the vehicle was stolen from the 700 block of Willow Avenue. A friend later saw the car parked at a convenience store.

A Council Bluffs Police Officer found Johnson about 2-hours later, walking in the 300 block of McGee Avenue, near where the car was parked. When the Officer approached Johnson, the man took off on foot and entered a wooded area. Police were able to track him down in the snow and found him hiding behind a residence.

After he was arrested, officers recovered a bag, containing a long knife that Johnson had allegedly tossed into the woods.

The Powerball jackpot has climbed to a record level after going unclaimed since the November 29th drawing. Iowa Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer, says there’s added attention to this jackpot for another reason.  She says it’s been almost one year since the jackpot was this high as there seemed to be a winner every few weeks. The jackpot rolls over when there’s no ticket with the winning numbers.

“It’s at an estimated 450 million dollars annuity, that’s a little more than 304 million dollars with the cash option,” Neubauer says. “That is the third-largest jackpot in the history of the Powerball game and it is the fifth largest jackpot ever in North America.” She says with the increased attention and sales, there’s a good possibility the jackpot could be raised before Wednesday night’s drawing. Neubauer going a long time without a record jackpot is what they look for in the Powerball game.

“Really that’s good for players, because the only way the jackpot gets as high as it is right now is if it rolls a number of times without being won,” Neubauer says. “Well over the last year the jackpot was being won more frequently, so it stayed at a quote, unquote lower level, even though that was still into the hundreds of millions of dollars.” She says you won’t increase your odds of winning by spending larger sums of money on the big jackpot. “The message that we emphasize all the time is to remember that this is just for fun. Play responsibly, have fun with it, but don’t get in over your head,” Neubauer says.

It’s common for people to put together office pools to buy tickets, and Neubauer says you should take a few steps to protect everyone if that’s what you do. “Keep the rules for your pool in writing. Keep a very detailed list of who has put in money and who hasn’t, that way there won’t be any disagreement later about who was in or who was out,” Neubauer says. ” And then also, another great idea is to make copies of the tickets and provide copies to everyone in the group before the drawing occurs, that way there’s no question about which tickets were for the group.”

The next Powerball drawing is at 9:59 p.m. on Wednesday, and in Iowa you can buy a ticket up until 8:59 p-m on that day. You can find out more about the drawing on the Iowa Lottery’s website.

(Radio Iowa)

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says gambling will not be the “salvation” to any region’s economy. Christie spoke last night (Monday) at a forum in West Des Moines and a woman in the audience asked Christie for his “thoughts on…the expansion of gambling.”  “I’ve told anybody that asked me about the expansion of gambling that it’s no panacea and people really need to understand its restrictions and limitations,” Christie said. “And it’s not going to be a salvation and any politician that gets up and tells you, ‘Have gambling and we’re going to fund this forever,’ — It’s not going to happen that way.”

Last night’s forum was hosted by Republicans in Dallas County. It’s a county where voters have rejected gambling referendums twice, in 1996 and 2004. Christie says “for many years” gambling was a “growing, thriving industry” in New Jersey, but he says Atlantic City never adjusted to the “competitive marketplace” that erupted when gambling was legalized beyond the “monopoly” markets of New Jersey and Nevada.  “Now, I have no opposition to the industry itself,” Christie said. “They’ve been good corporate citizens in our state.”

However, Christie warned the country’s appetite for gambling is limited.  “I think anybody who tries to sell it to you now as a panacea is misleading you,” Christie said. State regulators recently approved a new casino license for Greene Cuonty and the new Wild Rose Casino is scheduled to open next summer in Jefferson.

Wild Rose founder Gary Kirke is among the seven major Iowa G-O-P donors who flew to New Jersey in 2011 to encourage Christie to run for president. Kirke also floated the idea of a casino in Dallas County back in 2004, but an overwhelming 61 percent of referendum voters were against the idea.

(Radio Iowa)

Reports say President Obama may ask Congress this week for authorization to use military force overseas to tackle terrorists from the Islamic State, but Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley isn’t certain yet how he’d vote on such a proposal. Grassley, a Republican, was asked if the U-S should go “all in” to wage a war against ISIS. “When you say ‘go all in,’ if that includes massive numbers of Americans on the ground, not at this point,” Grassley says. “If it means advisors, that’s an entirely different thing.”

Reports say the president’s request may come as soon as tomorrow (Wednesday) and Grassley says he’d prefer to reserve comment until after he sees the proposal.  “I haven’t made up my mind how I’m going to vote on whatever the language is,” Grassley says, “and I shouldn’t say anything until I read the language.”

Some critics say President Obama is already making moves that are outside the scope of the power reserved for the executive office and Grassley says he’s not convinced we should get further involved. “I’m kind of reluctant to vote for anything, considering how this president has done such a bad job as commander-in-chief, drawing lines in the sand and no consequences for those lines being crossed,” Grassley says.

He’s “lost confidence” in President Obama and Grassley says, “I’m not sure I want to give him more power,” but adds, ISIS is “a very big problem and a very big threat, even to the United States.”

(Radio Iowa)