“Russian Interference in the 2016 United States Election” was the title of the subcommittee hearing Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley chaired on Monday afternoon. While he says he’s no closer to drawing a conclusion on the topic, Grassley says testimony from former national intelligence director James Clapper was significant.

“There’s no doubt Russia tried to influence our elections, Clapper made that very clear,” Grassley says. “The point is, there’s no evidence that they did anything that changed the direction of the election as far as getting into computers and getting votes counter one way or the other.”

Grassley, a Republican, says another national security issue that concerns him — which is related to the alleged Russian actions — has yet to be addressed. “Who leaked it to the press, particularly The Washington Post?” Grassley says, “because when you leak classified information, it’s a felony and there needs to be prosecution.”

Clapper confirmed that British intelligence first contacted the U-S government to say there were suspicious interactions between then-candidate Donald Trump’s associates and Russian spies. The Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism also heard testimony from Sally Yates, the former acting attorney general. “Everybody’s worried about Russia interfering in our election,” Grassley says. “That is bad, but it also needs to have equal attention given to who did the leaking.”

Yates refused to answer several questions from Grassley and others on the panel, because the investigation is still underway. Grassley is calling for more “follow-up” that would produce more definitive answers.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – U.S. Rep. Rod Blum angrily walked out of a televised interview in front of a group of schoolchildren in Dubuque, Iowa, when pressed about screening attendees to his public meetings.  The second-term Republican got up two minutes into the KCRG Monday interview , saying, “I’m done … this is ridiculous,” after being asked whether he accepts donations from outside his district.

He said before leaving the room, “I mean, he’s going to sit here and just, and just badger me. Unbelievable.” The question about donations followed reporter Josh Scheinblum asking Blum why he requires audience members at his town hall meetings for identification.

Blum said audience members are vetted to ensure they are from his district. Blum was met by an angry crowd at his town hall meeting later Monday.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a man from Cromwell reported Monday afternoon, that someone had broken out two windows in his RV, while it was parked in his yard in the 1300 block of Broadway Avenue. The incident happened sometime overnight Sunday into Monday. The damage was estimated at $500.

The City Council in Audubon held a regular meeting Monday evening. City Clerk Joe Foran, said they passed four Resolutions during their meeting. The first two dealt with designating the low bidder for Miscellaneous improvements in group B and C, along with the contract. They also passed a Resolution approving a contract for CIP lining along with Miscellaneous group A. Group A consists of constructing a couple of buildings near the Sewer plant, and the CIP lining stands for “Cured In Place,” which means putting a rubber membrane in the existing sewer lines.

Last month the CIP and Group A bids were awarded to Principal Pipe and Tool Company ($184, 541) and Grundman Hicks Construction ($1.4-million). Those bids were approved Monday night. The low bid of $2.1-million for group B & C was received from McCarthy Trenching, of Avoca. Group B is with regard to the setting of new sewer lines, while Group C is for the replacement of a water line. Getting the Resolutions passed, he says, means the City is well on its way to getting the contractors in town and getting work started on the improvements.

The Audubon City Council also discussed, but took no action on an Ordinance with regard to chickens being raised within the City Limits. He says they have received an initial draft from City Attorney Mark Bosworth. The Council, he says, will likely discuss the matter during a Special Work session in a couple of weeks.

Foran says they’ll especially be focused on whether or not to allow roosters, and what to do with the waste chickens produce. He says some chickens currently in town were acquired through variances, so the Council will want to act on clarifying what is and isn’t allowed under a revised ordinance.

Joe Foran says also, the Audubon City Council passed a Resolution setting their next meeting for a Public Hearing on the sale of a vacant lot the City owns at 310 Broadway. The building next to the lot has been purchased, and the same person who purchased that structure wishes to purchase the adjacent lot.