Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says President Trump missed multiple opportunities during the just-concluded talks with Russia to hold that nation responsible for attacks on our democracy. Grassley says Russian President Vladimir Putin “is a liar” and is “no friend to the United States.” Referring to Trump, Grassley says “the president has made a lot of mistakes…in trusting Russia.”

Following talks between the two nations’ leaders in Finland on Monday, Trump made it clear he accepted Putin’s denial that Russia interfered in the 2016 U-S presidential election. Grassley remains unconvinced.

Last Friday, the U-S Justice Department indicted a dozen Russian agents for taking part in an alleged hacking scheme during the election. Grassley says Trump should have used the talks to ask for the transfer of those “criminals” so they can be brought to the U-S to stand trial. Grassley says Trump should have challenged Putin and simply didn’t, a move that’s bringing harsh criticism of Trump from members of both parties.

An Iowa state legislator quit the Republican Party on Monday based on President Trump’s comments in Finland. Representative Ken Rizer (RISE-ur) of Marion says he’s now a registered “no party” voter and he calls Trump’s performance in Helsinki the last straw.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has awarded two million dollars in grants for projects across that state. Department spokesman Michael Morain says the grants are awarded on a competitive basis.

Locally, the grant applicants and the funding they received includes:

• Nodaway Valley Elementary School, Greenfield – $750 for an in-school residency with Poet Linda Wolfe.
• Project Restore Foundation (Stuart, IA) – $3,000 for an art project: “Musical Instruments of the World.”
• Guthrie County Arts Council – $5,000 for operational support/expenses.
• Logan-Magnolia High School – $1,000 for the purchase of art drafting tables.
• Winterset Art Center – $5,000 for operational support/expenses.
• Golden Hills R-C & D, in Oakland – $10,000 for the Southwest Iowa Art Tour.
• Council Bluffs Guild of the Omaha Symphony – $10,000 for “Mission imagination: Mozart’s Missing Memory.”
• Avoca Public Library – $7,392 for the “Libraries Rock!” music program.
• Mount Ayr Elementary School – $1,000 for the purchase of a Smart Board for the music classroom.
• Shelby County Historical Museum – $732 grant for exterior painting of the Jackson Schoolhouse (preservation project).
• Museum of Danish America – $20,000 for operational support/expenses.
• Creston High School – $887 for the purchase of a Raku kiln for the Art Dept.

The grants are awarded in a variety of categories. That includes through the Historic Preservation Office.

(Radio Iowa) — Thirty-two Iowa towns were awarded federal grants Monday totaling $9.6 million. Brooke Miller, spokesperson for the Iowa Economic Development Authority, which selected the recipients of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, says “The federally-funded grants are awarded for community facilities, downtown revitalization, and single-family owner-occupied rehabilitation projects.”

Locally, the Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG), received a $252,000 Housing Sustainability grant for six units in Bedford, from the IEDA. The Region 12 Council of Governments received a $209, 500 HS grant and $2,500 in local or other support for five housing units in Coon Rapids, and the same amount plus $5,000 in local/other funds, for five housing units in Manning, and $251,000 for six housing units in Templeton, with an additional $3,000 in local/other funding. SWIPCO (The Southwest Iowa Planning Council), received $240,222 plus $8,778 in local/other funds, for six housing units in Essex.

Two other area cities – Carson and Creston – received $500,000 CBDG funds for the rehabilitation of 12 and 13 building facades, respectively. An additional $581,178 in local/other funds was provided for the project in Carson, while in Creston, an additional $448,605 was provided through local/other funds.

Ottumwa is getting the largest grant among the 32 mostly rural Iowa cities. “The City of Ottumwa has received an $800,000 grant for stormwater, green streets, and streetscape improvements to their downtown,” according to Brooke Miller.

Miller said the I-E-D-A received 48 applications, totaling $14.1 million in funding requests. The CDBG program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

WHITING, Iowa — Officials with the Iowa DNR said Monday, that on Friday July 13th, the DNR was notified of a clay tile line discharging into a ditch near the Monona County City of Whiting’s, wastewater treatment plant.

Upon further investigation, DNR staff found a tile line discharging sewer into the Candless-Cleghorn ditch, which runs into Guard Lake. It is estimated that approximately 50 gallons is being discharged into the ditch per minute. It is unknown how long it has been discharging or whether it is connected to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Samples have been collected and will be analyzed.

Whiting city officials plan to cap the tile line with concrete within the next 48 hours, which should stop the bypass into the ditch. Furthermore, they plan to hire consultants to identify the origin of the tile line and what it may be connected to.

The DNR will continue to work with the city of Whiting and its consultants and determine if any enforcement action is necessary.

The Council Bluffs Police Department, Monday evening, put out a request for help from the public in locating two juvenile runaways from Children’s Square USA, in Council Bluffs. The juveniles, 12-year old Tristan Holley and 11-year old Isaiah King  ran from from the facility at around 2:47 pm. Two hours after the initial press release, authorities reported the teens had been found safe and healthy, but no further information was provided. They were returned to Children’s Square.