Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich attracted a standing-room-only crowd in Council Bluffs last night (Wednesday). Gingrich’s status as a candidate gaining in popularity drew Drake University student Mike McInereney to make the two-hour trip to see Gingrich at what was billed as a “Slice the Deficit” event.  “It was more focused on creating jobs in America, you know, reducing regulations on certain industries, so people really enjoyed it,” McInereney said. “It was awesome.” Gingrich called the federal government bloated and wasteful.

“It’s an embarassment,” Gingrich said. “We don’t have to tolerate the government being stupid — and it’s expensive.” Gingrich has been getting rapped by rivals for proposing what they call “amnesty” for illegal immigrants. Gingrich told the crowd in Council Bluffs it’s a “hopeless” promise to suggest there’s a way to deport all the illegal immigrants who are here today. Gingrich, in turn, promises that as president he would secure the border within a year by using unmanned drones and fences in high-traffic areas. Teresa Butterbaug, an engineer from Council Bluffs, says Gingrich has handled the issue well.

“I like the way he stood for the immigration, especially shutting the borders,” Butterbaug says. Gingrich is  due to publicly sign a border security pledge today (Thursday), one of several campaign events scheduled in the central Iowa area.

(Radio Iowa)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Council Bluffs police say a mother and her 1-year-old child were taken to a hospital after they fell from a moving vehicle. 18-year-old Joanna Puentes and her baby were taken to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., Tuesday night. Police say the SUV, driven by Alex Perez, of Omaha, was traveling on a city street when Puentes and the child fell out of the passenger side door. Perez allegedly told police that Puentes was attempting to put the child in a safety seat when her foot opened the door and they both fell from the vehicle. Perez was cited for several violations, including failure to secure a child.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s officials are asking for information on a break-in at the Elliott Elementary School.  The incident happened between November 23rd and November 29th.  Those responsible pried open a window and made off with three laptop computers and six cameras from several room.  The items are valued at 41-hundred-five dollars.  Tips can be made anonymously to the Montgomery County Crimestoppers Hotline at 800-432-1001.

Atlantic police say that no one was injured in a two car collision Tuesday afternoon.  Shirley Chester of Atlantic was eastbound on 6th Street approaching Birch Street just before four o’clock.  Her car was hit by another driven by Keisha Houston of Avoca, who failed to stop at the sign as she was southbound on Birch.  Chester car ended up in a nearby yard.  Houston was charged with failing to obey a stop sign.  Damage to the two cars totalld 45-hundred dollars.

Also, Atlantic police arrested 31 year old Christopher Anstey of Atlantic on a charge of 5th degree theft for shoplifting.