Authorities have identified the person found dead on September 16th in rural Jasper County, as 44-year-old Michael Williams of Grinnell. His body was found in a burning ditch.

Michael Williams

The investigation into the homicide continues, with law enforcement resources from Jasper, Poweshiek, and Marshall Counties, as well as Division of Criminal Investigation agents and Iowa State Patrol Troopers with the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Authorities say additional information will be released as warranted. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Grinnell Police Department at 641.623.5679 or the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 641.792.5912

(Atlantic) – Incumbent Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, spoke to a crowd inside the Atlantic Community Center, Friday evening. During the event, she said with regard to the current election cycle, the mood is different than in the past, the nation is facing “some significant challenges, some significant changes.” Ernst, who likes to ride her motorcycle, compared the race between her and her opponent, as  “A choice between two different roads.” Her opponent is Democrat Theresa Greenfield.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks at the Cass County Community Center 9-18-20 (Ric Hanson/photo)

Ernst said “On the road to the right [the road she chooses] we have freedom, prosperity, and opportunity. But on the left, there is a very, very different path. It is a path that my opponent is choosing to take. And that path is paved with government takeover of health care, it’s paved with radical environmental ideas that would fundamentally change the way we do agriculture in the State of Iowa, and wipe out thousands of manufacturing jobs.”

Ernst said also, the road to her opponent is taking, is filled with people who want to roll back our Second Amendment Rights, and those who are promoting extreme abortionist ideas. “These are the ideas that are supported by my opponent.” She said Greenfield has not been seen anywhere in Iowa, whereas Ernst has visited all 99 counties on one and a half tours. Ernst likened Greenfield to the popular character in the “Where is Waldo?” puzzle books, by saying “Where is Theresa Greenfield? She’s in the basement, hidin’ with Biden folks, and she’s going to stay in her basement, because she does not want people to know where she stands on the issues.”

She said Greenfield has not visited almost half of Iowa’s counties in the 15 months she’s been campaigning. Ernst said she’s willing to meet with constituents and represent them in Washington. Toward the end of her speech, Ernst learned about the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She “I am so sorry. I may not have agreed with her politically, but God Rest Her. She was an incredible woman.”

Ernst said President Trump has a list of persons who have may pick from for nomination. She doesn’t know who he may choose, but that person will have to be confirmed by the U-S Senate.

(Radio Iowa) – Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says Iowa’s economy appears to be bouncing back better from the pandemic compared to other parts of the country, but it’s not close to a full recovery. “If you look at it, we’re still probably in Iowa five or six percent below pre-Covid level employment numbers,” Goss says. “…It’s real easy to say negatives are getting less negative.” Goss made his comments today (Friday) during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.

Goss suggested to moderator David Yepsen that more Iowans are unemployed than the unemployment RATE suggests. “I would say it’s undervalued. In other words, there are more unemployed than that one would suggest,” Goss said. Yepsen asked: “So what do you think? How bad is unemployment?” Goss replied: “It’s bad…particularly in leisure and hospitality.” Goss suggests it’s more likely eight to nine percent of Iowans are unemployed, compared to the August unemployment rate of six percent that state officials announced today (Friday).

The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is assisting authorities in southeast Iowa’s Appanoose County, following an Officer-Involved shooting. Authorities say late Thursday evening, a law enforcement pursuit that began in Marion County, entered Monroe County and then into Appanoose County. During the pursuit in Appanoose County, an Appanoose County Deputy Sheriff discharged his service weapons at the suspect vehicle.

The suspect was taken into custody. Neither the suspect nor the Deputy were injured during the incident. No names were released early this (Friday) afternoon, and additional details will be made available as the investigation continues.