(Radio Iowa) — New Jersey Senator Cory Booker says he’s taking a gamble that he’ll be among the top three candidates when the Iowa Caucus results are announced. “We’ve said from the beginning that this is our state, that this is going to be the determining factor for us,” Booker says. “…We’re playing to keep here in Iowa, kind of Texas Hold ‘Em in some ways.” Iowans who watched seven of the Democratic Party’s OTHER 2020 presidential candidates debate in December saw Booker’s first campaign ad. He’s spending far more to buy time on Iowa T-V stations this month.  “I’m going to confess we have taken a risk in Iowa by pushing a lot of our resources that we might need to continue on into getting up on TV to compete with those people who are millionaires or who have more resources than us,” Booker told Radio Iowa.

Booker has not joined former competitor Julian Castro in criticizing Iowa’s role as the first voting event in the 2020 presidential selection process. Booker just launched “Black Americans for Cory” with a gathering of about 50 women in Des Moines and he says Iowa’s minority voters may be the deciding factor on February 3rd. “In a Caucus where the difference between finishing fifth and second is probably going to be a few thousand votes, those who appeal to the Sudanese community or can appeal to the Latino community, the black community, if you can generate support in those communities,” Booker says. “it’s the diversity that swings the hinge one way or the other.”

Booker says voters need to pick the candidate who is best able to motivate Obama-level turn-out among diverse communities. Booker’s duty as a U.S. Senator to sit as a juror in the expected impeachment trial for President Trump will take him off the Iowa campaign trail. He is also unlikely to meet Friday’s deadline for a strong enough showing in public opinion polls to be included in next week’s televised candidate debate in Des Moines. Booker returns to Iowa today (Thursday) with events scheduled in North Liberty and Mount Vernon.

Members of the Griswold School District’s Board of Education will meet this evening in a Work Session, to review Open Enrollment data. The meeting takes place in the Conference Room at the High School, beginning at 5:30-p.m.  No action is expected to be taken during their Work Session.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department have released a report on arrests dating back to December 28th. Most recently…

On January 1st: 34-year old Trent Allen Nielsen, of Avoca, was arrested on assault and lascivious acts with a child, charges. And, 52-year old Timothy Wayne Nevel, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Nevel was charged with having no lamp or flag on rear projecting load, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and prohibited acts penalties.

On Dec. 31st: 49-year old Bryan Allen Dennis, of Council Bluffs, was arrested by Harlan Police for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. And, 52-year old Brian Allan Sorensen, of Harlan, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree. On Dec. 30th, 50-year old David Lee Stout, of Harlan, was charged with domestic abuse assault following a call for service. Stout was arrested January 3, 2020 on an active Shelby County warrant and transported to the Shelby County Jail.

On Dec. 29th, Harlan Police arrested 22-year old Quentin James Briggs, of Harlan, for Domestic Abuse Assault. And, 20-year old Alexis Jean Sherer, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Harrison County warrant.  On December 28th, 41-year old Kari Jean Elizabeth Nordby, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Nordby was charged with operating while intoxicated, possession of drug paraphernalia, fail to maintain control, and insufficient number of headlamps.

In an update to an earlier report, Harlan Police say no serious injuries were reported following a rollover accident Dec. 25th, at 7th and Victoria Streets. Authorities say Larry Kruse, of Harlan, was driving a 2004 Ford Taurus and was turning south onto 7th St. from Victoria. Kruse made a wide turn and over corrected to the left, just missing a tree, before sharply turning right causing the vehicle to overturn. The car came to rest on its top. Medivac and Harlan Fire Dept. personnel assisted Kruse out of the vehicle.

There were two, property damage accidents in Harlan on Dec. 29th, one on Jan. 4th and another on Jan. 7th.

The Creston Police Department reports 43-year old Shawn Parmenter, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday afternoon, at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Parmenter was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. He was later released on a $2,000 bond. And, on Jan. 3rd, Creston Police arrested 44-year old Brad Reed, of Creston. He was also taken into custody at the Union County LEC. Reed was charged with OWI/1st offense, and later released on $1,000 bond.

GARRISON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a worker was killed in an accident at an eastern Iowa rock quarry. First responders were sent around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday to Wendling Quarries, just southeast of Garrison. They found the man had been trapped in a rock bin and had already died. His name and details about what happened haven’t been released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)) – It will cost you more to attend the Iowa State Fair this year. The fair announced Wednesday that gate prices for adults will rise to $14 from $12 last year, and tickets for children ages 6 to 11 will increase to $8 from $6. Advance purchase prices are going up a dollar: to $9 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 11. Children 5 and under still will get in free. There will be ticket discounts on some days for certain groups, including Older Iowans Day on Aug. 19. The fair runs Aug. 13-23 this year.