(Radio Iowa) -The largest emergency aid package in U-S history, worth two-point-two trillion dollars, unanimously passed the U-S Senate last (Wednesday) night. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the Senate “stepped up in this time of crisis and delivered critical relief.” The package is dubbed the CARES Act, for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says it includes 12-hundred dollar checks for individuals. “Secretary (of the Treasury Steven) Mnuchin was very adamant about making sure that Americans are seeing relief as soon as possible,” Ernst says. “To get those checks out, direct assistance from the federal government, we want to see those checks going out in a matter of weeks, not months.”

In addition to the individual checks, the package includes 130-billion dollars to hospitals and 367-billion in loans and grants to businesses. The U-S House is expected to take up the measure on Friday. “By getting the bill passed and signed into law by the president, that’s just the first step,” Ernst says. “We have a lot of agencies that will be working with the additional monies and additional requirements on programs. They will have to bear that burden as we move forward.”

Ernst is urging House members to quickly approve the measure so the massive and complicated process of sending out hundreds of billions of dollars can begin to jump-start the economy in the midst of the pandemic. She says it will be an enormous undertaking involving multiple federal departments. “We are going to be working very hard with those agencies to make sure that Americans are seeing relief as soon as possible,” Ernst says. “I don’t want to be a ‘Debbie Downer,’ I want to be very optimistic. I know they are working as hard as they can to get those dollars out the door once the package is signed, but Americans need to understand, relief is on the way.”

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley issued a statement last night: “This health crisis is quickly becoming an economic crisis. This bipartisan legislation rapidly delivers recovery checks to help individuals and families cover their immediate expenses. It also helps businesses of all sizes keep employees on the payroll throughout the crisis and ensures that those who are furloughed or laid off have access to beefed up unemployment insurance. The bill also provides a much-needed infusion of cash to our health care professionals who are fighting the pandemic on the front lines.”

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports one arrest. At around 2:20-p.m. Wednesday, 40-year old Brian James Johnson, Jr., of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested at the Polk County Jail in Des Moines, on a Mills County warrant for two counts of Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $20,000.

One person was arrested following a traffic stop Wednesday night, in Avoca. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year old Madison Nichole Moore was arrested on charges that include Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Poss. of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense – Marijuana, and Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine – 1st offense.

And, a call about a suspicious vehicle parked on the road Wednesday night in Pott. County, resulted in the arrest of 18-year old Emily Rae Rhodes, of Council Bluffs. She was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts. Rhodes was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $1,300 bond.

Adair County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, Mandy Berg, reminds voters in the County of the Primary Election, scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2020. The voter pre-registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2020. Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a regular ballot. Voters who are not pre-registered – such as voters registering to vote on election day – and voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence.

A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification (or prove residence if required) 1) may have the voter’s identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct, 2) prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents, or 3) cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of identity/residence at the Auditor’s Office by 12:00 p.m. (noon), June 9, 2020. Election Day Registrant attesters must provide an approved form of identification. For additional information about providing proof of identity and/or residence visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/voterid or phone (641) 743-2546.

Voters may request an absentee ballot from the Auditor’s Office. Voters may vote in the office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning May 4, 2020 or they may request a ballot be mailed to them. The deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed is 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2020. The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s Office is Monday, June 1, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Polls will open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Election Day June 2, 2020.

Due to the coronavirus both Iowa Secretary of State, Paul Pate and Adair County Auditor, Mandy Berg are strongly encouraging voters to vote-by-mail. The first day absentee ballots can be mailed is Thursday, April 23, 2020. If you have any questions regarding voting absentee by mail please contact the Auditor’s Office at (641) 743-2546. (TFV=To Fill a Vacancy)

Local candidates who have filed papers for the Primary Election are as follows:

Adair County Auditor – Democrat: No Candidate Filed;  Republican: Mandy Berg (Incumbent)

Adair County Sheriff – Democrat: No Candidate Filed; Republican: Jeffrey L Vandewater (Incumbent)

Adair County Attorney (TFV) – Democrat: Melissa S Larson; Adair County Attorney (TFV) – Republican: No Candidate Filed

Adair County Supervisor District #1 – Democrat: No Candidate Filed; Republican: Matt Wedemeyer (Incumbent)

Adair County Supervisor District #3 – Democrat: No Candidate Filed; Republican: No Candidate Filed

Adair County Supervisor District #5 – Democrat: Thaddeus Hawley;  Republican: John A Twombly (Incumbent)

Officials with the Creston Police Department report the arrest at around 3-a.m. today (Thursday), of 32-year old Jeffery M. Hoffman (No address given). Hoffman was arrested by the Creston Police K9 “Jax” at McKinley & Park, on a Possession of a Controlled Substance charge. He was cited for the offense and released from the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a summons to appear in court.

The Adams County Auditor’s Office has released information with regard to candidates who have filed nomination papers county office in advance of the June Primary. There are no contested races.

County Supervisor – District 2: Tony Hardisty (of Corning) – Republican; Democrat Incumbent – Merlin R. Dixon (of Corning).

County Supervisor – District 5: Republican Incumbent Bobbi J. Baker-Maynes (of Corning).

County Auditor – Republican Incumbent Becky Bissell (of Corning).

County Sheriff – Republican Incumbent Alan Johannes (of Corning).

The Cass County Auditor’s office has released the final list of candidates who have filed nomination papers for County Office in advance of the June 2nd Primary Election. There will be contested races for Cass County Board of Supervisors on the Republican ticket, in District’s 4 & 5. The winners move on to the General Election in November.

Board of Supervisors/District 1: Steve S. Green (of Atlantic), Republican – Incumbent.

Board of Supervisors/District 4:  Steve Baier, (of Griswold) Republican – Incumbent; Travis Erickson (from Cumberland) – Republican.

Board of Supervisors/District 5: Russell Joyce (of Atlantic) – Democrat; Republicans Bernard Pettinger (of Anita), and Linda Reineke (of Massena).

County Attorney (to fill a vacancy): Vanessa Strazdas (of Atlantic) Republican

County Auditor: Dale Sunderman (Atlantic) – Republican, Incumbent.

County Sheriff: Darby J. McLaren (Atlantic) – Republican, Incumbent

Candidates who have filed nomination papers for the November General Election in Cass County, include:

Soil & Water Conservation District: Curt Behrends (Wiota) – Republican; Chase Wheatley (Massena) – No Party, and Ray Wilson (No Party).

Hospital Board (Vote for 3): Leanne Pellett (Atlantic) – Republican; Linda L. Pelzer (Griswold) – Republican; & Ned Brown (Atlantic) – Republican.

Edna Township Trustee: Dan Schrier (Cumberland) – Republican; Keith Nelson (Massena) – Republican.

Union Township Trustee: Delmar South (Cumberland) – Republican.

(Updated) IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa residents filed more than 41,000 claims for unemployment benefits last week as the coronavirus outbreak forced many workers to lose jobs and stay home. The Department of Labor reported Thursday that nationwide, claims for jobless benefits surged to a record 3.3 million in the week that ended March 21.

The numbers show that in Iowa, initial claims zoomed past 41,000. That was up from 2,229 reported in the state the week before. Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend said earlier this week that the state was receiving a staggering number of claims.