(Radio Iowa) – Iowans may have recently received a text message that makes it look like they aren’t registered to vote, but county and state officials say the text isn’t from them. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate as well as many county auditors on Thursday posted social media messages that there’s a text message circulating throughout the state regarding voter registration and that it did not come from their office.

The text says “According to our records, you may not have registered to vote in Iowa.” It then tells the message recipient that you can secure your vote by clicking on a link to complete a voter registration form. Pate says that his office has talked to the entity that sent the text messages, which is a political party, and they assure that the website is secure.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to two separate accidents during the past week.  Officials say on Wednesday (9/22), an accident occurred on eastbound Interstate 80, in Cass County. Authorities say Trevor Dean Bennett, of Davenport, was traveling east in a 2015 Ford Fusion.  A semi-tractor trailer braked ahead of the car, causing the vehicle to strike the rear of the semi-trailer.  The semi-truck continued on, and did not stop.  Bennett suffered minor injuries, and was transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital by Cass County EMS.

And, on September 17th, Cass County Deputies responded to an accident at Highway 71 and I-80.  Officials say Changaze Khan, of Stockton, California, was driving at 2017 Freightliner Semi and leaving the I-80 west bound exit ramp, when he failed to yield, striking another semi that was traveling southbound on Highway 71.  A 2009 semi-truck driven by Richard Allan Hansen of Audubon, was struck in the rear driver’s side of the trailer.  Khan was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Chuck Grassley announced at 4 a.m. this (Friday) morning that he is running for re-election to an eighth term in the U.S. Senate. Grassley’s campaign account on Twitter features a photo of Grassley in a corn field, with a sentence quoting Grassley as saying he “has a lot more to do, for Iowa.” During an interview with Radio Iowa earlier this month, Grassley said he was gauging the opinions of Iowans on the topic. “It’s very difficult to determine because I don’t have just a few people say, ‘You ought to retire, ‘ and maybe those are people who want me to retire because they want to elect a Democrat,” Grassley said. “I don’t kow their motives, but I get a lot of people who encourage me to run and say: ‘We need your common sense there.’ That’s very encouraging.”

(R-IA) Sen. Charles Grassley

Grassley celebrated his 88th birthday on Friday. He is one of seven senators who are in their 80s and Grassley says his age is no reason to retire from the Senate. “Don’t you think octogenarians need some representation, too?” Grassley said, with a laughter. “That’s kind of a tongue in cheek answer, but don’t you think you need a little institutional knowledge around?”

Grassley says he’s had a physical, is healthy and goes for a run before sunrise six days a week. Grassley could face a G-O-P Primary challenger next year, as Republican State Senator Jim Carlin of Sioux City announced earlier this year he’s running for the U.S. Senate. Two Democrats have announced they’re seeking a spot on the 2022 ballot to challenge Grassley. Abby Finkenauer of Cedar Rapids is a former member of the U.S. House. Dave Muhlbauer of Manilla is a former Crawford County Supervisor.