(Radio Iowa) – South Carolina Senator Tim Scott’s presidential campaign plans to double its staff in Iowa and has announced that the candidate will be visiting the state weekly. In a news release, Scott’s campaign called it an “all-in on Iowa” strategy. It’s a bet that going for a win in the Caucuses could spur campaign fundraising and propel him in the polls.

Scott’s campaign manager says no other 2024 candidate has higher favorability ratings with Iowa evangelical voters — and there’s a lane for Scott to win the Caucuses if his appeal to those voters is successful. Scott’s faith is front and center as he speaks to Iowa audiences.

“I’m so thankful to know a risen Savior who has helped guide my way,” Scott said recently in Des Moines. This was his message at an Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event in late April. “A liberal reporter wrote that the era of value of voters was over. How ridiculous is that? They have never been to the great state of Iowa,” Scott said. “They have never been a room with a thousand value voters who have faith on their sleeves and Jesus in their hearts.”

Scott often uses Bible verses to frame his policy statements and Scott cites a passage from the New Testament as he talks about the situation in Israel.  “Romans 13:4 says for those who do evil, the wrath of God should be the consequence,” Scott said, “and I hope it comes with some Israeli and American hardware.” Scott is holding a town hall meeting in Indianola late this (Tuesday) morning. He campaigned in Marshalltown last (Monday) night.

Scott’s retooled campaign follows news that a political action committee supporting Scott had pulled the ads it planned to run this fall. It’s also unclear whether Scott will qualify for next month’s candidate debate, as the criteria calls for higher poll numbers. Scott’s campaign says it will boost its spending on social media and has reserved one-point-six million dollars worth of television ads in Iowa markets.

Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following a collision at around 3:30-p.m. Monday, at Highway 25 and Prairie Street, in Creston. Authorities say a 2009 Chevy Impala driven by 16-year-old Jarrett Patrick Luther, of Creston, was attempting to cross Highway 25 as he was traveling west on Prairie Street.

When Luther pulled out in front of a northbound 2013 Ford Escape, driven by 19-year-old Hallie Nicole Orr, of Creston, he didn’t notice the oncoming SUV. He tried to avoid the collision, but his car struck the SUV, causing a total of $6,000 damage.

No citations were issued, but the police report noted Jarrett Luther failed to yield the right-of-way from a stop sign.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report the arrest on Saturday, Oct. 21st, of 31-year-old Tawnya Arlene Dunlap, from Lincoln, NE. She was arrested on 2 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, following a traffic stop at around 8:10-a.m. on Interstate 29 at mile-marker 32. Bond was set at $3,000.

Des Moines, Iowa – National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 28th, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Office of Drug Control Policy encourages Iowans to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unused and unneeded medications. Local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies are teaming up to collect leftover prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as part of this special one-day event held each spring and fall. The spring collection, held in April, netted over 3,800 pounds of old medicine from Iowans. To date, Iowans have safely disposed of over 98 tons of unused medications at these events.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while educating the public about the potential for the dangerous misuse of opioid pain relievers and other drugs. “All of us can help reduce the risk of drug diversion and misuse, overdose, and even environmental contamination by properly disposing of unneeded medication,” said Susie Sher, Bureau Chief of the Office of Drug Control Policy.

Iowans can take excess medications to one of Iowa’s Prescription Drug Take Back locations, including nearly 400 permanent pharmacy and law enforcement center sites available on a year-round basis. For Iowa Take Back details, including education information and collection sites, visit: https://odcp.iowa.gov/programs/prescription-drug-take-backs.

Saturday’s National Prescription Drug Take Back events will operate from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at designated sites across Iowa. As part of the national Prescription Drug Take Back program, the DEA also allows the collection of vaping devices and e-cigarettes from individuals, if batteries are first removed from the devices. For more information or to find a site near you, visit https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.

Iowans needing help for drug using behaviors or mental health can go to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Service’s YourLifeIowa.org.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon School Board will hold a Special Work Session beginning at 6-p.m. on Wed., Oct. 25th, in the High School Board Room. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss “Options for Transitioning to a New Superintendent,” and the “Next Steps for Hiring a Superintendent.”

The meeting falls on the heels of last week’s announcement Superintendent Eric Trager is retiring at the end of the current school year.