(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say a woman was arrested Sunday evening on an Assault charge. 24-year-old Kimberlyn Calie Bakerink, of Creston, was arrested at around 5:14-p.m., at the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC). Bakerink was taken to the Union County Jail where she was later released on $300 cash or surety bond.

And, a woman from Creston was arrested late Sunday night. Creston Police report 24-year-old Alley Ray Butler was arrested at the Creston Union County LEC at about 11:21-p.m. She was taken into custody on a Des Moines Police Department warrant for Damage to Property/Criminal Mischief 4th Degree. Butler was extradited by Des Moines Police officers to the Polk County Jail where she is being held without bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans are already stockpiling Halloween treats, and while they know gobbling down mounds of candy can leave kids with a tummy ache, too much sweet stuff can be dangerous, and even deadly, for pets. Jessie Phillips, director of development at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, and while rarely fatal, it can result in significant illness.

Phillips says it will depend on the size of the animal and how much was ingested. There’s a Pet Poison Help Hotline at 800-213-6680. Some Iowans already have a big bowl of treats on the counter, ready to go for trick-or-treat night, while kids may leave their sacks of candy laying around after they’ve had their fill. Both types of candy stashes should be hidden away from pets.

Also, Phillips says keep your pets away from carved pumpkins as those jack-o-lanterns could be full of bacteria after sitting outside.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s first district congresswoman is firing back at those who’ve criticized two of her votes for House Speaker. Republican Congresswoman Miller-Meeks supported Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan on the first round of voting on the House floor last week, but not during the other two rounds and she has reported receiving death threats.

“I am never going to quit fighting for Iowa and I am never going to quit fighting for this country and if you think you can intimidate me…suck it up, buttercup,” Miller-Meeks said, to applause. Miller-Meeks hosted a campaign fundraiser in Coralville on Friday night. Miller-Meeks did not mention Jordan by name, but she referred to the pressure campaign Jordan allies waged against her.

“I am not a Democrat. I am a proud Republican. If anybody thinks that I’m going to give up and I’m going to lay back…they’ve got another thing coming,” Miller-Meeks said. Miller-Meeks told reporters she’s confident House Republicans will come together and elect a speaker.

“Most of us are there to govern, to legislate, to pass bills. We’ve got important appropriations bills to pass,” Miller-Meek says. “The important thing about those bills is not the level of spending, it’s also the policy priorities.” Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart — who lost to Miller-Meeks in 2018 by six votes — says Miller-Meeks should have stayed in D-C to elect a speaker rather than host a party in Iowa Friday night.

Seven G-O-P presidential candidates attended and spoke at the Miller-Meeks fundraiser.

(Radio Iowa) – Foreign policy is front and center of the conversation as Republican presidential candidates campaign for votes in Iowa’s Caucuses. During weekend events, though, candidates offered a variety of responses to what’s happened in Israel, in Gaza and in the United States. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley served as President Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations. She says Hamas committed flat out torture of Israelis in the October 7th attacks and President Biden should be wary of both Iran and Qatar — even though Qatar helped negotiate the release of two American hostages.

“They will do this to try and get you to back off. They are doing this to keep Israel from going into Gaza,” Haley said. “…Support Israel. Whatever they want, whatever they need — we need to be there for them.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says President Biden should be blocking humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, because it will wind up in the hands of Hamas.

“You see students demonstrating in our own country in favor of Hamas terrorists. Some of them are foreigners on student visas, When I’m president (and) you’re making common cause with Hamas, I am cancelling your visa and I am sending you home.” South Carolina Senator Tim Scott says there should be consequences for American colleges and universities that allow anti-Semitic protests.

“As president of the United States, I would sign the bill…that takes away the Pell Grants from any college or any university that says: ‘It’s o.k. to spread terrorism on our campuses…It’s o.k. to be anti-Jewish. I say, ‘No!'” Scott said. Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy says Israel needs to learn the lessons of the mistakes the U-S made after the 9/11 attacks — and the trillions Ramaswamy says was wasted on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I am deeply worried about the wisdom of this ongoing, potentially imminent ground invasion to Gaza which I do not believe is going to be good for Israel,” Ramaswamy said, “and do not believe it’s going to be good for the United States.” North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and Texas pastor Ryan Binkley also campaigned in the state this weekend.

(Chickasaw County, Iowa) – The operator of a UTV was injured Sunday afternoon, responding to a fire in northeast Iowa, near Ionia. The crash occurred on Exter Avenue, north of 215th Street.

The Iowa State Patrol says a 2004 Polaris Ranger converted into a firefighting vehicle  and 2009 Fire Truck, both owned by the City of Ionia, were responding to a fire at around 4-p.m., when the operator of the UTV attempted to pass a slower moving tractor. The driver of the fire truck attempted to pass the tractor as well.

The fire truck struck the UTV, causing it to lose control. When the UTV rolled over, the operator was ejected. They were transported by Aircare helicopter to the Mayo Clinic, in Minnesota. Names of those involved were withheld, pending notification of family.

The crash remains under investigation.