Home News Friday News, September 7

Friday News, September 7

(Orange City) — Republican presidential nominee, Governor Mitt Romney is making a campaign
swing into northwest Iowa today.  Romney, the former Massachuettes governor, is scheduled to
speak at noon during a rally at Orange City at the Northwestern College’s  Bultman Center gym.  Tickets are required and available free at the Northwestern College Rowenhorst Student Center front desk.  Doors will open for Friday’s event at 10:00 a.m. and guests should enter through the Bulman Center’s main doors and allow enough time to pass through security before entering the arena. 

(Des Moines) — Fourth District Congressional candidates Steve King and Christy Vilsack held their first debate last evening at Des Moines.  Vilsack, a Democrat, attacked King saying he is a “bully” and an “embarrassment” to the district and the state.  King, admitted he was perhaps caught off guard by Vilsack’s aggressive comments.  Vilsack blamed King for the failure of Congress not passing a new farm bill.  King mentioned the country needs a balanced budget noting that Vilsack calls the measure “a gimmick”.  King asked Vilsack why a balanced budget is a good idea for the state of Iowa, but not for the country?  King and Vilsack have a second debate scheduled for this coming Saturday at Spencer during the Clay County Fair.

(Sioux City) — Sioux City Police are searching for a man who robbed the Great Southern Bank
located on Morningside Aveune.  The robbery occurred Thursday morning at about 9:00 a.m.
Upon arrival officers discovered a suspect entered the bank and demanded money from a teller
then fled the bank with an udisclosed amount of cash. The suspect was last seen going eastbound on foot through the alley. No one was physically harmed during the robbery and no weapon was seen.
Police say the suspect is a white male, 5’8” – 5’10”, med. build, possibly in his 40s, dark hair and goatee. Wearing a dark colored ball cap with a light colored circle type emblem, sunglasses, green short sleeve t-shirt with pocket on left breast and blue jeans.  Police say they are confident someone may have seen something that could be useful in this investigation. If you have any information you are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 258-TIPS(8477). 

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Polk County judge is considering
whether to block Iowa’s Republican secretary of state from enacting
rules to purge certain voters from Iowa’s voter registration list
and make it easier to report fraud.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the League of United
Latin American Citizens filed a lawsuit last month to block Iowa
Secretary of State Matt Schultz from enacting the rules he quietly
issued July 20th.
The first would allow Schultz to remove voters from Iowa’s
registration database by comparing that list against federal and
state databases. The second would allow anyone to report
allegations of voter fraud anonymously; current law requires
complainants to sign a sworn statement.
The groups say Schultz overstepped his authority and the rules
could suppress voters.
Judge Mary Pat Gunderson heard arguments on Thursday.

(Undated) — Land values have been surging for the past few years, rising on average nearly 30 percent last year, but now since the drought has hit the midwest, are farmers and other investors still interested in purchasing land?  Iowa State University Agricultural Economist, Mike Duffy says land values continue to hold strong.

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/September 2012/Duffy1.mp3{/audio}

Duffy says it may be an interesting time for land values, and it hinges on the long-term
weather forecast.

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/September 2012/Duffy2.mp3{/audio}

The Ag Economist says he has some concerns about the farm economy, and it may reflect the
price of oil.

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/September 2012/Duffy3.mp3{/audio}

Duffy says, in general, it is still farmers who are purchasing land.  However, he notes that
other investors are now leaving more traditional investment opportunities such as stocks and
bonds, and instead are turning to land investments because of the high rate of return.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa has set up an email account for
tips about two young cousins who disappeared eight weeks ago in
Evansdale.
Charis (SHARE’-is) Paulson is the assistant director of the Iowa
Department of Criminal Investigation. She told The Des Moines
Register that it’s the first time authorities have set up an
account for use in a case like this.
She says authorities are doing everything they can to make sure
the word is out and to make sure people have an easy way to contact
law enforcement.
Ten-year-old Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins, who has since
turned 9, disappeared on July 13. Investigators have found few
clues that may lead to the whereabouts.
The email address is OurMissingIowaGirls(at)dps DOT state DOT ia
DOT us

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – A new television ad from Mitt Romney’s
campaign is using Bill Clinton’s words against President Barack
Obama.
It’s Romney’s first ad after a 12-day hiatus and is set to begin
airing Friday in eight battleground states, including Iowa.
The ad shows a clip of the former president publicly criticizing
Obama during Obama’s bitter primary battle with Hillary Rodham
Clinton in 2008. The clip comes from a campaign rally in New
Hampshire that year, where Clinton said: “Give me a break, this
whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I’ve ever seen.” Clinton has
said he was referring to Obama’s position on the Iraq war.
Clinton gave an enthusiastic speech endorsing Obama at the
Democratic convention on Wednesday night.