Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee Visits Le Mars
(Le Mars) — Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee made a visit to Le Mars this morning. Huckabee was greeted by nearly 20 people. Huckabee won the Iowa caucus in 2008, but is trailing behind several other candidates for this presidential race. However, Huckabee remains confident and believes his past supporters will show up for the caucus.
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Huckabee says energy, and specifically ethanol and other biofuels, should play an important role for Iowa voters in selecting the next president. Without naming names, the former Arkansas governor took jabs at front runners Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who are thought to be opposed to renewable biofuels.
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Huckabee the people that visited with him in Le Mars are concerned about jobs and Social Security, but they want to have morals placed back into our daily lives.
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Huckabee says he favors increasing the military, and reducing the national debt, while fighting terrorists groups like ISIS and other Islamic radical terrorists organizations. He says the United States needs to fight both at the same time.
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The former Arkansas governor explains his campaign strategy between now and February 1st, the Iowa caucus date.
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Former DCI Agent Wants Supreme Court To Rule On His Lawsuit
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A criminal investigator fired after complaining about speeding by Gov. Terry Branstad’s security detail is asking the Iowa Supreme Court to allow his wrongful termination lawsuit to proceed. Justices heard arguments Thursday in the case of former Division of Criminal Investigation agent Larry Hedlund, who was fired in 2013 after complaining to superiors that a speeding trooper driving Branstad was let go without consequences. The Iowa Department of Public Safety denies retaliation, claiming Hedlund was insubordinate. Hedlund’s attorney, Tom Duff, asked justices to reinstate Hedlund’s claim that he was fired in violation of public policy. He says Branstad gave Hedlund’s career a “death knell” when the governor suggested he was a safety concern. Assistant attorney general Jeff Peterzalek says Hedlund was required to challenge his termination administratively, not in court.
Midwest Banks Says Rural Economy Is Weakening
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A survey shows some bankers had a dire view of the rural economy in their 10 Western and Plains states.A report released Thursday says January’s Rural Mainstreet Index plunged to 34.8 from 41.5 in December. It’s the lowest overall index figure since August 2009. Survey officials say any score below 50 on any of the survey’s indexes suggests that factor will decline. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the monthly survey of rural bankers and says it’s the fifth straight month for a decline. He again blames lower prices for agriculture and energy commodities and downturns in manufacturing. The farmland and ranchland price index dropped to 23.9 in January from December’s 28.8. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
