IOWA’S FIRST DISTRICT WILL HAVE ITS FOURTH DIFFERENT CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN THE LAST FIVE ELECTION CYCLES. THE SEAT HAS BEEN HANDED OFF FROM BRUCE BRALEY TO ROD BLUM TO ABBY FINKENAUER, AND NOW TO REPUBLICAN ASHLEY HINSON, WHO SPOKE AFTER HER VICTORY OVERNIGHT. HINSON’S WIN CAME AS IOWA FLIPPED FROM THREE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THREE REPUBLICANS IN THE FOUR-PERSON DELEGATION.
IOWA SECRETARY OF STATE PAUL PATE EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE PROCESS AS IOWA EMERGED FROM ELECTION DAY WITH MINIMAL VOTING DIFFICULTIES. IOWA TURNOUT FOR THE 2020 ELECTION CAME IN AT OVER 75 PERCENT.
A CENTRAL CITY MAN IS GOING TO PRISON FOR THE NEXT 16 YEARS. 42-YEAR-OLD BRIAN PADGETT HAS BEEN SENTENCED FOR SELLING METHAMPHETAMINE. THE CRIME WAS EXACERBATED BECAUSE IT HAPPENED NEAR A SCHOOL IN CENTRAL CITY. PADGETT ENTERED A PLEA OF GUILTY TO THE CHARGES IN FEDERAL COURT EARLIER THIS YEAR BEFORE RECEIVING HIS SENTENCE THIS WEEK.
MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION IOWANS VOTED ON TUESDAY OR IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY. EVEN WITH ALL OF THOSE BALLOTS BEING DELIVERED, IOWA SECRETARY OF STATE PAUL PATE WAS ONLY ABLE TO IDENTIFY A FEW MINOR PROBLEMS AT THE POLLS. IOWA WAS ABLE NAME DONALD TRUMP, JONI ERNST, AND THE WINNERS OF MOST OTHER MAJOR RACES IN THE STATE WELL BEFORE MIDNIGHT TUESDAY.
IOWA’S FOURTH DISTRICT IS THE BIGGEST BY LAND AREA, AND IS SENDING RANDY FEENSTRA TO WASHINGTON. FEENSTRA WILL REPRESENT AN AREA STRETCHING FROM CHICKASAW COUNTY TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE STATE. FEENSTRA DEFEATED J.D. SCHOLTEN IN A RACE TO REPLACE STEVE KING, WHO LOST THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY THIS SUMMER.
AN ACCIDENT IN FAYETTE COUNTY ON MONDAY HAS CREATED A SITUATION WHICH THE DNR IS MONITORING. A TRUCK CARRYING 40 THOUSAND POUNDS OF FERTILIZER OVERTURNED AND SPILLED MUCH OF ITS LOAD. THE ACCIDENT NEAR WADENA HAS LED TO A FISHKILL IN A NEARBY WATERWAY. THE DNR SAYS IT IS SEEING HIGH AMMONIA LEVELS IN THE WATERSHED LEADING TO BRUSH CREEK.
MANY STATES ARE STILL WADING THROUGH ABSENTEE BALLOTS. IN IOWA, VOTING OFFICIALS TACKLED EARLY VOTING EFFICIENTLY. ON TUESDAY, SECRETARY OF STATE PAUL PATE TALKED ABOUT MORE THAN 950 THOUSAND BALLOTS CAST BEFORE YESTERDAY. ABSENTEE AND EARLY BALLOTS REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 56 PERCENT OF VOTES CAST IN THE STATE.
WITH THE DEPARTURES OF DAVE LOEBSACK AND STEVE KING FROM THEIR CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND ABBY FINKENAUER’S LOSS IN TUESDAY’S FIRST DISTRICT RACE, CINDY AXNE IS NOW IOWA’S RANKING HOUSE MEMBER. AXNE WILL CONTINUE TO REPRESENT CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST IOWA FROM THE STATE’S THIRD DISTRICT AFTER WINNING HER SECOND TERM. BOTH OF AXNE’S WINS HAVE COME IN RACES AGAINST DAVID YOUNG; IN 2018 SHE WON AS THE CHALLENGER BEFORE THE ROLES REVERSED THIS CYCLE.
HIGH COVID-19 NUMBERS ARE LEADING MET TRANSIT TO MAKE SPECIAL REQUESTS OF CEDAR VALLEY BUS RIDERS. IN A STATEMENT, MET ASKED THE PUBLIC TO ONLY MAKE ESSENTIAL TRIPS. IT IS LIMITING SEATS TO NO MORE THAN TEN ON ITS ROUTE, AND EVEN FEWER THAN THAT ON SOME BUSES. MET ALSO REMINDS THAT FACE COVERINGS ARE REQUIRED.
