Washington, DC — Republican Congressman Steve King says he suspects it is “not in the D-N-A” of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to apologize — and King suggests that could doom Trump’s campaign.
This past weekend in Iowa, Trump complained about John McCain, who endured five years of torture as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Trump said he likes “people that weren’t captured.” King notes McCain refused an offer of early release.
(as said) “There were others who were taken prisoner before him and he refused to go home before the others that were taken before him in, say, seniority order. That stands up, I think, against all criticism,”King says. “And I’m not sure Donald Trump is going to be able to stand up against this criticism.”
On July 1st King praised Trump for his “scrappiness” in confronting the issue of illegal immigration. McCain has accused Trump of bringing out “the crazies” by focusing on the issue and Trump on Saturday was responding to that.
(as said) “John McCain can get a little bit prickly,” King said. “I mean, he’s the one that fired the first shot at Trump, so Trump is firing back. It looks like he is paying, you know, a pretty heavy, at least temporary political price for this.”
King says he has some sympathy for Trump because he has taken political heat for his own controversial comments about immigrants. King says Trump surged to the top of national polls because he has taken on this controversial issue, but time will tell if Trump can remain popular.
Washington, DC — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the Obama administration’s immigration policies “are hurting American families” and that’s the subject of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Grassley chaired on Tuesday.
The Republican is also introducing legislation that targets so-called sanctuary cities. Obama administration officials are taking “far too much liberty and are essentially trying to write the laws themselves,” according to Grassley. He says the hearing is “intended to highlight how misguided the Obama administration’s lax enforcement policies are and how these policies are putting Americans in harm’s way.”
(As above) Grassley says, “In addition to a couple of administration officials, we’re going to hear testimony from a number of relatives who have lost loved ones as a direct result of criminals not being deported or the executive branch’s tolerance of sanctuary policies.”
Thousands of times a year, Grassley says, the federal government has asked states or local law enforcement agencies to take undocumented immigrants with criminal records into custody — requests that are frequently ignored by sanctuaries.
(As above) “These sanctuary jurisdictions are allowed to continue their ways while the administration fights states that try to enforce the law,” Grassley says. “There’s really no good rationale for non-cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement.”
The mayor of Davenport has pushed for months for that eastern Iowa city to become a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, but the city council has not made the move official. Grassley says several Iowa communities are acting as sanctuaries, even though they’re undeclared. Public safety is being placed at risk by these sanctuaries, Grassley says, and changes need to be made at the federal level.
(As above) “I’m introducing legislation today that will hold sanctuary jurisdictions accountable,” Grassley says. “It will require the executive branch to withhold certain federal funding if states or local law enforcement refuse to cooperate with the federal government in holding or transferring criminal aliens.”
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Sibley, Iowa — The highest point in Iowa is being celebrated this week.
Among the highlights is that a national organization that promotes gaining access to, and developing each of the 50 highest points in the United States — has selected Osceola County and Iowa’s highest elevation, Hawkeye Point, as the site of their 2015 National Convention. Between 250 – 300 highpointers from all 50 states and several foreign countries will descend on the community.
Osceola County Economic Development Director Mike Earll says the highpointers will be touring area points of interest, enjoying special meal functions, climbing Iowa’s highest point and conducting the business of the organization.
He says Hawkeye Point and Iowa were selected as the site of their 2015 annual convention in part to highlight the unique cooperation of area youth and adult supporters in the development of Hawkeye Point as well as honor the Donna Sterler family for their donation of the highpoint to the citizens of Osceola County.
Earll gives us an idea of the schedule of events.
Earll says on Saturday, the public is invited to join the Highpointers for several events in and around Sibley and Hawkeye Point.
The Hawkeye Point Foundation will also be drawing the winner of their raffle for the Henry Golden Boy Rifle with the Hawkeye Point logo engraved on the stock. The raffle is made possible with the special assistance of Sibley Hardware and the Capital Armament Company. Raffle tickets are $10.00 each and can be purchased through July 25th by contacting any Hawkeye Point Committee member or the OCEDC Office.
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Highpointers National Convention Schedule at a Glance
July 24-26, 2015
Thursday–July 23, 2015 Convention registration and informal “Ice-breaker” social at Worthington, Mn. Events Center. (Convention attendees only)
Friday–July 24, 2015 Individual tours and stops at area points of interest by convention attendees
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Hog Roast & Iowa Picnic @ Sibley Country Club
(Convention attendees and invited guests)
Saturday–July 25, 2015
8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Pancake Breakfast in Sibley Central Park served by
FFA, 4-H & Hawkeye Point Committee members– McCallum Museum open– Sibley Rec. Dept. Croquet Tournament
Free-will donation for breakfast
(Convention attendees and public invited)
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Watermelon feed @ Hawkeye Pt. (Caravan from park following breakfast) 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
* Climbing wall from Iowa National Guard
* Machinery display (Noteboom Equip.)
* Kids train / display booths / other
* Rep. John Wills to address the convention
* Dedication of Memorial to Kirk Grau at 11:30 a.m.
(Convention attendees and public invited)
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Club Banquet at Worthington Event Center –5:00 p.m. social hour—6:45 p.m. meal–program to follow
(Convention attendees and invited guests)
For additional information contact Mike D. Earll–OCEDC Director @ 712-754-2523.
Boyden, Iowa — Two out-of-state men have been arrested on harassment and assault charges at a job site near Boyden.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Saturday, July 18, they arrested 42-year-old Julio Guerrero of Indianapolis, IN and 52-year-old Antonio Cardoso of Salisbury, NC. The arrests occurred at a farm job site northeast of Boyden, IA.
The arrests stemmed from an investigation into a report of a female employee who had allegedly been harassed and assaulted by two male employees at the job site.
As a result of the investigation, Cardoso was arrested and was charged with first degree harassment and assault. Guerrero was arrested and was charged with third degree harassment and assault.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol.
Primghar, Iowa — At the O’Brien County Fair in Primghar last night, a new Fair King, Fair Queen, and Fair Princess were selected during the Coronation Ceremony.
The 2015 King is Eric Koehlmoos. The 2015 O’Brien County Fair Queen is Jenna Heemstra. And selected as the 2015 O’Brien County Fair Princess was Stephanie Westra.
KIWA congratulates the winners, all the candidates, and their families.