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PM Newscasts: Deadly Grain Bin Accident, Candidates and State Fair Leader

Authorities say a 58-year-old man from Lake View, Iowa died after becoming trapped in a grain bin in Sac County.

Officials say Garry Leonard became stuck after he entered the partially filled bin to break up some corn yesterday afternoon

Another worker tried to pull him free but failed.   

Firefighters were able to get him out about 45 minutes later, however he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Insurers for the developer and construction company involved in the fatal collapse of a building in downtown Sioux Falls in 2016 will pay more than $4 million to settle lawsuits filed in the aftermath.

An agreement reached in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and approved by a judge this week ends most of the litigation resulting from the collapse of the former Copper Lounge building.

The collapse killed Ethan McMahon, an employee of a construction company and left a person who lived upstairs trapped in the rubble for hours.

Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro told state fairgoers today Congress must act in the wake of mass shootings in Texas and Ohio.    

Credit IOWA PUBLIC RADIO
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JULIAN CASTRO

An audience member asked the former San Antonio mayor and Obama cabinet official why he’s not in El Paso following a mass shooting there last weekend.

Speaking at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox, Castro says El Paso doesn’t need more presidential candidates.

 “What they really need is they need action, they need Congress, they need Mitch McConnell to get the senate back in session and to pass common sense gun safety legislation. That’s what we can do for the people of El Paso, and the people of Dayton, and everywhere else.” 

Castro released a new policy proposal Friday morning to combat white nationalism and gun violence.

He says he would take executive action as president to end background check loopholes and deny gun sales to people with arrest warrants.

Credit IOWA PUBLIC RADIO
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ANDREW YANG

Democrat Andrew Yang says his plan to give each American citizen one-thousand dollars a month could help Iowans repeatedly affected by flooding to relocate.

Speaking at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair, the entrepreneur and presidential candidate said this would stimulate the economy and help create new jobs as more are lost to technological advancements.

After his speech, Yang said the country needs to get smarter about developing areas affected by climate change. Then he was asked if he thinks people living in flood-prone areas should move.

 “It’s unrealistic to say hey, Americans should move wholesale in big waves. And my comment at the debate was we need to put money into Americans’ hands so they can move to higher ground.”

Yang also highlighted that he’s getting support from some people who voted for President Trump. He says that’s because he’s focused on solving a lot of the same problems that Trump talks about, but he’s proposing very different solutions.

Pressure is mounting for Democratic candidate for president, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper.  He’s at the bottom in polls and low on campaign cash.

Many in his home state want him to trade in his presidential bid for a run for the U.S. Senate.

However, while in Sioux City yesterday, Hickenlooper insisted his focus was on the presidential race.

Hickenlooper also traveled to Storm Lake for a schedule appearance at The Better Day Café this morning.

Presidential candidate Kamala Harris was also in Sioux City last night at the Anderson Dance Pavilion.

More than 100 people showed up at the riverfront in Sioux City to hear her 3 a.m. agenda.  Those are issues keeping people up at night,  according to the U.S. Senator from California.  

Credit Siouxland Public Media
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS

“How will we fight for the America we believe in So, we can solve the problems that people face every single day.”

This was a similar message she delivered in Sioux City during a visit in early July.

Harris does say the United States needs reasonable gun safety laws.  However, she says Congress lacks the courage to act on gun control.

Harris kicked off a five-day tour of Iowa in Sioux City. 

A new poll by Monmouth University in New Jersey shows former Vice President Joe Biden with the lead in Iowa at 28%.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is up a dozen points from a poll done in April.  She stands at 19%.

California Senator Kamala Harris is now in third place among likely Democratic caucus goers at 11%.  

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders saw his support almost cut in half at 9%.

And, in fifth place South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 8%.  

Credit Facebook - Kim Sitzmann
DAVE HOFFMAN AND DAUGHTER AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR

All the other Democratic hopefuls have 3% support or less.

And, the Iowa State Fair kicked off yesterday under the watchful eye of Dave Hoffman of Le Mars.  Hoffman serves as the president of the board of directors of the fair. 

“There are 40,000 entries here.  Everything from cookies to Clydesdales.”

Hoffman has spent his adult life helping behind-the scenes at fairs, including the Plymouth County Fair.  He has served on the board of directors for the Iowa State Fair, representing 17 different county fairs in northwest Iowa.  He shares his favorite thing about the annual event.

“The highlight here is just all of the great people you meet.  We have a lot of great people and it’s a safe place.”

Hoffman says there is increased security at the fair to make sure families are safe and sound visiting one of the most popular summer attractions in the state of Iowa.

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