CHRISTIE VILSACK SAYS A SERIES OF FALL DEBATES ARE BEING FINALIZED BETWEEN HER AND CONGRESSMAN STEVE KING FOR IOWA'S 4TH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE SAYS AMES AND MASON CITY ARE IN THE WORKS FOR SEPTEMBER, BUT NOTHING IS SET FOR SIOUX CITY YET;

MRS. VILSACK SAYS SHE BELIEVES SIOUX CITY WILL ALSO HOST A DEBATE, AS WELL AS OTHER LOCATIONS:

A SPOKESMAN FOR CONGRESSMAN KING'S CAMPAIGN SAYS NO DEBATES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED AT ANY LOCATION AND NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING BETWEEN THE TWO CAMPAIGNS.

WOODBURY COUNTY IS LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS TO PAY FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE EXPENSES FOR RESIDENTS.

PATTY ERICKSON-PUTTMANN, THE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES, SAYS THE STATE LEGISLATURE STILL HAS NOT DECIDED ON A FUNDING PLAN FOR STATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE, SO THAT'S PUT COUNTIES IN A DIFFICULT POSITION:

SHE SAYS THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ENDS ON JUNE 30TH, AND SEVERAL CURRENT FUNDING SOURCES WILL END AT THAT TIME IF THE STATE FAILS TO ACT:

ERICKSON-PUTTMANN SAYS AROUND 98 PER CENT OF THE 1450 CLIENTS SERVED BY THE COUNTY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE TITLE 19 FUNDING.

A DECISION ON SWITCHING FUNDING WILL DEPEND ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THE IOWA LEGISLATURE BEFORE THEY ADJOURN FOR THE YEAR.

THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR IOWA'S NEW 4TH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SAYS SHE'LL REIGN IN WASTEFUL SPENDING IN WASHINGTON IF ELECTED.

CHRISTIE VILSACK SPOKE ON HER FIVE POINT PLAN THAT SHE SAYS WOULD SAVE OVER 165 BILLION IN MEDICARE AND MEDICAID COSTS OVER THE NEXT DECADE:

WHEN QUESTIONED ON HOW THOSE FIGURES WERE CALCULATED, VILSACK COULDN'T GIVE SPECIFCS THOUGH:

VILSACK SAYS EVERY DEPARTMENT IN GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL TO WEED OUT WASTEFUL SPENDING.

SHE ALSO WANTS TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE WIC AND FOOD STAMP PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS CREATE A FEDERAL CONTRACTOR DATABASE TO HELP ELIMINATE WASTE AND FRAUD IN DEFENSE SPENDING.

VILSACK MADE HER COMMENTS AT AN APPEARANCE AT THE SANFORD CENTER.

A NEW MAJOR FOOD STORE HAS OPENED ITS DOORS IN MORNINGSIDE.
A RIBBON CUTTING OFFICALLY DEDICATED THE NEW FAREWAY FOOD STORE AT 4267 SERGEANT ROAD.

STORE MANGER MIKE HAMMEL SAYS THE NEW STORE IS BIGGER AND MORE MODERN THAN THE FORMER LOCATION IN THE TRANSIT PLAZA:

HAMMEL SAYS THE WHOLE STAFF TRANSFERRED FROM THE TRANSIT PLAZA STORE TO THE NEW LOCATION, PLUS AROUND 25 NEW WORKERS WERE HIRED. THE NEW STORE WILL HAVE LONGER HOURS THAN THE FORMER LOCATION:

THE NEW FAREWAY IS LOCATED AT THE FORMER TOYS R US LOCATION.