THE NUMBER OF DEBATES THAT REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN STEVE KING AND DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER CHRISTIE VILSACK WILL HAVE FOR THE 4TH DISTRICT SEAT IN CONGRESS CONTINUES TO BE UP FOR DEBATE.

WEDNESDAY KING SAID HE WOULD PARTICIPATE IN 8 DEBATES, BUT THE VILSACK CAMPAIGN IS REFUTING THAT NUMBER.

VILSACK SPOKESMAN SAM ROECKER SAYS THEY HAVE NOT AGREED TO THE LIST OF SITES AND DEBATES KING ISSUED.

ROECKER SAYS VILSACK HAS AGREED TO THREE DEBATES, BUT THE DETAILS HAVE NOT BEEN FINALIZED.

HE SAYS THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING ADDITIONAL DEBATES WITH BOTH KING'S CAMPAIGN AND MEDIA OUTLETS IN THE DISTRICT.

SOUTH SIOUX CITY POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A SUSPECT WHO ROBBED THE CASEY'S GENERAL STORE AT 1424 DAKOTA AVENUE WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

POLICE SAY THE MALE SUSPECT ENTERED THE STORE AROUND 10PM, DISPLAYED A KNIFE AND DEMANDED MONEY FROM THE CLERK ON DUTY. THE SUPSECT LEFT THE STORE WITH THE CASH.

HE IS DESCRIBED AS 5' 7' WITH DARK COLORED SKIN AND WAS WEARING DARK CLOTHES WITH A RED BANDANA HIDING HIS FACE.

YOU CAN SEE VIDEO OF THE SUSPECT ON THE SOUTH SIOUX CITY POLICE FACEBOOK PAGE. 
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE ROBBERY IS ASKED TO CONTACT SOUTH SIOUX POLICE AT 494-7555.

The Iowa Legislature has adjourned a session in which lawmakers took on some big issues but emerged with little legislation.

It took an additional three weeks past the scheduled adjournment before lawmakers agreed on the state's $6.2 billion budget and adjourned Wednesday.

The state will end the year with a large ending balance. That reflects an improving economy, which has boosted tax revenue, and a Republican desire to spend less than the state receives in tax
revenue.

The state also will have hundreds of millions of dollars in reserve. Gov. Terry Branstad called for bold education reform but got an unfunded policy bill.

Lawmakers failed once again to find compromise on his property tax reform proposal despite trying up to the final hour.

A NEW CAMAPIGN AGAINST SYNTHETIC DRUGS HAS BEEN LAUNCHED IN IOWA. DALE WOOLERY IS THE DIRECTOR OF IOWA'S OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY.

HE SAYS THE "SPEAK OUT AGAINST SYNTHETIC DRUGS CAMPAIGN IS AIMED AT PRODUCTS SOLD OVER THE COUNTER LIKE HERBAL INCENSE AND OTHER MIXTURES THAT ARE BEING MISUSED AS NARCOTICS:

LINDA KALIN OF THE IOWA POISON CENTER SAYS CASES INVOLVING THE SYNTHETIC DRUGS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE SINCE THEIR FIRST CALL INVOLVING THE SUBSTANCES CAME IN DURING SEPTEMBER OF 2010:

IOWA LAWMAKERS HAVE SENT GOVERNOR BRANSTAD A BILL THIS WEEK TO OUTLAW UP TO 400 SYNTHETIC DRUG COMPOUNDS IN THE STATE. WOOLERY SAYS THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST LAWS IN THE NATION.

IOWANS WILL BE HEARING AND SEEING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING THE SYNTHETIC DRUGS IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.