look at the people and events that shape our community.this is iowa in focus.this week -- final push to the end of the 2016 election.the tragedy in des moines -- nat pop -- changing policing in iowa. welcome to iowa in focus -- we're giving context to what happens in the headlines and on the campaign trail. trail.that starts with the barnstorm. the biggest iowa news of week had nothing to do with pol. politics.early wednesday morning -- two police officers were shot and killed while they sat in their patrol cars. 39 year old des moines officer tony bimenio and 24 year old urbandale officer justin martin were found with fatal gunshot wounds.their accused killer is scott greene -- who has a history of run-ins with police. that same day -- tim kaine and bill clinton were scheduled were to be in des moines.they

and waterloo.kaine addressed the shooting -- but also pushed early voting ... ...and bill clinton made one last appeal to voters in waterloo.they did talk about the killings in des moines -- along with republican congressman rod blum -- who was also in the waterloo area. "wedont' know everything we'll know overt eh next few days. it may speak to mental health it may speack to the over proliferation of guns. every tragedy has to be every family has to be supporte" supported.""it isvery very tragic and hard to believe in america something like that could happen.there is never a justification forkilling someone who spends his or her life trying to protect you and we pray for their families." the biggest ?national news of last week just lingered over this week. f-b-i director

friday that the f-b-i was looking at more hillary clinton emails. that got him a lot of criticism -- especially after it came out that when he released that information -- no one in the f-b-i had even reviewed any of the emails. even iowa's republican senior senator chuck grassley thought comey was out of line. line.he wrote comey a letter -- saying that senator grassley thought "you clearly faced a difficult decision about whether, what and how much to disclose about this new information. any choice could election." grassley says he agrees that comey should have come forward -- but that he should have released more information about what is actually being investigated. investigated.the letter continues -- without additionall context, your disclosure is not fiar to congresss, the american people, or secretary clinton. the factual context is important. but before then -- open enrollemnt for the affordable care act started -- and the trump ticket took aim at the healthcare act.just a few days ago -- we learned that the

what he can to tie hillary clinton to it. "insurers are leaving, premiums are soaring, doctors are quitting, companies are fleeing and deductibles go through the roof. workers hours are being cut, hiring is frozen, totally frozen, and wages are being slashed, obamacare means higher prices, fewer choices and lower quality. anne holton was campainging for hillary clinton and her husband -- and vice presidential nominee -- senator tim kaine.holton says she's admired clinton for helping families and children -- and that no one is more qualified than clinton be president.while the affordable care act is taking a lot of criticism -- holton says clinton is pushing for better healthcare -- starting with pharmaceutical costs. "both she and tim have focused on that as an issue - we need to figure out what we can do - we have controls in place with

costs, but we don't use for medicare, that's something that's a potentially easy fix, really." that same day -- donald trump's son -- donald trump junior -- spoke to students at iowa state university talking about how they'll be the ones stuck with the decisions made by politicians now -- like obamacare. "there's the difference between optics and actually having insurance - for the average person it's really penal (butted up have a 9,000 dollar deductible, you're coming out of pocket for all of that - you basically don't have insurance."." let's go inside iowa politics -- to talk about the people not trying to move into the white house. negative campaign ads are a part of politics no one likes -- but that many voters have accepted as a necessary evil. but -- there is careful planning that goes into the negative ads we're seeing in local races in 2016. 2016. while voters have to deal with months have to deal with

daunting music -- it turns out -- there is a strategy to when negative campaign ads hit the airwaves -- and why. why.kelly oeltjenbruns and hans hassell studied 14- hundred campaign emails from 100 randomly selected house races in the 2012 cycle. conventional wisdom says campaigns start positive -- get negative -- and then finish positive. positive.and that's what you see with open seat races racesin open seats, candidate is well known and they say you don't know me and let me introduce myself.in 2014 -- that was what happened in iowa's first congressional district race between businessman rod blum -- who had never held elected office before -- and long time state house representative pat murphy. murphy.blum was a political unknown and said look, this is who i am and this is why you should vote for me. now he has a record and monica vernon can say this is the battle that

difference between an open seat race -- and one with a candidate seeking re-election -- it's the knowledge about the incumbent's positions any i. issue.an incumbent has a set of positions and they've been included in political battles and theres a distinct political ground on which they're fighting.xxx they start stright off with the negativity.iowans have seen a lot of that in iowa's first and third district races -- where monica vernon is fighting congressman blum -- and jim mowrer is trying to take out david young. competativeness matters too. kelly says races that have a heavy front runner are less likely to get negative towards the candidate likely to lose. lose.whether you're slightly ahead or sligtly behind you're just as likely to go negative, 50-60% of the time when you're getting really competitive. don't think you're safe once you turn off the t-v.generally the same campaign message is sent out through all different mediums -- whether its' negative or positive. that race in iowa's first district has brought one organization into town to turn

specifically to beat congressman blum. blum.the progressive turnout project sent out this mailer -- trying to lean on voters to vote -- based on the peer pressure of their neighbors voting.they specifically ask voters to support monica vernon against rod blum. blum.there's an even more overt appeal in a letter they send out with residents' official voting records.this is the letter send to my home -- there is shows my voting record -- and om check back after the election is over.i ?did vote in 2008 -- 2010 -- and 2012 -- i just voted in new jersey -- where i was living at the time. time.both republican secretary of state paul pate and democrat linn county auditor joel miller say they don't like this kind of guilt-trip strategy -- but there is nothing illegal about these groups sending them out. after the break...we run through some of the ballot measures you'll see throughout

myths about casting your vote. myths about casting your vote. vernon: they're like a lot of iowans -- they get up early, get the kids to school, and get to work. but too often, washington stacks the deck against us. we need to build an economy that works for the middle class. instead of giving breaks to big business, we need to cut taxes for the middle class and small business.

heading to your local polling place -- and casting your ballot is your right as an american -- but it can also be pretty intimidating.so we're taking the time to lay out some of the biggest parts of the ballot you'll have to navigate -- and also debunking some voter myths. myths. in the corridor area -- there are three main ballot measures you'll find -- but only in linn and johnson county.the first one handles an issue that's been a focus of work at the state house for months -- water quality.des moines water works is suing three rural counties for the nitrates that their farmers put into the water -- and governor branstad has tried to get funding for water quality iniatives last legislative session -- but the state house didn't take any action on it.the county supervisors say in the next twenty or thirty years -- linn county could have similar issues -- so they're asking to approve a 40-million dollar

various steps to improve water quality -- while also improving parks under their care.the other big issues on the ballot in linn county is about the county board of supervisors -- and if they should stay at five members -- or be shrunk down to three. weeks ago -- we talked to brent oleson -- who represents district four -- which is mostly rural linn county. county.people that vote for me that i directly represnt are from marion, are from central city says a strong cedar rapids is good for all of linn county. but with just three seats -- the board may be dominated by supervisors elected by the voters who live in the city -- and something like the much needed improvements on squaw creek ridge road and lakeside road may have never happened. oleson says that's how it was before the board expanded in the late 2000's -- when he says road budgets and rural priorities suffered.he says the same thing happened when the cedar crossing casino project was figuring out ?who

asked to bond 25-million dollars to build a parking garage and own the parking garage for the casino. and i fought that and said no. "he says the temptation to become what he calls an "extension of the city council" is there all the time -- it's up to the supervisors to push back. "we're working with them, but keeping them in check, it protects the county taxpayer." one of the most vocal opponents of the supervisors is kevin kula.one thing that i have found out since i started going to the meetings and stuff is that there's not let alone three full time.he argues that rural linn county isn't represented when the supervisors give hundreds of thousands of dollars to artwork that ends up throughout cedar rapids -- while the abbie center gets shutdown.linn county supervisor john harris also represents a rural part of the county -- and says what's clear over the past six months is there are some people who just don't like what the supervisors are doing -- and how they do it."i'm not sure if that's coming from the silent majority -- or the

considering decreasing the percentage of signatures they need for initiative and referendum pentitions. much of the 2016 focus is on the presidential race -- but there's another big vote on the back of the ballot in iowa. steffi lee explains this year's judicial retention elect. election. designed to look like an election ballot - you may have seen these big black yard signs calling to remove justices appel, cady and hecht. sot: drew zahn, the family leader 07:51:20:17 "we're ballot over and vote no on the three iowa supreme court justices."social conservative group the family leader was one of the main forces driving out three justices after the unanimous 2009 decision on same sex marriage in iowa.this year - they're urging iowans to think back to that ruling - as well as the court's 2015 decision to strike down the telemedicine abortion ban.sot: drew zahn, the family leader 07:51:46:28 "these three justices are a prime example

constitutional limits to their own power -- and that's why they need to go."steffi: the iowa state bar association says these justices have made every decision based on the law and by voting yes to retain the justices - it ensures that political motivations won't get into the courts.nat pop guy cookchair of the fair and impartial courts committee guy cook points out these supreme court justices all received high marks from iowa lawyers on their judicial evaluations.sot: guy cook 06:42:55:19 "they're asked to rate the judges on their temperament, their knowledge of the law, how they treat people, they get a rating."the iowa state bar association launched a website where voters can access these reviews.they've also put up vote yes signs -- pressing iowans to help maintain fair and impartial courts.their main message - sot: guy cook, 06:41:18:10 "judges are not politicians"is that the makeup of iowa's courts should never be driven by politics - but a

cook, 06:43:37:08 'the people who know these judges best -- the lawyers who appear before them, have said they're all worthy of retention." you can find judicial performance evaluations on our website. we've also gotten some information about people being confused about some of the most basic parts of voting in a general election -- so we'll lay out exactly how this process works.first off -- you need to be registered to vote -- but in iowa -- you're allowed to register to vote ballot -- when you vote early ?or when you vote on election day.you just need to provide i-d -- and fill out the form to register.you can do this online or by mail -- but those deadlines have already passed -- but you are able to do it in person at your voting location.as soon as you're registered -- you can cast your ballot. ballot.if you'd like to vote early -- you can do it at any county auditor's office -- or any location that they designate as a place to vote ea. early.early voting started september 29th and runs

election day -- -- and your precinct doesn't ma. matter.if you're waiting for election day -- then you just need to find your specific prec. precinct.if you've voted in iowa before -- you don't need an i-d. i-d.but if you're first time voting -- a current photo i-d -- current utility bill -- current bank statement -- or a copy of a paycheck or government document with your name and address will all work as a form of identification. identification.one big problem we've been hearing about is voters registered with will be a problem.in the general election -- the party your registered with doesn't matter at all.you can still vote for whoever you want to vote for. you vote will still count. coming up next...we dive deeper into the effort from republicans to try to save their majority in the senate.

? ? you hear my voice, you hear that sound ? ? like thunder, gonna shake your ground ? ? you held me down ? ? get ready 'cause i've had enough ? ? i got the eye of the tiger, a fighter ? ? dancing through the fire ? ? 'cause i am the champion ? ? and you're gonna hear me roar ? ? ? roar, oh, oh, oh ? ? roar ?

? dancing through the fire ? ? 'cause i am the champion ? ? and you're gonna hear me roar ? ? oh, louder ? ? and you're gonna hear me roar ? i'm hillary clinton and i approve this message. welcome back.in the real story this week -- we're taking a deeper look at...

to save their majority in the senate. the house of representatives is safely republican -- but the senate is in play in 2016 and it could have a massive impact on the most basic ways that congress works -- or doesn. doesn't. in a 2016 election full of f-b-i investigations -- and accusations of sexual assault -- earning a spot in congress may have less to do with riding presidential coattails than ever before. before.both parties are aware of the potential at the top of the ticket to affect races farther down. that's roughly how it's played out in ohio's senate race for incumbent republican rob portman.he's considered a moderate -- who could have been vulnerable in a time when the "fringe-outside" candidate is popular.instead -- he's outraised his opponent by millions -- and has a double- digit lead in the polls.iowa senator joni ernst says his race is a good benchmark for the rest of the senate. senate.he has demonstrated the

that and they want him to return to the u.s. senate.in wisconsin -- one of the few successful tea party republicans is in a much harder fight.ron johnson rode the anti-obamacare wave into congress in 2010 -- and was trailing at one point by double digits.he's tightened the race since then -- but wisconsin went democrat in the last two presidential races. races.it looks at this point like he won't be relected this year.new hampshire is more than just the nation's first primary -- sitting democratic governor maggie hassan is challenging republican seator kelly ayotte for her senate g-o-p to support president obama's plan to cut carbon emissions -- but hassan is trying to hold her accountable for donald trump's statements. statements.illinois is shaping up to be one of the democrats biggest senate victories.republcian mark kirk was a vulnerable incumbent anyway -- before he and his democratic challenger -- tammy duckworth -- met on a debate st.

decended actually ?is duckworth duckworth actually ?is decended from revolutionary war veterans -- and she has a purple heart from fighting in iraq.the current rules of the senate mean that you need 60 votes to end debate on most issues and begin voting to pass legislation.it's safe to say that whoever owns the senate majority on november 9th won't have 60 seats. seats.of the re-election -- shown here in gray --9 of them are safely democratic seats -- 14 are safely republican.that means that democrats need only 6 to take a majority.if we end with both parties locking in 50 seats -- the newly elected vice president will break all ties. the majority party in the senate also controls the committees -- which has held up president obama's supreme court nomination for nearly a year now.iowa senator chuck grassley only took over the

to stall that confirmation process when republicans got their senate majority in 2014. 2014.another concern for some republicans has been voter fraud.donald trump has stirred concerns that if he loses -- it would be because the process would have been manipulated in a way to keep him out of the white house.but -- around the nation -- the efforts to maintain election integrity is just as controversial. 20 states across the u-s don't make registered voters show i- d every time they head to the polls -- iowa is one of on the other end of the spectrum is where you find states like wisconsin -- kansas -- and a few others -- where ballots won't count unless a voter can provide some form of identification. it's nearly impossible to find an elected official who would favor making it easier to commit voter fraud.the problem comes with the documentation -- and sometimes -- the cost -- needed to get an official i-d.generally -- those costs keep minority voters from getting the documentation they

holder has compared laws like the ones in those states to "poll taxes" that were around in the jim crow era specificially to keep black voters from casting their ballo. ballots."we're the only advanced democracy on earth that purposely tries to make it harder for people to vote." right now -- in north carolina -- the naacp is filing a federal lawsuit over what they call a last minute purging of the voter rolls.grace hardison was one of the voters who wants to cast her ballot -- but her registration was cancel you were going to get this much attention? attention?"i sure didn't. anybody that would've told me that i'd tell them there's something wrong."the naacp says thousands of voter registrations were removed after they were challenged when mass mailings were returned.that led to one third party group to challenge the residency of the people who were supposed to be living at that address.the naacp says in many instances -- the voters ?do live at the address -- or moved within the county -- and are still elligible to vote. many critics say the steps to prevent voter fraud don't

years -- one professor found 31 instances of voter fraud that would have been prevented by stricter laws.over roughly the same time -- the margin of victory in even the tightest races have been hundreds or even thousands of votes. iowa's voter i-d laws are generally pretty lenient.you only need to show an i-d the first time you vote -- as long as your information hasn't changed.but this year -- des moines police charged a woman with election misconduct afte twice.the polk county attorney says it's one of the few examples he's actually seen of voter fraud in 25 years. coming up next...we're almost done -- but so is the 2016

hillary clinton: i'm hillary clinton and i approve this message. vo: in times of crisis america depends on steady leadership. donald trump: "knock the crap out of them, would you? seriously..."vo: clear thinking... donald trump: "i know more about isis than the generals do, believe me." vo: and calm judgment. donald trump: "and you can tell them to one wrong move. donald trump audio only: "i would bomb the sh_t out of

now -- we look at their voice -- what your officals are posting on social media. media.halloween was monday -- so we got some pretty great halloweeen tweets. tweets.vice president joe

getting ready when we found this picture -- and the camption -- "all you need for a biden halloween: pumpkins and aviators."the vice president is known for wearing those sunglasses everytwhere. everytwhere.on the other side of the aisle -- former presidental candidate -- and current texas senator ted cruz went trick or treating with his young daughters as the phantom of the opera. you can follow along on twitter and facebook all week long -- and be sure to follow along on election night tuesday. we'll be pretty active o platforms while we watch the returns come in. every week we'll end with the week ahead... ahead...we all know what the campaings are up to this week. week.election day is tuesday. thanks for watchingbe sure to tune in next week to get the clear facts on iowa in focus.

vernon: i'm monica vernon, and i approve this message. congressman blum's smear campaign -- misleading and false. the truth -- monica vernon donated every pay raise to charity and cut taxes for us. but multi-millionaire blum broke his word, keeping nearly $200,000 in taxpayer-funded paychecks. blum wasted even more of your tax dollars on himself. worse, he tried to cut medicare

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