First on 13. The final debate before caucus time has republicans competing for airtime right here in des moines today. But now the event itselffis also in a fight for attention. This was the debate lineup just days ago. But one of those faces will be missing tonight. Channel 13s josh nguyen is live outside Iowa Events Center this morning to tell us more. Often times voter say they make up their minds in the last instead, trump is drawing crowds hes planned a fundraiser for veterans. It will take place at Drake University during the debate. He hasnt said which specific Veterans Organization will benefit. Or if its more than one. Doors open at five. And the event begins at eight. This morning candidates are reacting to trumps decision. Po136we 00 16 president ial candidate and i know all the press is here, 90 of their coverage is on this whole thing, oh Donald Trumps not going to show up, ted cruz is challenging him to a one on one, manoamano debate. Interesting sideshow. Greatest show on earth. this is not a show. This is serious we cannot lose this election, we have to turn this country around now. 402569 21 33 i think its a little weird. I dont see the benefit of him not to be worried about unfair questions when in fact he just dominates the press, its a strange thing for him to meanwhile ted cruz is pushing to book trump this weekend. This week trumps republican rival proposed the two do a oneonone debate. Now cruz says hes booked a time and place. All trump has to do is agree. The debate would take place saturday night in sioux city. It would last one hour, and the two would have to agree on a moderator. A superpac supporting ted cruz has also pledged oneandahalf Million Dollars to veterans if trump agrees to it. Hillary clinton is asking that another democratic debate be put together lastminute. President ial candidatei would and the campaigns to agree that we can debate in New Hampshire next week. That is what im hoping will happen. Clinton is pushing for the msnbc this. Sanders in the three most recent New Hampshire polls. Both clinton and sanders remain focused on iowa today. The two will makes stops across the state. Rick santorum, carly fiorina, and rand paul also make stops leading up to tonights republican debate. A polk county medical examiner is calling the death of a a polk county medical examiner is calling the death of a wellknown metro architect suspicious. 62year old kirk blunck was found dead sunday. Police say he fell down a flight of stairs at the teachout building in the east village. They say there was no indication he had been assaulted. An ankeny mother is in trouble with the law after intervening in middle school bullying. Alisha morton says her daughter has been the victim of bullying since last to take things into her own hands. She went to Northview Middle School to confront the students she says were bullying her daughter. Thats when things got physical. She says another student, a 9th grade girl, stepped forward and 17 48 4148 i put one arm out. Its not like i took two hands and aggressively pushed her. I put my arm out and said no, you know, this is gonna stop. morton claims she only put her hand out to block the student. Shes now charged with assault. The Ankeny School district and Ankeny Police are not commenting on the situation. A Chinese National is charged with stealing from iowas corn fields this morning. Mo hailong is a naturalized us citizen. Authorities say he is one of six people who stole plants from Dupont Pioneer and monsanto. The plants equaled tens of millions of dollars. They intended to use them to share trade secrets with an ag company from china. Mo will now serve five years in prison. And may be deported after his release. Melting snow and ice is raising concern in the quad cities. An ice jam caused the rock river to spill into peoples yards where it then melts. It could send the water into their homes. Theyre now hoping for a slow thaw so it melts bit by bit and we learned more this week about the what caused the death of former iowa football star tyler sash. Doctors say he suffered from from cte. Coming up. Sashs mother opens up about the degenerative brain condition he was living with. And how she hopes his death can help other families in the future. Earlier this week we learned more about the death of a former football hmm hmm hmm hmm hmmhmm theyve all come to look for america all come to look for america im bernie sanders, and i approve this message. The time has come to make a choice. About which candidate can actually make a difference for you. In a world as complex as this, we need a president as experienced as hillary. In the situation room. At the negotiating table. And always on your side. With a real plan to get incomes rising. Reduce drug prices. Win equal pay for women. And protect Social Security and medicare for seniors. Shell build on obamacare, not start over. Break through the gridlock, not add to it. Defend planned parenthood, not attack it. Stand up to the gun lobby, not protect it. Lead on foreign policy, not ignore it. We need a president with the experience and determination to get the job done. Im running to make a difference. A real difference for you and your families across our country. Im Hillary Clinton and i approve this message. Earlier this week we learned more about the death of a star from iowa. Doctors say tyler sash suffered from cte. A degenterative brain after the break. What his mother tells us about sashs struggles. And why she hopes his death can lead to important conversations there are those who say we cannot defeat a corrupt political system and fix a rigged economy. But i believe we need to lift our vision above the obstacles in place and look to the american horizon. To a nation where every child can not only dream of going to college, but attend one. Where quality healthcare will be a birthright of every citizen. Where a good job is not a wish, but a reality. Where women receive equal pay and a living wage is paid to all. An america where after a lifetime of labor, there is time for rest and grandchildren. A nation that defends our people and our values, but no longer carries so much of that burden alone. I know we can create that america if we listen to our hearts. Im bernie sanders. I approve this message, and i ask you to join with us at the caucuses on monday night. Thank you. Earlier this week we learned former hawkeye star and nfl player, tyler sash was suffering from cte. The 27year old died suddenly back in september. We now know an accidental overdose of Prescription Medication wasnt the only thing that played a role in his death. Medical experts announced recently he was suffering from cte, a progressive, degenerative condition caused by repetitive brain trauma. Sash suffered at least five concussions over his football career. Now his mother is left questioning the sport they grew up loving. Channel 13s Justin Surrency sat down with her yesterday. Here is what she had to say. Never would have been tyler sash again the sash family has been told tyler was the 98th athlete to diagnosed with cte after his death. Heres just a portion of those names. Hall of famers frank gifford, Kansas City Chiefs lineback jovan belcher, who shot and killed his girlfriend before driving to the chiefs practice facility and committing suicide. Super bowl champion dave duerson, who helped the nfl try to cover up revelations about cte before he, too, committed suicide. At this point, cte can only be confirmed after death and there is no treatment or cure for it. Doctors say the best way to prevent congress doesnt regulate wall street. Wall street regulates congress. Its a rigged economy that sends most new wealth to the top 1 . And its held in place by a corrupt political system where wall street banks and billionaires buy elections. My campaign is funded by over two and a half million small contributions. People who know you cant level the Playing Field by taking more money from wall street. Im bernie sanders, and i approve this message. One of the areas that ive been particularly interested in is the area of children. We intend to be sure that everybody in this room is somebody. No matter where theyre born, no matter to whom they are born. I want to make sure that every child has a chance to live up to his or her godgiven potential. Ive spent my life fighting for children, and im not stopping now. Im Hillary Clinton, and i have always approved this message. Is the area of children. All of us have a responsibility, to ourselves, to our children, to each other. We intend to be sure that everybody in this room and every child in this state is somebody. No matter where theyre born, no matter to whom they are born. Our childrens future is shaped both by the values of their parents and the policies of their nation. Its time to protect the next generation, fill the lives of our children with possibility and hope, open up the doors so that every child has a chance to live up to his or her godgiven potential. Ive spenty life fighting for children, families and our country, and im not stopping now. crowd cheers im Hillary Clinton,