DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The first U.S.-China Agriculture Symposium will be held in Des Moines next week. U.S. Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack says China’s Vice President Xi (shee) Jinping (JIHN’ Pihng) will be accompanied by Chinese Agriculture Minister Han Changfu. Thursday’s symposium will be held at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s congressional delegation wants answers from the Air Force on recommendations to retire 21 Iowa Air National Guard fighter planes in Des Moines and replace them with unmanned drones. Republican Senator Charles Grassley says it’s up to Congress to approve the plan and National Guard advocates are signaling they won’t go quietly. Democratic Senator Tom Harkin vows to do everything to keep the IAG’s F-16 fighter jets flying.

IDA GROVE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have found a man’s body in western Iowa’s Ida County. The sheriff’s office says a county worker found the body in a ditch near the town of Arthur yesterday morning. An autopsy is pending. No other details were immediately released.

CHICAGO (AP) — An animal control official says 43 puppies rescued from a parked van in southwest Chicago were packed into cramped carriers without enough food or water. Police say two Iowa men have been charged with one misdemeanor count each of failing to meet animal owner duties and 43 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. Bond was set at $10,000 each at a Cook County hearing on Wednesday.