AMES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says his department will lead an agricultural trade mission to China at the end of this month. Acting Agriculture Under Secretary Michael Scuse will lead the group to Chengdu and Shanghai, two of China’s largest cities, from March 23rd to the 28th. The former Iowa governor announced the trip in Ames yesterday.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — An Illinois man has turned himself in on Iowa charges in a fatal boat collision along the Mississippi River in Dubuque. Thirty-nine-year-old Kent Hoffman of Galena, Illinois arrived at the Dubuque County sheriff’s office yesterday. He faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter and operating a boat while intoxicated on September 1st. The driver of the other boat, 45-year-old James Sutton of Maquoketa (muh-KOH’-kih-tuh) was killed.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A 28-year-old Fort Dodge woman has been accused of stabbing her mother. The Messenger reports that Jennifer Dietz was arrested Wednesday after the attack on 61-year-old Joleen Dietz around 4 p.m. A Webster County jailer says Dietz remained in custody yesterday, pending $7,000 bail.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City man has arrested for allegedly threatening attorneys in the Johnson County public defender’s office in Iowa City. Randy Chipman is charged with first-degree harassment. Police say he allegedly called the office on February 25th and left threatening voicemails for five attorneys. Police say the office has made arrangements to install a new security door.