Iowans will likely be spending more money at grocery stores this year, but USDA economist Ricky Volpe  says the food price increase should not be dramatic. “We generally expect grocery store prices to increase maybe around 2.7 or 2.8 percent every year and the current outlook for 2014 really catches that right on the button,” Volpe says. One area where shoppers will keep seeing high prices will be in the beef aisle. Volpe says that’s mostly because cattle herds have gotten smaller since 2011.

“The number of cattle in the U.S. is comparable to where we were in the 1950s and of course we have a much larger population and we’re exporting a lot more, so consumers should not expect a huge price increase, but certainly for these very high prices to stay and even inch up a little bit more,” Volpe says. A wild card influence on food prices in 2014 will be if wholesalers and retailers decide to widen what have been narrow profit margins in recent years.

“There’s nobody in the food supply chain who can permanently absorb losses or reductions in their margins so that should pick up at some point in 2014 and should translate into a quickening of the pace of food price inflation over at least what we saw in 2013.”

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Council Bluffs say over the past few months, their Police Area Representative, (PAR) Unit conducted Tobacco Compliance checks at 71 businesses that have a tobacco license issued in Council Bluffs. During those checks, eight of those businesses sold tobacco to an underage informant working with the Council Bluffs P-D.

Authorities say citations were issued to each of the eight clerks at those businesses, with fines of $100 plus a surcharge and court costs. Civil fines and Administrative sanctions can be levied against the businesses, including a loss of their tobacco sales license.

The eight Council Bluffs businesses that failed the tobacco compliance check include: The Filling Station at 1531 2nd Ave.; Hy-Vee at 1745 Madison Ave.; Bucky’s at 1759 Madison Ave.; Eddy’s at 3434 Nebraska Ave.; Hy-Vee at 2323 W. Broadway; The Elks Lodge at 380 McKenzie Ave.; Tobacco Hut at 3134 Manawa Centre Dr., and Casey’s at 701 42nd Avenue.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Wednesday night of two men on burglary charges. 45-year old Lynn Kenneth Houtchens and 43-year old Richard Bryan Jenkins, both of Red Oak, were taken into custody at around 8:47-p.m. at 201 north 2nd Street, in Red Oak. Houtchens and Jenkins were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with Burglary in the 3rd degree and Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree. Their bonds were set at $5,000 each.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials are looking for groups to sponsor a site for a meal program that feeds students who may go hungry during the summer. The state Department of Education says the Summer Food Service Program provides healthy meals and snacks to children in low-income neighborhoods through the summer. Officials say the program currently reaches less than 10 percent of the more than 195,000 Iowa students who qualify for free or reduced-priced lunches during the school year.

The program is federally funded, but sponsors can help offset operational and administrative expenses. Participation involves a group providing a staff, supervision and distribution. Sponsors can include public or private nonprofit schools, colleges and universities. Local, municipal, county and other government entities are also encouraged to participate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new superintendent has been named to run a state facility in Clarinda that treats individuals with serious mental illness. Kris Weitzell has been the acting superintendent of the Clarinda Treatment Complex since Jan. 2 when the previous administrator Mark Lund retired. She had been named actiNg deputy superintendent in September 2013.

Her appointment as superintendent was announced Wednesday by Iowa Department of Human Services Director Chuck Palmer and Department of Corrections Director John Baldwin. Weitzell has worked in the Iowa Department of Corrections since 1982 and started her career as a correctional officer at Mitchellville. She rose through the ranks to become deputy warden at the prison in Newton prior to taking a job at the department’s central office.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A school bus monitor in Waterloo has been accused of assaulting an 11-year-old student during an altercation. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports 56-year-old Sandra Shelby was arrested Monday on suspicion of causing bodily injury.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The owners of a dog ordered by West Des Moines to be euthanized are appealing the decision in district court. Reyna Gonzalez Tello and Jorge Galvan of West Des Moines have filed an appeal in Polk County District Court. They want a judge to overrule the city’s declaration that the 2-year-old pit bull named Palomo and nicknamed Killer is vicious.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa and Iowa State University are rushing to build more dormitories as high enrollment causes soaring demand for student housing. Documents from the Iowa Board of Regents show Iowa State is seeking approval to build an estimated $50 million residence hall project to house 700 students. The Des Moines Register reports the universities have spent millions to lease off-campus apartment buildings due to a boom in enrollment.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Highly touted receiver Allen Lazard has affirmed his commitment to Iowa State, joining a group that might be the best of coach Paul Rhoads’ six recruiting classes. Rhoads began his signing day press conference Wednesday by holding up Lazard’s signed letter of intent, a not-so-subtle jab at those who questioned if Lazard — a four-star prospect — actually would sign with the Cyclones.