An Iowa State University study finds there’s not enough evidence to show fertilizer companies are taking advantage of inflation to raise prices. The study was requested by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller earlier this year because of fertilizer price spikes. I-S-U ag economist Chad Hart, one of the study’s authors, says several factors caused fertilizer prices to rise, including supply chain problems, energy market fluctuations and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The price of ammonia is up 126-percent compared to a year ago. Farmers use nitrogen, phosphate and potassium-based fertilizers to help their plants grow. Hart says there was a “perfect storm” of factors but there’s not enough evidence to say whether fertilizer companies are using their market power to hike prices.

The I-S-U study predicts fertilizer prices will decline in the second half of this year but they won’t return to where they were in mid-2020 because farmer demand is high and supply chain problems still exist.

Travel industry experts predict the upcoming Fourth of July holiday will be the busiest-ever for travel by car, truck, S-U-V and van in Iowa and nationwide, despite record or near-record gasoline prices. Meredith Mitts, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says the forecast predicts nearly 48-million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday, and 42-million will travel by motor vehicle.

The average price for gas in Iowa is now $4.68 a gallon, down from the all-time record set last Wednesday of $4.76. The national average is $4.94. A year ago, gas in Iowa was averaging $2.89. Based on past holiday history, Mitts says pump prices will likely bounce again before the Fourth of July arrives.

The demand for travel started rising earlier this year, she says, and it’s not tapering off. People are ready for a break, Mitts says, and despite higher prices, they’re still finding ways to take that much-needed vacation.

While air travel is forecast to be slightly stronger than last year, domestic air travel volumes are expected to remain well below pre-pandemic levels. She blames recent issues with air travel and ongoing concerns of cancellations and delays due to pilot shortages.

Iowa Democrats presented dramatic changes for the 2024 Iowa Caucuses to national party leaders today (Thursday). Iowa is one of 16 states and Puerto Rico applying to be among the five states that will vote first in the next presidential election cycle. Iowa Democrats propose using mail-in voting in the weeks ahead of Caucus Night, with the winner announced that evening. Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn says that means precinct leaders will no longer have to count heads in the room and use complex mathematical formulas to determine which candidates get how many delegates.

Former Iowa Democratic Party chairman Scott Brennan, a member of the Democratic National Committee, says a mail-in process to indicate presidential preferences was used in Nevada, North Dakota and Hawaii in 2020.

Democratic National Committee member Mo Elleithee (eh-LAY-thee) in January suggested Iowa’s Caucuses didn’t meet the list of standards party leaders are looking for in a state that kicks-off the presidential campaign, but he’s praising these proposed revisions.

Frank Leone (lee-OWN), another member of the Democratic National Committee, was in Iowa to observe the 2020 caucuses.

Other members of the committee suggested if New Hampshire retains the first primary, it would consider the new Iowa Caucus process very similar to their primary. New Hampshire also has a state law requiring it to hold the nation’s first presidential primary. Brennan, the former Iowa Democratic Party chairman, pointed out Iowa law requires both major parties to hold Caucuses eight days before any other state votes.

A final decision from the national Democratic Party is expected in August. Republicans have already set their 2024 calendar and the Iowa G-O-P’s Caucuses remain first.

The town of Denison is holding its very first Immigrant Heritage Festival today (Friday). The president of the Denison chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, Alma Puga, says she organized the festival as a way for immigrants of all backgrounds to share their cultures.

The 2020 census showed more than a third of the community is foreign-born. Puga says in recent years she’s seen a growth in the immigrant community – with residents from Sudan, Laos, and Central American communities. Patty Ritchie is helping organize the event. She says it will be a chance to highlight all the different languages and customs that makeup Denison. She says she wishes more Iowans understood the amount of diversity the state holds.

The event will also serve as a fundraiser for a scholarship fund for Latino seniors at Denison High School. Ritchie hopes the festival can help them increase the number of students who receive financial aid. The festival will feature everything from cultural dances to a parade to the unveiling of the community’s newest mural. It’s a work of local art that reads “Immigration is Beautiful.”

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests on Thursday.

The first arrest involved Sheriff’s Officials serving three separate warrants on 53-year-old Rene Telesforo Valdivia of Fort Collins, Colorado for Failure to Appear on two counts of Possession of Marijuana and one count of Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd Offense. Valdivia was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Also Thursday Montgomery County Deputies met with Deputies from Mills County Sheriff’s Office who were transporting 18-year-old Michael Anthony Monson of Omaha to the Mills/Montgomery County line. Monson had a warrant for OWI 1st Offense. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

(Updated w/corrections) – Four people were injured following a collision between a car and a Caterpillar construction vehicle in Union County on Thursday afternoon.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the accident happened at approximately 1:55 p.m. when a 2015 Chevy Malibu driven by 68-year-old James Teague of Lenox was traveling southbound on N Cherry Street Road at the same time as a 2012 Caterpillar 140H construction vehicle owned by Union County Secondary Roads was traveling the same direction. The Malibu swerved to miss colliding with the CAT but struck the drag hook bracket and sidewall of the left rear tire. The Malibu then lost control and went across the road to the northbound ditch and struck a field drive causing the car to go airborne. The car came to rest on its wheels.

4 occupants were in the Malibu and were all transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center. James and Victoria Teague were subsequently airlifted to a Des Moines hospital for treatment of serious and life-threatening injuries, respectively.  4-year-old Savannah Teague suffered minor/non-incapacitating injuries. The driver of the CAT, 23-year-old Kolton Phelps of Creston, was not injured.

The Malibu sustained extensive damage and the CAT had little to no damage. No citations were issued.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 42-year-old Justin Alan Robertson of Greenfield on three warrants. Warrants were for Stalking-Violation of a Protective Order, and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance- Marijuana 2nd Offense. Robertson was booked into the Union County Jail on $7,000 cash only bond.

Applications are now being accepted for anyone interested in the Iowa Master Gardener training, which will be offered in many locations across the state, including Cass County, beginning in mid-August. Applicants have from June 3 to July 8 to apply for the fall session. Online training begins August 22, with a local orientation session scheduled for Monday evening, August 15^th.  The program will be delivered in a hybrid format this fall, with many lessons taking place online, but several face-to-face learning opportunities also offered for trainees to connect and participate in hands-on learning activities as a group.

“Throughout the pandemic, many of our programs have been forced into virtual formats and participants have missed out on peer-to-peer interactions,” said Alicia Herzog, Master Gardener Statewide Coordinator with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We find immense value in the learning that happens when our participants interact with each other, their county Extension and Outreach staff, and experts in their local communities. We’re happy to be able to offer the best of both worlds with this hybrid format.”

Iowans wishing to complete Master Gardener training should complete the initial registration online by July 8, and then will be contacted by their local extension office to complete a background screening and finalize payment and registration. Once accepted into the program, trainees will participate in online learning modules at their own pace through their home computer, and should also plan to attend at least 4 in-person training sessions organized by their county office to complete the training.

A total of 17 educational modules will be offered online by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, on topics that include houseplants, pollinators, vegetables, and perennial flowers. Each course module includes a book chapter, lecture video, online discussion board for trainees to connect and discuss the topic and a follow up quiz. Participants will also take an online pre-test and post-test to gauge knowledge gained through the course.

Applicants for the 2022 training must apply online by Friday July 8. The online class begins on Monday, August 22. An in-person orientation class will be held at the Cass County Extension Office on Monday August 15^th to distribute materials and discuss the hands-on training schedule. Apply and learn more about the program online at www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener.

The fee for the training is $150 and covers all class materials. The fee will be payable to the Cass County Extension Office upon acceptance into the program. Because Master Gardener volunteers work with many community partners, applicants will also be required to successfully pass a background screen before being accepted into the program. At the end of the course, there is an open-book test that participants will need to pass to complete the course and receive their certificate.

The Master Gardener program is open to anyone who is passionate about volunteering and gardening. No previous garden knowledge is required. The program equips participants to grow in knowledge about gardening best practices. After the training, Master Gardeners volunteer in their community, making contributions such as donating vegetables to food pantries, leading community beautification projects and maintaining demonstration gardens at local parks and county fairgrounds.

After completion of the MG Training, participants have 13 months to complete 40 volunteer hours to finish their “internship” and become a full Master Gardener. Annually, Master Gardener status can be maintained with 20 volunteer hours per year and ten hours of continuing education. Cass County has an active Master Gardener group that participates in many projects throughout the year, so opportunities to learn and volunteer are plentiful! Examples of local Master Gardener volunteer projects include educational workshops and seminars, maintaining community parks and demonstration gardens, and donating fresh produce to food pantries. Iowa State has offered Master Gardener training since 1977, engaging more than 15,000 people in learning about gardening best practices.

Iowans who want professional development training for their job and who do not plan to volunteer can participate in the ProHort option, for a fee of $550. No background check is required for this option.

Local extension staff can help anyone with questions about joining Master Gardener training this year, including details of when and where in-person meetings will take place locally.

For more information on the class, or the Master Gardener program in general, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, or email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardner Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu. Online program registration can be completed at www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener.

The Creston Police Department reports the arrest Wednesday of 58-year-old Christine Annette Larkin of Creston at her residence. The arrest occurred at 9:01 p.m. and Larkin was charged with Harassment 1st Degree. Larkin was booked into the Adams County Jail on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

Teachers who go through an Iowa college program no longer have to pass a professional exam to be licensed, thanks to a new state law that eliminates the so-called Praxis requirement for new teachers. The test was a particular obstacle for dual-language immersion programs because it’s only offered in English. Noelia Espinal (no-EH-lee-uh esp-ee-NAHL), a teacher at the Muskie Early Learning Center in Muscatine, says it was an unnecessary hurdle for bilingual teachers.

The Praxis test will still be required for teachers coming to Iowa from outside the U-S, which is a major drawback for schools that rely on teachers from Spanish-speaking countries. Rebecca Gomez leads a Spanish-immersion program at Pella Christian where many of the teachers are native Spanish-speakers from outside the U-S. Gomez says it’s hard to find qualified candidates locally.

She says the school’s religious requirements also narrow the hiring pool. Gomez says taking and retaking the Praxis can add months to the process of bringing in a new teacher on a visa.