As we move into spring and the weather warms up and the leaves start popping out on the trees — a destructive pest is also emerging from winter and putting some trees in danger. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Emerald Ash Borer coordinator, Mike Kitner, says you should start thinking about protecting your ash trees. He says mid-April is the time for people in the emerald ash borer zones to start thinking about protective treatments. Kitner says some very effective treatments have been developed if you want to try and save your ash tree.

“There’s a variety of treatments available — both to the homeowner and also as a professional. The professional treatments are generally geared more toward larger trees,” Kitner says. “Anything above 20 inches in diameter at breast height — with is four-and-a-half feet off the ground — those trees should really be treated by a professional.” He says you should plan now so you don’t miss the optimal window for treatment.

“Studies have shown primarily that treatments are best done in the springtime as opposed to fall. So, you really need to discuss with your provider what options are best for you,” Kitner explains. The D-N-R doesn’t have a list of preferred tree doctors. Kitner’s advice is to ask questions and do a little research to find the best one for you.

“Like anything else with your house, if you are getting a new deck on or whatever, call around check around, go over their references, just do a little homework on who you chose.” Kitner says. “Just do a little homework with who you choose and make sure they explain to you why the are doing it and why it is going to work.” The state is also taking action to combat the emerald ash borer. Kitner says for the first time last year they released wasps that are the enemy of the beetles and kill them.

“Those should be gearing up in about a month or so. We’ll be starting the releases for 2017 and as time goes on, probably more and more sites will be added for the parasitic wasp,” Kitner says. The state has confirmed E-A-B infestations in a total of 45 of the 99 counties in the state.

(Radio Iowa)

AMES, Iowa – Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS), an Ames based non-profit, is seeking host homes across Iowa for 2017-2018 foreign exchange students. IRIS needs homes for approximately 25 students from Indonesia, Liberia, Mali, Tanzania, Jordan, Israel, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Bahrain, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and Kenya. All students are fluent in English, and often several other languages. All students are between 15 and 18 years old, but will technically be high school juniors.

The students, which typically hail from Southeast Asian, Middle-Eastern and African countries, are all in Iowa on scholarship. Former host parent Alexis Vosburg said, “This isn’t your typical exchange program that just takes the students that have the funds to do this trip. These students had to work hard for this opportunity. IRIS focuses on community service and promoting international relations, including strengthening Christian/Muslim relations.”

IRIS is a consortium partner of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, which was founded following 9/11 to help promote understanding between American citizens and the citizens of predominantly Muslim countries. The YES program is funded by the U.S. State Department as a form of diplomacy.

For bios on particular students, or for more information on hosting in general, visit our website at http://www.iris-center.org/yes-program/17-18students/ or email John Jordan at yessupport@iris-center.org.

The City of Atlantic was recently honored with the 2016 Tree City USA Award at the 27th Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Des Moines. The award was presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Forestry Bureau April 6th at the Forte Banquet & Conference Center.

“The Tree City USA award is a symbol for communities who have made a commitment to the management of public trees,” says state forester Paul Tauke. “The City of Atlantic has provided an outstanding example for other Iowa communities by enhancing our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees in providing multiple benefits for future generations.”

Atlantic was one of 80 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status. To receive the award, a city must, at a minimum, have either a city forester or an active city tree board; have a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan.

left to right:Chuck Gipp, Director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Seth Staashelm, Atlantic Parks and Recreation Director, John Lund, Atlantic City Administrator, Dolly Bergmann, President of the Atlantic Trees Forever, Dave Bergmann, Atlantic Trees Forever Member, and Paul Tauke, State Forester (Photo provided)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – University officials have confirmed the death of a man found intoxicated at a University of Iowa dormitory in Iowa City. University police officers who were called to Daum Hall about 10:45 p.m. Saturday found the unresponsive man. University spokeswoman Hayley Bruce told The Des Moines Register the man was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

The man’s name hasn’t been released. It’s unclear whether the man was a student.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — The city of Cedar Falls is halting its removal of healthy ash trees to consider treatment alternatives in the wake of destruction by an invasive insect. City director of municipal operations Mark Ripplinger tells the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that he recently suspended the removal of healthy ash trees after learning of advancements in treatment of trees infected by the emerald ash borer.

OXFORD, Iowa (AP) — The two people who died when a small plane crashed in eastern Iowa have been identified. The Des Moines Register reports the Johnson County Sheriff’s office identified the victims Sunday. The crash happened Friday afternoon about 15 miles (24.14 kilometers) northwest of Iowa City.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — A man shot by police during a December standoff at a Home Depot in Bettendorf has pleaded guilty to several charges. The Quad-City Times reports that 19-year-old Joshua Price, of Bettendorf, pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree burglary, false imprisonment and assault. Authorities say Bettendorf Police Lt. Kent Keeshan shot Price on Dec. 19 inside the store. Police say Price was suicidal and had taken the store manager hostage after ordering him to evacuate the store.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to eluding and interference with official acts. The Sioux City Journal reports that 27-year-old Brittney Hood was sentenced Friday. Authorities say Hood sped away from a deputy Feb. 26 when he tried to pull her over and was caught when she tried to flee on foot. Authorities say another man drove away in the vehicle and later exchanged shots with another deputy.

Eastern Iowa native Ashton Kutcher is the latest recipient of the “Pillar of Character” Award named in honor of former Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray.

The actor who has starred in “That 70s Show” and the current Netflix series “The Ranch” relied on some of the biochemistry he studied at the University of Iowa to explain the difference between personality and character.

Kutcher spoke at an awards ceremony held Saturday night in West Des Moines. Kutcher thanked his wife, his parents, his scoutmaster, his teachers and the neighbors from his childhood for their influence on his character.

Kutcher also talked about how his twin brother, Michael, has influenced his life.

Kutcher, who is now 39 and the father of two young children, told his parents that with the experience of being a parent, he finally realized how much his own parents loved him. “And so actually I didn’t come here ultimately to receive this award for myself,” Kutcher said. “I came here to receive it for all of you.” Kutcher spoke at a Saturday night ceremony in West Des Moines.

Iowa’s current governor, Terry Branstad, handed Kutcher’s wife, Mila Kunis, a certificate that makes her an “honorary” Iowan. Other recipients of the Robert D. Ray “Pillar of Character Award” include Norman Borlaug, Hayden Fry, Dan Gable, Fred Hoiberg and Shawn Johnson.

(Radio Iowa)

OXFORD, Iowa (AP) — The two people who died when a small plane crashed in eastern Iowa have been identified. The Des Moines Register reports the Johnson County Sheriff’s office identified the victims Sunday. The crash happened Friday afternoon about 15 miles northwest of Iowa City.

Authorities say 70-year-old Terry Koehn, of rural Iowa City, and 56-year-old James Spicer, of Cedar Rapids, were killed in the crash. The single-engine plane crashed shortly after taking off from a private airfield in Oxford. The plane was on fire when authorities arrived.

Federal investigators are looking at the wreckage of the 1965 Piper Cherokee 180 to determine what caused the crash.

A semi-tractor trailer caught fire Saturday morning on Interstate 80, in Cass County. The road was closed eastbound for a time near the 54 mile marker, while Marne and Atlantic Firefighters battled the blaze. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon says it’s believed the fire – which was reported at around 6:50-a.m., started with an overheated tire.

The trailer was loaded with various food products. No injuries were reported.

Photos courtesy Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon.

The Iowa State Patrol reports two people died and another was injured during separate accidents, Saturday afternoon. The first accident took place in southern Iowa’s Clarke County. The Patrol says 59-year old Jon Jay Jackson, of Osceola, died after a car made a u-turn in front of him and his motorcycle struck the car. The accident happened at around 3:45-p.m. in front of the Clarke County Historical Museum. Jackson, who was riding a 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle, tried to avoid the collision by laying his bike on its side. He died at the Clarke County Hospital. The driver of the 1997 Ford Thunderbird Jackson struck, was identified as 82-year old Porter Sproll, of Osceola. He was transported by LifeFlight to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.

The second accident happened in northern Iowa’s Winnebago County. The Patrol says the victim (Who’s age and gender were not made available), was riding a 2016 Polaris Ranger and turning left from a private driveway onto 100th Avenue, when they lost control and caused the machine to roll onto its side. The driver was ejected. The accident happened at around 4:15-p.m.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:50 a.m. CDT

OXFORD, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people have been killed in the crash of a small plane in eastern Iowa. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says the two were the only passengers aboard the single-engine plane that crashed Friday afternoon shortly after taking off from a private airfield in Oxford, about 15 miles northwest of Iowa City. Authorities have not yet released the names of the two killed, pending notification of their family members.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — A man shot by police during a December standoff at a Home Depot in Bettendorf has pleaded guilty to several charges. The Quad-City Times reports that 19-year-old Joshua Price, of Bettendorf, pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree burglary, false imprisonment and assault. Authorities say Bettendorf Police Lt. Kent Keeshan shot Price on Dec. 19 inside the store. Police say Price was suicidal and had taken the store manager hostage after ordering him to evacuate the store.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to eluding and interference with official acts. The Sioux City Journal reports that 27-year-old Brittney Hood was sentenced Friday. Authorities say Hood sped away from a deputy Feb. 26 when he tried to pull her over and was caught when she tried to flee on foot. Authorities say another man drove away in the vehicle and later exchanged shots with another deputy.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — An Illinois man has been charged with committing sexual abuse on a child in Fort Dodge in north-central Iowa. The Messenger reports that 21-year-old Dewayne McGhee, of Chicago, has been charged with first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree sexual abuse and child endangerment causing bodily harm. Police say the charges come after police were called to Fort Dodge hospital, where a child younger than 12 had been taken. Doctors say the child had been physically and sexual assaulted.