DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some prosecutors say a loophole in Iowa law can allow educators convicted of sexually abusing students to avoid prison time. An investigation the Des Moines Register conducted last month identified seven cases in the past five years in which teachers convicted of sexual abuse avoided prison time or could seek to have their public record expunged.

Under the law, mandatory reporters, such as teachers and social workers, are required to report child abuse cases to law enforcement. Convicted mandatory reporters aren’t eligible for sentences that don’t include jail time if the victim is under the age of 18.

Cherokee County attorney Ryan Kolpin says the law doesn’t apply if prosecutors forget or decide not to include information showing the defendant is a mandatory reporter in a criminal complaint. Some prosecutors say the law also doesn’t apply if a convicted reporter doesn’t acknowledge their status as a mandatory reporter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Harvest is underway with 21 percent of soybeans and 10 percent of the corn crop already completed in Iowa. That’s a day behind last year’s progress at this time. Rain likely has something to do with it.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop status report released Monday indicates weather was favorable for farmers but there were reports of muddy conditions and standing water in some fields from earlier storms. Iowa Corn and soybeans are rated at 81 percent good to excellent.

It was nearly ideal for harvest in Nebraska where farmers reported 15 percent of corn harvested, behind the five-year average and 27 percent of soybeans in bins, right at average. The USDA reports 73 percent of Nebraska corn and 78 percent of soybeans are rated good to excellent.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert said today (Monday), the Fire Danger Index in the County will be “High” this week (10/3-6), due to the dry harvest conditions. Seivert says that means extra precautions should be taken when planning an open burn.

The next update on the County Fire Danger Index will be on Thursday.

Authorities in Montgomery County, Kentucky, have arrested a Mount Sterling, KY, man in connection with the August 30th murder of a Council Bluffs man. Bluffs Police say a warrant was issued for the arrest of 35-year old Arthur J. Crum charging him with Murder 1st Degree in connection with the murder of 39 year old Larry Scott. Scott’s body was found laying in the middle of Avenue B in Council Bluffs, just west of N. 10th Street, at around 4:20-a.m. on Aug. 30th. The man died from a gunshot wound.

Crum is being held in Kentucky while awaiting extradition on the Warrant. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about the incident should contact the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 712-328-4728, or Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

Arthur J. Crum

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors will hold a Special Meeting at Noon, Tuesday. The Board will meet in the City Council’s Chambers, to act on approving Shore Stabilization for Lake #2 at the Schildberg Rec Area, from the Troublesome Creek Project, and a bid of $60,000 from Heuton Earthmoving for the same project.

They will also act on approval for REMOVAL of the CAT (Community Attraction and Tourism) Grant Application, in order for it to be resubmitted in January, 2017.  The application was submitted earlier this year with hopes of receiving funds for the Schildberg Rec Area campground project, but no action was taken at Vision Iowa’s meeting in June. According to former Parks Director Roger Herring, the Vision Iowa Board was in the process of being “dissolved,” and replaced with an “Enhanced Iowa” program, and more effort was needed to garner private fundraising support for the project.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – The Federal Aviation Administration retested the flight skills of Iowa State University President Steven Leath after he damaged a university plane on a rough landing. FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said Monday that Leath had satisfactory results on the check ride in August 2015 and was allowed to keep his pilot certificate. FAA rules say that such rides are usually required after accidents or incidents when the pilot’s competence was the apparent cause of what happened.

Leath has blamed windy conditions for his landing at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in July 2015 that damaged both wings of the school’s Cirrus SR22 single engine plane. After The Associated Press revealed the accident last month, Leath vowed to stop flying university planes and made a $15,000 donation to cover the repair costs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says he’s planning a trade mission to China and Japan in November that will focus on Iowa’s beef and pork exports. Branstad said Monday a delegation that includes Iowa business representatives will depart Nov. 11 and return Nov. 18. Stops will include Beijing and Tokyo.

Branstad says the trip will allow Iowa companies involved in meat processing to expand their markets abroad. The governor’s office says Iowa companies exported $564 million in meat products to Japan in 2015. China recently announced plans to lift a 13-year ban on beef imports from the United States.

Branstad is scheduled to speak at a food summit and a meat conference during the trip. He will also attend a reception at the residence of Caroline Kennedy, the U.S. ambassador to Japan.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Months after a falling chunk of marble prompted the closure of a Woodbury County courtroom, officials say the space will reopen and ease scheduling problems in the 98-year-old courthouse. The Sioux City Journal reports Courtroom 203 will reopen Monday, about five months after county supervisors ordered its closure.

They took the action after a 6-foot marble section detached and fell from a window assembly. Windows in the courtroom also bowed out. Closure of the courtroom has been a headache for court officials, who have tried to shift hearings to other courtrooms. Repairs to the courtroom will cost about $175,000. Supervisors have set aside $450,000 for additional work on other courtrooms.

The Woodbury County Courthouse opened in 1918 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Griswold/Lenox School District Superintendent Dave Henrichs reports patrons of the Districts will be receiving a survey in the near future pertaining to families who open enroll-out their students. Henrichs says the purpose of the survey is to “Help determine if a change in facilities would encourage their (the students’) return to the district, and to determine why they have elected to leave the district.”

The goal, he says, is “To make sure the district does not do something in terms of facility changes that would cause others to leave the district.” Hinrichs says also, he has put together a list of steps and requirements required for a bond election.

The District’s Facilities Committee is set to meet today (Monday).