DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farm field surveys reflecting excellent spring planting conditions and favorable summer weather have prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to boost harvest expectations for corn and soybeans to record highs. Ten states are expected to set new bushels-per-acre corn yields, including top U.S. producers Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska.

The USDA’s report Friday says overall, farmers are expected to harvest 15.2 billion bushels of corn — a billion more than 2014’s record 14.2 billion. A record soybean crop of 4.06 billion bushels also is expected, beating 3.9 billion bushels last year. But with a huge harvest comes a big problem: There’ll be the most grain in nearly 30 years to store. That’s likely to push prices lower, which will make it harder for farmers who rent land to make a profit. It’ll also make for cheaper livestock feed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Psychology has decided against adopting a policy that bans Iowa-licensed psychologists from counseling gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender children to change their sexual orientation in a practice known as conversion therapy. The board on Friday denied a petition that would have prohibited state-licensed mental health providers from trying to reverse a patient’s sexual orientation.

Board spokeswoman Sharon Dozier declined to discuss reasons saying the board will release its full written decision later. Also on Friday, an Iowa Board of Medicine committee said it needs further study after hearing from doctors who said conversion therapy can be harmful to children and a religious group that says such a ban may infringe on religious rights.

Five states have passed laws banning conversion therapy for minors.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says a reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a burglary Wednesday, at the College Springs Cafe. An investigation determined a person or persons unknown gained entry to the restaurant and took merchandise along with an unspecified amount of cash.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193, or their local Law Enforcement agency. There is a Crime stoppers reward being offered of up to $1000.00, for the arrest and indictment of person(s) involved in this crime.  Tipsters can remain anonymous and will be given a # when a tip is given and a contact number for the tipster.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports a Pottawattamie County man suffered possible, unknown injuries during a motorcycle accident Thursday afternoon, on Highway 44. 76-year old James Russell Wharton, of Avoca, was transported to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital by Audubon Rescue, after the 2014 Yamaha motorcycle he was driving westbound on Highway 44, left the road on a curve. The cycle entered a ditch and traveled for about 100 yards before hitting a street sign post. Wharton was ejected from the motorcycle during the crash.

The accident happened at around 3:30-p.m.  Damage to the cycle was estimated at $1,500.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A report says 2,300 patients at Veterans Affairs hospitals in Iowa and South Dakota were assigned to “ghost panels,” or primary care doctors who no longer worked there. Critics say the practice is a way some VA hospitals have made caseloads appear artificially small. It can be disruptive for patients, who have to see different doctors if they need care and may face longer wait times.

Federal auditors investigated the use of ghost panels at the request of Rep. Timothy Walz of Minnesota. A report issued Thursday found two panels at the Iowa City VA and two at the Blacks Hills VA. The report says the practice violates department policy, which requires patients to be reassigned when doctors leave employment. But it found no evidence that patients were negatively affected.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say a report of a motorist driving erratically in a pickup truck Thursday evening, resulted in the arrest of a Nebraska man on OWI and drug charges. 58-year old Michael Ray Starks, of Omaha, was arrested at around 5:45-p.m. on Dogwood Road, about a mile east of Highway 59. Starks was charged with OWI/1^st offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance, after he was found to be in possession of about 4.6-grams of marijuana. Starks was booked into the Pott. County Jail.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 55-year old Curtis Fletcher, of Underwood, was arrested Thursday morning on a charge of Harassment by intimidation in the 1^st degree, after he allegedly threatened to shoot a male acquaintance, if he came knocking on his apartment door again. The incident, which took place at 311 3^rd Street, was witnessed by the apartment manager.

And, a Shelby man was arrested at around 2:30-a.m. today (Friday), following an accident on Interstate 80. A van driven by 63-year old John Francis Berry, of Shelby, rear-ended a semi near mile marker 30. After an investigation, Berry was charged with OWI/1^st offense after he tested over twice the legal limit for intoxication. Berry was also cited for various other traffic offenses. He was booked into the Pott. County Jail. No injuries were reported.

A report from the advocacy arm of the American Cancer Society finds Iowa is making strides in efforts to reduce cancer incidence and death, but still has plenty of work to do. The government relations director for the agency’s Cancer Action Network, David Holmquist, says of the ten main criteria, Iowa got an excellent “green” rating in four areas, “yellow” in two, and a failing “red” grade in the remaining four.

“They have a very strong smoke-free law,” Holmquist says. “They have better provisions for those patients at end of life who need access to critical pain-relieving drugs. They also did expand Medicaid three or four years ago, that’s a huge improvement.” One of Iowa’s yellow areas — where the report suggests progress is needed — is in the category of tobacco excise taxes. Iowa’s cigarette tax is $1.36 per pack, which is far above Missouri’s tax of only 17-cents, but is far below states like New York, where the tax per pack is over $4.

Holmquist says Iowa ranked poorly in several key categories of the report.”They need to improve their funding for tobacco control and prevention,” Holmquist says. “They need more state funds for the breast and cervical cancer (screening) program. They need some improvements in their palliative care provisions, so, provision of care that begins at the beginning of the diagnosis and goes through the continuum of life.” Another “red” ranking for Iowa comes with the lack of regulation on tanning beds, especially the lack of restrictions for teens using them.

“We have huge concerns about tanning beds and young people particularly,” Holmquist says. “We believe that no one under 18 should use a tanning bed.” He says exposure to ultraviolet radiation, through sunlight and indoor tanning devices, is one of the most avoidable risk factors for skin cancer. In Iowa this year, an estimated 17,100 people will be diagnosed with cancer and 6,470 will die from it. With the knowledge we have today, Holmquist says we could prevent roughly half of cancer deaths in the United States. This is the 14th year for the study.

See the full “How Do You Measure Up?” report here: http://www.acscan.org/content/report-cards/2016/iowa/

(Radio Iowa)

Marshalltown police are investigating an attempted child abduction on Thursday afternoon. A ten-year-old girl was approached by a man in a silver four-door car. He tried talking to her, to get her name and offered her money to get into his car. She ran away and was not harmed. The man is described as having dark hair and sunglasses.

Sergeant Melinda Ruopp, of the Marshalltown Police Department, says the case is similar to ones reported in Grundy and Black Hawk counties. Area parents are being reminded to talk to young persons about “stranger danger.”

(Radio Iowa)

A domestic situation in Clarinda late Thursday night resulted in a Police Officer being assaulted, and a Clarinda man taken into custody. Police Chief Keith Brothers reports 24-year old Dustin James Danick, of Clarinda, was arrested for allegedly violating a protective order, interference with official acts, and resisting arrest. He was being held without bond in the Page County Jail. Reports have been filed with the Page County Attorney’s Office for review and filing of formal charges.

Chief Brothers says at around 11-p.m. Thursday, his officers responded to a 911 call of an unknown problem-situation at 315 W. Logan St.  Upon arrival, officers encountered an intoxicated female and an intoxicated male who reside at the home together. On initial investigation, officers learned that the male, Dustin Danick, was subject to a no contact order issued by the Page County Magistrate Court. The order prohibited Danick from having contact with the female at the residence.

When officers placed Danick under arrest for violation of the order, the man kicked at officers, striking one officer in the thigh and knee region. The officer did not sustain any injuries that required medical attention. Danick continued to resist the arrest and booking process and eventually was subdued and placed in an isolation cell at the Page County Jail.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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