DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says Donald Trump should consider U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst as his vice presidential running mate for the upcoming general election. Branstad told reporters Monday the senator from Iowa would be a “great asset” to Trump, the Republican’s presumptive nominee for president. The governor says Ernst’s military record and political background make her an ideal choice for the job.

Branstad made the comments after Sen. John McCain of Arizona voiced support recently for Ernst as a possible VP pick. Branstad says he has not discussed the subject with Ernst, who is serving her first term in the Senate. He says he intends to try to meet directly with Trump before the party’s national convention in July to formally make the case for Ernst.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Dry weather last week has allowed Iowa farmers to surge ahead of their normal planting schedule with 80 percent of the corn crop now planted. The USDA says that’s eight days ahead of the five-year average of just 56 percent planted by the first week in May. The crop was planted early enough that 28 percent is already emerged from the ground about five days ahead of the Iowa average.

Location makes a difference, however, with Western Iowa lagging behind because it’s been wetter than the rest of the state. Nebraska farmers are 53 percent planted a little behind their average of 59 percent. Corn farmers also are ahead of schedule in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Soybeans also are in the ground much earlier in those states.

Two people were arrested Saturday on separate charges, in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 41-year old Jesse Lee Archibald, of Exira, was arrested on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Archibald was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance. And, 48-year old Kenneth Lee Klindt, of Griswold, turned himself in at the Cass County Jail, Saturday, on a Department of Corrections warrant for Parole Violation. Klindt was booked at the Cass County Jail and remains held without bond.

The Iowa Finance Authority will soon launch a new sweepstakes to draw attention to the size of its first-time home buyers assistance grants. “The ‘2500 bucks’ campaign really emphasizes how much $2500 really is.” Ashley Jared is a spokeswoman for the Iowa Finance Authority. She is encouraging Iowans to think of what a mass of 25-hundred male deer or “bucks” would look like.

“It’s really emphasizing that $2500 is a big deal for home buyers, for down payment assistance and closing costs,” Jared says. The Finance Authority will launch the sweepstakes May 23rd at www.IowaHouseHunt.com. Anyone can enter the contest to win a 25-hundred dollar gift card at Iowa-House-Hunt-dot-com.

A second gift card will be awarded through Facebook, but the contest requires an accompanying photo of the entrant with an item that symbolizes their favorite term for “money” — like clams, dough or wads. The contest will close on July 4th.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) recently formed the first-of-its-kind-in-Iowa, Impaired Driving Coalition, in light of the seriousness of impaired driving across the state.

The Impaired Driving Task Force includes members of the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the DPS’s GTSB, the DPS’s Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory, Department of Corrections, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Health, Department of Human Rights, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Attorney General’s Office, city, county and state law enforcement officers and private partners.

The GTSB has asked the Coalition, which includes many different perspectives and experiences, to review existing Iowa data, laws, regulations and programs and propose a coordinated statewide impaired driving plan for preventing and reducing impaired driving behavior.

The purpose of the statewide impaired driving plan is to provide a comprehensive strategy for preventing and reducing impaired driving, based on coordinated efforts designed to reduce deaths and increase public safety. The plan will eventually be submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for approval.

The GTSB has established a new award in honor of Officers Susan Farrell and Carlos Puente-Morales. Officer Farrell and Officer Puente-Morales were killed in the line of duty by an impaired driver who was driving the wrong direction on I-80.

The Farrell/Puente-Morales Award will be presented annually at the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau Conference to a law enforcement agency that has displayed a strong emphasis on addressing impaired driving throughout the year.

All agencies that have a GTSB contract will be reviewed by GTSB staff and one agency will be selected as the award recipient by reviewing their enforcement, education or public awareness efforts in the fight against impaired driving.

The deaths of Officers Farrell and Puente-Morales will not be forgotten and will be the impetus for all Iowans to push for new innovations and initiatives to eliminate impaired drivers once and for all from Iowa’s roadways. Effective enforcement efforts can save lives and make our communities safer and stronger, and these efforts are worthy of public recognition.

(DPS Press Release)

Sheriff’s officials in Union County report one person suffered possible/unknown injuries during an accident last Thursday morning, in Afton. Authorities say 53-year old Carol Ann Cain, of Lorimor, was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, after her car was struck by a pickup driven by 17-year old Jacob Walter, of Afton.

The accident happened at the uncontrolled intersection of Grant and Polk Streets in Afton, at around 11:20-a.m., Thursday. Following an investigation, Walter was cited for Failure to Yield. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some Iowa lawmakers say a state director defied legislative intent behind a $750,000 allocation to hire disabled people and that his department ignored legislators’ requests to explain the actions. The Des Moines Register reports Iowa Department of Human Services director Chuck Palmer is expected to answer questions about the matter before a legislative committee Tuesday.

The $750,000 allocation in last year’s legislative session was intended to aid a program known as “Supported Employment,” which helps people with disabilities get and hold a job. But lawmakers didn’t include so-called clarifying language in the bill, and the department used the money to supplement the state’s $4.2 billion Medicaid budget. Republican state Rep. Megan Jones and at least three other lawmakers say Palmer and his department should’ve been aware of the Legislature’s wishes regardless.

On the heels of votes last week by the Griswold and Lenox School District Boards of Education to continue discussions with regard to Superintendent Sharing, a community meeting will be held Wednesday evening in Griswold, for patrons of the district to hear more about the proposal to share the services of Lenox Superintendent David Henrichs. The community meeting takes place at 5:30-p.m. in the Griswold Middle School/High School library.

Afterward, the Griswold School Board will convene to make a decision on further pursuing the sharing possibility.

An incident late Thursday night in Adair, resulted in the arrest of a Cass County man. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office says 19-year old Adam Zachary Bolton, of Atlantic, was arrested early Friday morning on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree. Bolton subsequently posted $1,000 bond and was released from the Adair County Jail.

Authorities say Bolton’s arrest stems from an incident that took place at around 11-p.m. Thursday, where a resident living in the 600 block of Broad Street, in Adair, reported someone threw something through his window. The resident said he was confronted by three men and told them if they didn’t leave, he would call the police.

The three men refused to leave. One of the subjects, identified as Bolton, allegedly said he was going to throw a brick at the house. The victim called police, and as the men were leaving, the victims’ sister saw Bolton allegedly throw the brick through the north window of the residence. Damage to the screen and window was estimated at $300. Bolton was picked-up a short time later, by Atlantic Police. He was transported to Adair County by one of their deputies and booked into the jail.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 26-year old Cody Andrew Carter-Baumgardner, of Dexter, was arrested May 4th, for Domestic Abuse by Strangulation. His arrest stems from an incident that was reported to a Crisis Intervention Center, and forwarded to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities there transferred the case to Adair County, since the offense allegedly occurred there.

Carter-Baumgardner was brought to the Adair County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests. Today (Monday), 21-year old Derek Zook, of Glenwood, was arrested for Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $300. On Sunday, 55-year old Danny Cardin, of Homer, LA., was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.