DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad is not saying whether he will sign off on the $7.3 billion spending plan approved by the Legislature last week.  Branstad said Monday he needs to review all the budget bills backed by the Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate. He declined to say how he will act on the compromise plan, which includes $7.17 billion in ongoing spending, as well as $135 million in one-time expenditures.

Branstad criticized lawmakers for failing to approve K-12 education funding for the 2016-2017 school year before they adjourned but did not say if he would try to call lawmakers back in a special session to resolve the issue. He also would not commit to a compromise plan struck to keep open two mental health institutions slated for closure.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is encouraging Iowa students who were in kindergarten through 8th grade this past school year, to take part in a “Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt” at any of the 37 participating farmers markets across the state. The Iowa Farm to School program, which is part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, is sponsoring the initiative.

Northey says “We are fortunate to have wonderful farmers markets all across the state and I hope students will take advantage of this opportunity to get out and learn more about all the fresh, delicious products that are available and support their local market.”  To participate, students simply need to complete the “Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt” form. Forms may be picked up at any participating farmers market or can be printed from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under the “Hot Topics” section.

When they have completed the form, they can submit it to the market manager at the main market booth for the farmers market. Upon submitting the form, students will receive a free item from the market, such as a fruit, vegetable or honey, and will be entered into a drawing for additional prizes. In addition, the classroom with the most participation over the summer will receive a grow light that can be used to help them grow their own fruits and vegetables.

In western Iowa, farmers markets participating in the program include those in Shelby County (Harlan), and the Missouri Valley Welcome Center. More information about the Iowa Farm to School program and other upcoming events can be found at: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/AgDiversification/farmToSchoolProgram.asp.

A man who claims a Shenandoah Police Officer used excessive force during a Jan. 2014 traffic stop, is suing the officer, Shenandoah Police Department, and the City of Shenandoah. According to reports, an attorney for Shenandoah native Drew Bayless filed the civil suit Friday. The suit seeks to recover damages as a result of injuries Bayless allegedly suffered at the hands of Officer Derek Baier during a traffic stop on Jan. 1st, 2014.

In addition to claiming the Officer used excessive force, the lawsuit claims Baier allegedly committed civil assault/battery during the traffic stop. Bayless’ attorney said in the suit his client suffered significant physical injuries, as well as suffered extensive pain, suffering and mental distress.

The lawsuit asks the defendants to pay Baier’s medical and hospital expenses – past and future – along with loss of wages, loss of future earning capacity, physical and mental pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of full mind and body.

Shenandoah City Attorney Mahlon Sorensen and Police Chief Kris Gerbert were contacted by local reporters in Shenadoah over the weekend, but had no comment, as neither had a chance review the allegations included in the lawsuit.

The Annual Audubon Flight Breakfast was held Sunday morning at the Audubon Municipal Airport.

Photo from AudubonIowa.org.

Officials with the Audubon Chamber report 41 planes flew-in for the event, and 685 people were served a breakfast consisting of ham and cheese omelets, pancakes, coffee, milk and juice. The breakfast was served from 6:30-until 10:30-a.m.

The aircraft and their pilots came from 20 Iowa communities, while others flew in from Bennington and Omaha, Nebraska.

The weather was perfect, with partly sunny skies and medium winds for flying. In addition to the pilots and their passengers, who ate for free, the event was attended by area bicycle clubs who rode in on the T-Bone Trail. The Flight Breakfast serves as a major fundraiser for the Audubon Chamber of Commerce, and is held the first Sunday in June.

The calendar says summer won’t start for almost two weeks but it’ll feel hot and humid across much of Iowa today (Monday) and it’ll get even hotter tomorrow. Meteorologist Craig Cogil, at the National Weather Service office in Johnston, says it’s a very sticky start to the week.  “We’re going to see some warm air that’s currently over the plains move into the state with temperatures pushing into the lower 90s by tomorrow afternoon,” Cogil says, “so much warmer than anything we’ve seen so far.”

Sioux City had a high of 90 degrees on March 16th for the earliest recorded temperature in the 90s. Cogil said the hot, sticky weather will only be around for a few days. “We’ve been rather fortunate in the past year or so where we haven’t seen a lot of the hot weather that we’d seen in the previous years,” he says, “and so far this year, it’s followed in that path.”

Cogil says there’s a chance of thunderstorms starting Wednesday night with the possibility of some heavy rain in a few places. “Right now, it does look like a good threat of heavy rainfall, especially over the northern half of the state,” he says, “anywhere between two to four inches, in general.”

The thunderstorm chances will continue through the weekend with daytime highs dropping slightly into the 70s and 80s.

(Radio Iowa)

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – Crews have moved a historic log cabin in Le Mars, saving the structure from a planned demolition. The Le Mars Daily Sentinel reports workers moved the cabin Friday from the Plymouth County Fairgrounds to the Plymouth County Historical Museum. It took less than two hours to move the cabin, which is at least 115 years old, about 12 blocks.

The cabin was built in Sioux City for a judge’s servants. It was given to a Girl Scout camp and moved in 1923, then moved to another Girl Scout camp in Plymouth County in 1982. It was moved to the fairgrounds in 2004. The fair board decided to demolish the cabin but agreed to give it to a newly created group that raised the $9,600 cost to move the structure.

The Creston Police Department reports two recent arrests, two incidents of theft and one incident of vandalism. On Sunday, 37-year old Norman Dallas Olson, of Creston, was arrested at his home on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. And, last Friday, 32-year old Erin Marie Wallace, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant charging her with Probation Violation. Bonds for Olson and Wallace were set at $2,000 each.

This past Saturday, a resident of South Division Street, in Creston, reported someone slashed all four tires on her vehicle parked outside her home. The incident took place sometime between 5:30-a.m. and 12:30-p.m., Saturday. The loss was estimated at $230.

Last Thursday, a resident on Manor Drive in Creston reported some stole his cell phone while he was at the McKinley Park – Skate Park. The gold-colored Iphone 5S was taken sometime between 9-and 9:40-p.m.. It was valued at $550.

And, on June 2nd, a resident living on S. Poplar Street, in Creston, reported a tattoo kit was taken from her home sometime between 1-pm June 1st and 11-a.m. June 2nd. The kit was valued at $200.

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

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Summer arrives in about two weeks and the new season brings with it busier schedules for many Iowans. The Des Moines-based LifeServe Blood Center is seeing its blood supply fall as people’s free time is taken up with vacations and warm weather activities. Claire DeRoin, LifeServe’s community relations director, says the lower supply doesn’t mean less blood is needed. “Ninety percent of the population will need blood at some time in their lifetime,” DeRoin says. “You never know when it could be you or a family member or a neighbor.”

She says the center is hoping to keep a full supply of blood on hand during the critical summer months. Each donation of blood has the potential to help multiple people, be they accident victims or someone undergoing surgery. DeRoin says, “One donation of blood, which is one pint, can go on to help save the lives of three hospital patients in need.” She encourages anyone who’s eligible to visit the website, set up an appointment and make a donation.

“Donors have to be at least 16 years old and weigh 120 pounds and be in general good health,” DeRoin says. “You can’t come in with a cold or anything like that because safety is the #1 priority for you and the blood supply.” The two blood types that are in highest demand now are A-B negative and O-negative. LifeServe supplies blood to nearly 100 hospitals in Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska.

(Radio Iowa)