Only two tornadoes have touched down in Iowa this year so far, well below the average of around 15 by this date. Nationwide, not a single tornado death has been recorded this year, the first time that’s happened this far into spring since 1915. Meteorologist Jeff Johnson, at the National Weather Service, says the prolonged chilly weather may be frustrating for Iowa farmers, but it helps keep twisters at bay. “There’s been thought that maybe it’s due to the cool spring we’ve had nationwide, especially east of the Rockies,” Johnson says. “Cold air and tornadoes don’t mix well so you need the warmer air moving north to get the clash of the air masses and to get the conditions that are necessary for tornadoes.”

Iowa gets an average of 46 tornadoes per year, but the numbers have been down significantly in recent years. “In Iowa, it’s been quiet since really 2011,” Johnson says. “There was a period of time from May of 2012 to May of 2013 where Iowa went for nearly a calendar year without a single tornado. I think we were just four days short of that.” While Iowa’s only seen two tornadoes this year — in south-central Iowa in March and in east-central Iowa in April — Johnson says we need to remain vigilant.

“Historically, once we move into May, the tornado season really cranks up,” Johnson says. “May and June typically account for about 70% of our tornado figures for the year.” Tornadoes kill about 60 Americans each year, on average, though more than 550 people died in twisters in 2011, including 158 deaths in the huge Joplin, Missouri, storm. Iowa, he says, has been relatively lucky.

“Since the late 1980s, we’ve had about 25 deaths in the state and if you draw that out, we’ve had less than one death per year,” Johnson says. “We’ve had some really bad years, such as 2008 in which we had more than 10 people killed in the Parkersburg event and also in west-central Iowa. A lot of years, we don’t see any deaths in the state, thankfully.” That tornado on Memorial Day weekend in 2008 was a mile wide and killed seven people in Parkersburg, injured dozens and destroyed more than 220 homes, about half the town.

(Radio Iowa)

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Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz is reminding Iowa voters that early voting for the June 3, 2014 primary election starts today (Thursday, April 24th). To vote in Iowa, eligible voters can:

· Cast a ballot early by filling out an absentee ballot in-person at their county auditor’s office or at possible satellite locations as designated by the county auditor starting Thursday, April 24 through Monday, June 2.

· Request an absentee ballot by mail.

· Vote at their designated precinct polling place on Election Day.

Registering to vote is easy. Simply download the State of Iowa Official Voter Registration Form from www.sos.iowa.gov and return it to your local county auditor’s office or visit your local county auditor’s office to fill out a paper copy.

Absentee ballots received by the county auditor before 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3 are eligible for counting. Absentee ballots that are returned by mail and received after the polls close must have a postmark of Monday, June 2 or earlier to be considered for counting.

The Iowa Secretary of State’s office offers a comprehensive app called Iowa SOS available for both Android and Apple devices to ensure voting resources are at voter’s fingertips. From the Iowa SOS app, Iowans can do the following:

Check voter registration information
Fill out the State of Iowa Official Voter Registration Form
Find the correct polling place for the primary election
Request an absentee ballot
Track an absentee ballot
Set email or calendar reminders for upcoming elections
Report voter fraud
Contact local county auditors
Contact the Iowa Secretary of State’s office

Iowa has an open U-S Senate seat for the first time since 1974 after Democrat Tom Harkin announced he would not run again. Six Republicans are competing in the primary for a chance to run for that seat. There are three Republicans and five Democrats running to replace Congressman Bruce Braley, who is the only Democrat running for the U-S Senate seat. Six Republican candidates are vying for the Third District Congressional seat being left open by the retirement of Tom Latham.

Police in Red Oak report two men were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday. At around 11:10-p.m., 22-year old Jason Lee Dankof, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on the 1600 block of east Summit Street. Dankof was taken into custody on a valid Pottawattamie County warrant for Violation of his Probation. Dankof was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $15,000 cash bond.

And at around 4:30-p.m., 42-year old James Lloyd Akers, of Red Oak, was arrested for Breach of Peace. His arrest took place on north 6th Street. Bond was set at $300.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Regents has named a Montana man as superintendent of the state’s schools for the deaf and sight impaired. The regents announced Wednesday the board had selected Steven J. Gettel to head the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs and the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton.

Gettel is currently superintendent of the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. He’s been in that position since 2001. He will replace Patrick Clancy, who announced his resignation last December.

There were no injuries and no citations issued following an accident Wednesday morning, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, vehicles driven by 20-year old Shannon Mae Biggerstaff, of Red Oak, and 81-year old Russell Brink, of Farragut, were headed south in the turning lane, and stopped at the intersection of Broadway  and Oak Streets. As an eastbound semi was making a turn northbound, Biggerstaff backed-up her 1994 Chevy pickup to avoid being struck by the semi. In the process, her truck backed into Brink’s 2014 Ford Escape.

Since Biggerstaff’s truck had a hitch on the back, it did not sustain any damage. Brink’s SUV however sustained $2,000 damage during the mishap.

Officials with the Charles E. Lakin Foundation announced Wednesday they are willing to commit $1 million for a planned community center located at the Mills County Fairgrounds in Malvern. According to the Daily NonPareil, the 16,000-square-foot building to house the Mills County Extension and Outreach offices, and it will serve as a center for the county and region. The building, with a maximum seating capacity for 400 people, is the first climate-controlled facility on the fairgrounds.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has asked Iowa transportation officials for permission to build a temporary memorial tombstone that they say will honor hundreds of turkeys killed in a recent truck crash. Ankeny resident and PETA member Alex Moore says in a letter dated Tuesday that he wants to erect the 10-foot structure in remembrance of more than 500 turkeys killed in a crash April 12th in Sioux City. The truck transporting the animals overturned.

Moore says in the letter that the tombstone, which would be up for a month, would promote a meat-free diet as well as safe driving. The tombstone would be provided by PETA. The letter is addressed to Highway Division Director John Adam.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill that would end greyhound racing in Council Bluffs but permits racing to continue in Dubuque is scheduled to be considered this (Thursday) morning by a Senate subcommittee. A bill was introduced late Wednesday that would pay out $72 million to the industry over seven years. Mystique Casino in Dubuque would pay $7 million over seven years and Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs casino would pay $65 million over seven years. The bill would end live racing in Council Bluffs on December 31st, 2015.

The Iowa Greyhound Association would be allowed to negotiate a five-year lease to manage racing at the Dubuque track but Cedar Falls Democratic Senator Jeff Danielson says racing would end there too if it’s not profitable. He says the bill has broad bipartisan support.