w/ Ric Hanson

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Farmers, crop inspectors and grain elevators in Nebraska, Iowa and other corn-producing states are keeping an eye out for corn contaminated by a poison-producing fungus.  They’re watching for signs of aflatoxins. Experts say aflatoxins are chemicals produced by certain mold fungi and that at high levels aflatoxins are poisonous to humans and animals. They tend to show up during hot, dry summers.

Mark Fulmer of the Lincoln Inspection Service said that during the drought year of 2002, there was a high amount of aflatoxin in the state’s corn. Fulmer says of the corn samples his company has tested this summer, most show little or no contamination. But he says some of the corn has tested out at more than four times the federal threshold.

w/ Ric Hanson

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An accident this morning in Montgomery County involving a vehicle and a herd of cattle caused about $3,500 damage, but no one was injured. The Sheriff’s Office said at around 5-a.m.,  William Lalone, of rural Stanton, was traveling north on N Avenue, north of 230th Street, when he came upon about 15 black cows standing on the road. While attempting to avoid the animals, the 2012 Mazda 2 Lalone was driving came into contact with one of the cows, possibly injuring the animal.

The cattle which were on the road fled to the north and east, possibly into a nearby cornfield. The owner of the cows, Richard Kennon, arrived and checked his nearby field, but was unable to determine how many of the animals had strayed from the field, due to the presence of fog in the area, along with the dark conditions.

No citations were issued.

WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) – A former Winterset teacher has been given two years of probation for kissing and groping a high school student.  Drew Lipovac was sentenced on Monday. He’d been convicted of sexual exploitation by a school employee.  Authorities say an investigation began last year after they received a report of inappropriate physical contact between Lipovac and at least one girl who Lipovac knew was a district high school student.  The 27-year-old Lipovac also was fined $625 and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service.

The Audubon City Council Monday night, approved resolutions to enter into loan agreements which amounted to $660,000, for improvements to the swimming pool, along with an airport resurfacing and water tower/water treatment plant repair projects.  Their decision to opt for repairs to treatment plant instead of replacing the current, 28-year old facility, came at the suggestion of JEO Consulting’s Lucas Billesbach. The move saves the City nearly $1.3-million dollars. A study will be conducting by JEO to determine the need for future repairs to the treatment plant.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold a work session tonight, at the High School. On the agenda for the 7:30-p.m. session, is discussion with school administrators with regard to the 2012-2013 initiatives, goals and expected outcomes. The Board will also discuss the October Iowa Association of School Board’s Fall Regional meeting to be held in Red Oak, prior to their adjournment. The meeting takes place in the high school media center.

The Farmers’ Almanac is predicting wild temperature swings and periods of storminess this coming winter for much of the Midwest – including Iowa. Almanac editor Peter Geiger says Iowans can expect something slightly more harsh than the rather mild weather of last winter. “It’s not going to be like the coldest winter ever, but I think you’re going to get some decent precipitation, which you need badly,” Geiger said.

The Almanac predicts areas east of Iowa, like Wisconsin and Illinois, will experience colder than normal temps with a varied mix of snow, sleet and rain. People from the Great Lakes to northern New England are being advised to prepare for a very cold and snowy winter. The Farmers’ Almanac has been releasing winter weather predictions for 196 years. Geiger notes the publication is accurate with the forecast about 75 to 80 percent of the time. According to Geiger, the forecast is based – in part – on a “mathematical and astronomical formula” created by Almanac founder David Young in 1818.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Atlantic report two accidents caused a total of $5,600 damage, but n0 one was injured. Officials said Monday an accident Friday afternoon in the 900 block of east 7th Street resulted in a Failure to Maintain Control citation for Kassidy Edwards, of Atlantic. The accident happened as vehicles driven by Edwards and Danielle Paulsen, of Elk Horn, were traveling west on 7th at around 12:20-p.m., and Paulsen was slowing due to traffic in front of her. When Edwards failed to notice Paulsen slowing, her vehicle rear-ended the Paulsen vehicle. The damage was estimated at $2,600.

The second accident happened Saturday morning, in the 300 block of Walnut Street, in Atlantic. Officials say no citations were issued after a southbound vehicle driven by Charlene Johnson, of Atlantic, struck the driver’s side door of a vehicle owned by Patricia Brownsberger, of Atlantic. The accident happened as Johnson was pulling into a parking space and Brownsberger was exiting her parked vehicle. The damage amounted to $3,000.

In other news, the Atlantic P-D says 23-year old Sarah Johnson, of Omaha, was arrested Saturday on a charge of OWI/1st offense. She was booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press