w/ Dr. Keith Leonard

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Animal scientist Temple Grandin has criticized legislation that restricts or bans underground videos in feedlots and confinements. The Des Moines Register reports the animal rights authority told the Iowa Farm Bureau Wednesday that laws with such rules are “the dumbest thing.”

The newspaper reports that Gradin also praised beef trimmings, or so-called “pink slime” as a good product. She says its production should never have been suspended. The product is the subject of a lawsuit by Beef Products Incorporated in South Dakota against ABC News. Grandin also spoke against sow gestation crates, a method of enclosure used in pig farming. It’s a controversial issue between hog producers and animal rights activists.

w/ Kate Olson

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At least five hunters were wounded during separate shooting incidents during the second day of the shotgun deer hunting season, in Iowa. Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say a Red Oak man was injured at around 8:30-a.m. Sunday, while hunting deer west of Indianola. 58-year old Miles Sagen was hit in the shoulder/upper chest area by a deer slug fired at a running deer by some else in his nine-member hunting party. The slug traveled approximately 144 yards before striking Sagen. Dense fog in the area is believed to have played a role in the incident. Visibility at the time was limited to about 100-yards.

A Halbur woman was injured during another hunting accident in Crawford County. 32-year old Stacy Wiltfang, was hunting with one other person north of Arion at approximately 3 p.m.  While she was sitting, a bullet from a high-powered small caliber rifle penetrated her boot, but did not penetrate her foot. She was treated at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, and released.

A Cedar Rapids man was injured Sunday afternoon, after his gun discharged while deer hunting in Iowa County. 46-year-old Steven Thompson was hunting about two miles east of Victor, when his shotgun accidentally fired, striking one of his big toes. He was treated in Marengo before being transferred to the University Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

A rural Mason City man was hospitalized Sunday after sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the foot while deer hunting in Floyd County. 29-year old Jeffrey Esser was wounded around 4 p.m. Sunday while hunting in heavy brush southeast of Nora Springs.  The DNR says Esser’s 12-gauge shotgun accidentally fired, hitting him in the right foot. He was taken to North Iowa Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, where he underwent surgery Sunday evening.

And, 48-year-old Clint Morgan, of Saucier, Miss., was wounded around noon Sunday southwest of Blakesburg, in Monroe County. Morgan was struck in the elbow by a slug fired by another member of his seven-member hunting party. Morgan was taken to a Des Moines hospital for treatment.

Each of the incidents are under investigation. None of the injuries were believed to be life threatening. The DNR estimated more than 100,000 hunters took to the field in pursuit of deer this weekend. So far this year, there have been at least 11 personal injury hunting-related incidents reported to the DNR.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Friday, held a public hearing on a Contract for Private Development in support of the Fagen Farms acquisition of property in the former Amaizing Energy Ethanol Plant area. The contract, when approved, will be for the purpose of securing a developer to construct a Second Generation Bio-Fuels/Renewable Energy facility, or Ag-related facility on the site.

After much discussion, it was determined that before an agreement is reached, a site survey needs to be conducted to determine exactly which portion of area needs to be reclassified from Light Industrial to Agricultural. The change in classification would serve to reduce the tax bill for Fagen, in fact, nearly cutting them in-half. A reduction in property taxes is one of the conditions Fagen requires to be met before they commit to building a next-gen plant in the area. As it stands now, the 63.7-acres is valued at $1.87-million dollars.

The Cass County Zoning Commission will meet at 7-p.m. December 13^th, to conduct a public hearing on the change in zoning to allow Second Gen Renewable Energy facilities to be included in an Agricultural Zone. It’s also possible the Commission may simply elect to change the terms and definition of “Light Industrial,” to include similar facilities, for future development in the County.

In other business, the Board of Supervisors, Friday, approved the closing of the Courthouse on Monday, December 24^th, and paid as a holiday, in advance of Christmas. The Courthouse offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 24^th and 25^th. They will reopen for business on Dec. 26^th. The Board also opted out of being included in a Regional funding “Pool” for Mental Health Regionalization.

Officials with the Cass County Conservation service say the sponsors of Trumpeter Swan Arrival contest have determined a winner in the contest. The official arrival of the swans, as determined by the Conservation Board, was November 24th  On that day there were 12 Trumpeter Swans at the Schildberg Quarry Recreational Area. The large-winged birds stayed there for more than twenty-four hours. The winner this year’s contest is Alice Brown of Atlantic.

Alice will receive a Trumpeter Swan 8×10 print from the Cass County Conservation Board.  The school contest was won by Mrs. Christensen’s third grade at Washington Elementary The students will receive a trumpeter swan poster and Mrs. Christensen will receive a trumpeter swan 8×10 print! Cass County Conservation would like to thank to all who participated in the annual event.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A day of free admission has been scheduled at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.  First National Bank is the sponsor. Gate admission will be free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The zoo is located just south of Interstate 80, off Exit 454, South 13th Street, in eastern Omaha. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through February.