Some Iowans refer to the full moon in June as a “strawberry moon” because it’s often bright enough to go out at night and pick berries, but that will NOT be the case this year. While we’ve had several so-called “super moons” in the past year, astronomer David Kriegler says what we’ll see tonight (Friday) is just the opposite, what’s known as a micro-moon or mini-moon. Kriegler says, “Because it’s farther from us, it will be fainter in its brightness when it’s full and it will also be smaller.”

The moon’s orbit this month is much more distant from the earth than usual, so while the moon won’t actually be any smaller, it will appear so to the trained eye. “The mini-moons occur fairly often, about once every year or year and a half,” he says. “You have a full moon which is close to its apogee. It’ll be about 30% smaller and probably 20% dimmer than normal.”

For dedicated sky gazers, this moon may be something of a letdown compared to the spectacular full moons we’ve seen lately.  “This particular full moon occurs when the moon is farthest in its orbit,” Kriegler says. “For the last couple of months before this, we’ve had the full moon occurring when the full moon was closest to us, so right now, it’ll be farthest from us.”

Kriegler teaches physics and astronomy at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

(Radio Iowa)

Red Oak Police report the arrest on Wednesday, of Bobbie Jo Bruce, from Red Oak. Bruce was taken into custody at around 12:20-p.m. following a report of a domestic disturbance that happened near Summit and Eastern Streets, in Red Oak. As Police were interviewing Bruce, it was determined he had been driving a vehicle while holding a revoked license. He was taken into custody and later released on a $300 bond.

And, Red Oak Police say two people were injured during an accident Thursday morning. The crash occurred just before 8-a.m. at the intersection of G Avenue and Highway 34, when a 2003 Mazda 6 owned and driven by 40-year old Dana C. Crouse, of Red Oak, struck the rear of a 2013 Kia Rio driven by 52-year old Ruth C. Burns, of Red Oak. Burns, and her passenger, Sara Batten, were transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital to be checked out. Burns had complained of neck pain following the impact. Crouse was not injured. Damage from the accident amounted to $13,500.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents has approved a tuition increase at each of the states three public universities, starting in the fall. The Press-Citizen reports that the nine-member board voted Thursday to approve an across-the-board $216 tuition hike for students at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. Increases for out-of-state, graduate and professional students at the University of Iowa will range from $1,078 to $2,578.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — An agreement between the University of Northern Iowa and Drake University Law School will allow students to shave a year off the time it normally takes to earn both a bachelor’s and law degree. The Courier reports that the 3+3 Program will see UNI students earn a bachelor’s degree in three years, then earn a law degree from Drake in the next three years.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After more than two months without a winner, the Powerball jackpot has grown to $435 million. The jackpot for Saturday night’s drawing would tie for the nation’s 10th largest lottery prize. No one has matched all the balls drawn in the Powerball game since April 1, when a player in Arizona won $60 million. The chance of winning the jackpot is one in 292.2 million.

SIBLEY, Iowa (AP) — A former Sibley-Ocheyedan football coach and teacher fired after the superintendent found him sleeping in a classroom next to a 10-year-old boy has pleaded not guilty to sex assault. The trial of Kyle Ewinger is set to begin Oct. 17. He’s also pleaded not guilty in Nebraska to a charge of sexually assaulting a child. No trial has yet been scheduled.