OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska and Iowa residents are being reminded to set their clocks back an hour before going to sleep Saturday. Standard time returns this weekend at 2 a.m. Sunday. The change means most Americans will get an extra hour of rest, but those working overnight shifts might toil an hour longer. It also means some will forget to change their clocks, and show up early for church or other events on Sunday.

Daylight Saving Time returns to Nebraska and Iowa in March. Not everyone in the United States makes the switch from standard time. The exceptions are Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say Iowa’s system for teaching career and technical training could be on the brink of a major overhaul, but they add it’s too early to tell how much the potential changes could cost and who should pay for them. Career and technical education, once known as vocational education, is essentially skilled training for work that will require more than a high school diploma. The terms encapsulate numerous fields and industries.

An education task force released a report recently that offers recommendations to expand the way such training is offered in the state. Officials, including Gov. Terry Branstad, have announced plans to counter a shortage in skilled labor with a renowned focus on training opportunities. Officials say such education efforts can’t be broken down yet into costs.

Many Iowans have fun at Halloween by creating scary haunted attractions in their front yards, often involving an impromptu cemetery, headstones and skeletons to frighten trick-or-treaters. Liz Dorland, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross chapter in Council Bluffs, suggests you keep your scary display age-appropriate. “With Halloween, there are always some added dangers we’re not necessarily used to and things that could spook a child to run into a street,” Dorland says. “Make sure you are paying attention to what may be overly frightening.”

Dorland offers a few tips for those who will be staying at home, manning the candy dish and waiting for the doorbell to ring. “Make sure the outdoor lights are on, sweep all the leaves from the sidewalks and the steps, clear the front porch of any obstacles the trick-or-treaters might get hung up on,” Dorland says. “Don’t forget to restrain your pets. Sometimes dogs may rush the door. That might scare some of the children and frighten them to run into the street.”

Parents need to take a few minutes to talk to their kids about safety before heading out the door to trick-or-treat. Dorland says it’s especially important for older children who won’t be accompanied by an adult.  “Plan the route with the children so they know it, they know the safe areas and the homes that should be visited,” she says. “They also know how to get back home so we don’t have any lost trick-or-treaters.” A few other tips: Make sure kids only trick-or-treat at homes where the porch light is on, and tell them to accept treats only at the door, never go inside. Take along a flashlight. Only use battery-operated candles inside jack-o-lanterns instead of real candles where the flame could be a hazard. And if you’ll be on the road, take it slow as there will be plenty of pedestrians.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — DuPont is announcing the opening of an ethanol plant that will make the fuel additive from cornstalks, leaves and cobs instead of the grain itself. The $225 million refinery in central Iowa is touted as the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant, which is designed to make 30 million gallons annually once it’s in full production next year.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport police have arrested a man in connection with a Waterloo incident that resulted in officers shooting him as he drove away from a bar. Officers arrested 28-year-old Jovan Webb on Thursday, charging him with several offenses, including assault on a police officer and using a dangerous weapon.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A judge has postponed the trial of a Pittsburgh man charged with robbing and killing two sisters of an Iowa state lawmaker last year. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports Allegheny County Judge Edward Borkowski criticized prosecutors and defense attorneys for not being prepared to try the case of 44-year-old Allen Wade starting Monday. Instead, jury selection will begin in late February. The women were the sisters of Democratic Iowa state Representative Mary Wolfe.

CHICAGO (AP) — By every measure, Marco Rubio’s bid for the Republican nomination has grown more robust in October. It was boosted again by his strong showing in Wednesday night’s debate. The campaign’s fundraising just finished its best month yet. In the hours around the debate, Rubio raised $750,000 online.