Children in Iowa schools and across the country are encouraged to make good choices in the lunch line. The U-S Department of Agriculture is making nearly six-million dollars available in Team Nutrition grants. Economist David Just says the money will go to agencies in Iowa and other states that fall within the National School Lunch program and many will use the money to implement a project called Smarter Lunchrooms.

“It’s a lunchroom that uses behavioral science to help children to both choose and eat fruits and vegetables and other healthier options,” Just says. Small, simple changes or alterations in presentation techniques are showing big results in the school lunchrooms.  “Taking fruit out of the stainless steel bins and placing them in an attractive bowl near the cash register can increase fruit consumption by 102%,” he says. He reveals other basic tricks that work.

“Placing white milk in front of the chocolate milk can increase white milk sales by as much as 26%,” he says. The U-S-D-A is funding more than two-thousand Smarter Lunchroom kits that will be distributed to school districts nationwide which provide information on how to help kids eat healthier. Iowa has 351 school districts and more than 473-thousand students.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa state Representative Dwayne Alons, who was battling renal cancer, has died. Alons, a Republican from Hull, announced his diagnosis last month. The Oolman Funeral Home in Hull said Sunday the 68-year-old Alons died on Saturday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After four tumultuous years, Secretary of State Matt Schultz is preparing to leave office with no regrets. Schultz, an attorney who previously worked at a Council Bluffs law firm, says he’s excited to return to the practice of law after winning easy victory in the November 4th election for Madison County attorney. He’ll take a pay cut and have a much smaller staff but says the job will keep him closer to his home in Truro and allow him to continue public service.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa town of Forest City has bought a new police dog and plans to revive its K-9 unit early next year. The Globe Gazette reports the police department plans to use $6,100 from forfeited property to pay for the German shepherd that’s expected to be ready to start patrolling the area in February.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A 5-year-old Iowa girl has died two weeks after she was hit by a truck while sledding down her grandfather’s driveway. Council Bluffs Police told KETV Kailey Maloney died Saturday at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She had been treated there since her November 16th injury.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Rail delays have been a problem for farmers throughout much of the Great Plains this year, but they’ve been less of an issue in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. Grain elevators around Sioux City say their rail shipments of grain this year have been mostly on time, and they’re cautiously optimistic about handling the big 2014 harvest over the next few months.

Don Truhe, general manager for the Southeast Farmers Elevator Coop, says his cooperative has been lucky to get all of its trains on time this year. It helps that a significant portion of the grain grown in the region is used by feedlots or biofuel plants.

In recent reports to the Surface Transportation Board, BNSF, Union Pacific and Canadian National railroads said they are making significant progress.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa state Rep. Dwayne Alons, who was battling renal cancer, has died. Republican leaders in the state House announced Sunday that Alons died late Saturday. Alons, a Republican from Hull, announced his diagnosis last month, but at that point he planned to continue serving in the state legislature. Alons was a retired farmer and former Iowa Air National Guard brigadier general. He was first elected in 1998. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen says he is sad to loose such a passionate lawmaker

Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer says Alons did an exemplary job representing people in his district and listening to their concerns. Alons and his wife, Clarice, had four children and 13 grandchildren. In the House, he most recently served as the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs committee.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A 5-year-old Iowa girl has died two weeks after she was hit by a truck while sledding down her grandfather’s driveway. Council Bluffs Police reported Sunday that Kailey Maloney died Saturday at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She had been treated there since her Nov. 16 injury.

Maloney was sledding down the driveway of her grandfather’s property at 44 Bennett Avenue, when she was hit by a 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck after she slid into the street. Police say no charges have been filed in this incident, which remains under investigation.

Residents of Avoca, Hancock, Shelby and Tennant will be asked to vote Tuesday, on approving an expanded tax to support facility repairs, technology and transportation spending for the AHST Community School District. The Daily NonPareil reports a special election will be held on a physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL – or “Peppel” as it’s commonly called) authorization for up to $1 of every $1,000 in taxable valuation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After four tumultuous years, Secretary of State Matt Schultz is preparing to leave office with no regrets. Schultz, an attorney who previously worked at a Council Bluffs law firm, says he’s excited to return to the practice of law after winning easy victory in the Nov. 4 election for Madison County attorney. He’ll take a pay cut and have a much smaller staff but says the job will keep him closer to his home in Truro and allow him to continue public service.

He leaves behind a controversial legacy voter fraud investigations and criticism of efforts to get voter ID passed. Schultz says he truly believes ensuring that voters are eligible helps maintain trust in the voting system.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A longtime store in downtown Cedar Rapids has closed after 125 years in business. Smulekoff’s Home Store closed its doors at the end of Friday, after shoppers made last-minute purchases and reminisced about the store’s history. The store had five floors of furniture, and included electronics and other home products. Its 72-year-old owner decided to shut down the store after he had no one to turn it over to.

HAMBURG, Iowa (AP) — Two communities in southwest Iowa are asking residents whether it’s OK to merge their school districts in response to dwindling student enrollment. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports a special election will be held Tuesday to decide whether to merge the school districts in Hamburg and Farragut, located in Fremont County.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people were hospitalized after two semitrailers collided in northwest Iowa. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened Friday afternoon at an intersection between Highway 60 and a county road. Both vehicles ended up in a ditch.

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a woman has died after her car was hit by a locomotive in northeast Iowa. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office tells KCRG-TV Mary Buillion of Coralville died Friday at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The collision occurred early Wednesday near Dyersville.

A juvenile was arrested in Red Oak Saturday for intentionally “keying” a car owned by a rural Red Oak couple. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested 16-year-old Justice Myers of Villisca after an investigation into a vehicle that had been damaged in the parking lot of Red Oak Lanes.  Myers was charged with Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree and was cited into juvenile court and released to his parents.  Damage to the Chevy HHR amounted to approximately $2,500.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people were hospitalized after two semitrailers collided in northwest Iowa. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened Friday afternoon at an intersection between Highway 60 and a county road. Both vehicles ended up in a ditch.

Authorities say diesel fuels and oils from both vehicles spilled onto the roadway, located near Le Mars. Environmental officials were expected to assess the scene. Additional information about the drivers has not been released. The crash remains under investigation.