DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers, for the first time this season, are ahead of the five-year average for planting corn and soybean acres. Warm temperatures and below normal precipitation allowed soybean planting and crop progress to rapidly advance during the week that ended May 25. The USDA says statewide there were five days suitable for planting.

The report released Tuesday says 96 percent of the expected corn acres have been planted, 13 points ahead of last year and a percentage point better than the average. Soybean planting progress doubled with 80 percent complete. That’s 5 percentage points above average.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says after the extremely late planting last year farmers are excited to get the crop in the ground more timely this year.

(Update 3:40-a.m., 5/28)

One person is dead following a single vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon in northeastern Dallas County. Sheriff’s officials told KCCI-TV rescue crews were called to 24572 North Avenue about 1:45 p.m.

Iowa State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Scott Bright said a vehicle went off the roadway and hit the cinder block wall of a mechanical building on the grounds of the privately owned Husband Field, about three-miles west of Dallas Center.  Authorities are still investigating what happened. They believe the truck blew a tire before it crashed into the building, and that the driver died on impact with the cinder block wall. His body remained in the truck for several hours, while crews worked to shore up the building to keep it from collapsing.

The driver’s name had not been released as of early Wednesday morning.

CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-
MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…ATLANTIC…GREENFIELD…STUART…
ADAIR…FONTANELLE…WINTERSET…EARLHAM…INDIANOLA…NORWALK…
CARLISLE…PELLA…KNOXVILLE…OSKALOOSA…CORNING…CRESTON…
OSCEOLA…CHARITON…ALBIA…OTTUMWA…BEDFORD…LENOX…
NEW MARKET…MOUNT AYR…LAMONI…LEON…CORYDON…SEYMOUR…
ALLERTON…HUMESTON…CENTERVILLE…BLOOMFIELD
1226 PM CDT TUE MAY 27 2014

…CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FUNNEL CLOUDS…

ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNNEL CLOUDS
THIS AFTERNOON. USUALLY…THESE FUNNEL CLOUDS CAN FORM FROM
SHOWERS AND WEAK THUNDERSTORMS. THESE FUNNELS ARE NORMALLY
BRIEF…DROP ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM THE CLOUD BASE…AND
RARELY BECOME A TORNADO OR CAUSE DAMAGE. HOWEVER…IF ONE IS
SPOTTED…PLEASE REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. IF A TORNADO WARNING
WOULD BECOME NECESSARY…TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

Two men were arrested on separate charges Sunday, in Mills County. Sheriff’s officials say 24-year old John Patrichs Shanahan, of Omaha, was arrested at around 10:15-p.m., on an OWI/1st Offense, charge. Bond was set at $1,000. And, 41-year old Larry Steven Hutchings, of Emerson, was arrested at around 3:30-p.m. Sunday in Emerson, on a charge of Criminal Mischief. His bond was set at $300.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. Of Natural Resources said today (Tuesday) that the City of Mapleton had begun discharging untreated wastewater into the Maple River, after planned repairs on the wastewater treatment plant were delayed. The City began routing wastewater to polishing ponds on May 15th, to enable repairs to a wall in the plant. The ponds filled to capacity Monday after heavy rains. The City began discharging wastewater to prevent damage to the ponds.

Contractors are expected to complete repairs by Wednesday or Thursday. The DNR cautions people to keep children and pets away from the area for 24 hours after repairs are completed. The repairs were scheduled in April after a wall between two sections of the treatment system failed.

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill that provides increased state funding and coordination for an apprenticeship program to train workers in skilled jobs including those in construction and information technology.

Standing in front of the giant new data center under construction in Altoona in which Facebook is investing nearly $1 billion on Tuesday, Branstad said a skilled workforce is extremely important and in high demand in Iowa. Microsoft and Google also are building data centers in the state.

The bill provides over $3 million for the program which will be administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. A previous state apprenticeship program received about $1 million in funding.

The bill also provides about $3 million for other job training programs that will continue to be run through community colleges.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following an accident last Friday afternoon, in Braddyville. Officials say a 2007 Chevy Tahoe and a 1986 Toyota pickup collided at the intersection of Highway 71 and Mulberry Street at around 4:25-p.m.  The Tahoe, driven by 54-year old David Morgan, of Clarinda, was traveling south on Highway 71 and slowing to turn east onto Mulberry Street, when his vehicle was struck from behind by the Toyota, driven by 25-year old Trevor Allan Gray, of rural Blanchard.

Gray was cited for Following too close and No proof of Insurance.

A man dressed in camouflage and acting suspiciously was arrested last week in Page County.

Damon Dustin

Sheriff’ Lyle Palmer reports 40-year old Damon Curtis Dustin, of Braddyville, was charged Friday with Public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct, after deputies investigated a report from Ross Park (east of Braddyville), about a man in the park armed with a crossbow and a machete. They found Dustin, who was in possession of a crossbow and several knives.

Dustin was brought to the Page County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa court reporters are expressing relief that a college in the state will offer a training program in the occupation this fall. The Sioux City Journal reports an estimated 60 percent of court reporters in Iowa are expected to retire within the next 10 years. Filling those vacancies was going to be difficult because the AIB College of Business in Des Moines ended a longtime court reporter program after the Iowa Supreme Court supported switching to digital audio reporting.

The courts changed course and decided court reporters were a better option, but with the business college ending its program, people had to travel to Minneapolis or St. Louis to take classes. Reporters say they’re pleased to hear Des Moines Area Community College will offer court reporting this fall.