(Radio Iowa) – When the full moon rises over Iowa next Monday night, it’ll be the first of what may end up being three “supermoons” in each of the next three months. University of Iowa astronomy professor Casey DeRoo says a supermoon occurs when the moon is closer to the earth in its orbit, making our natural satellite look larger than normal. Next week’s supermoon will appear about five-percent larger, and since it’s closer to us, it’ll be brighter, too.

DeRoo teaches the U-I’s general education course in astronomy for non-majors, and he says if you’d like to start moon gazing, you don’t need a fancy telescope, just using your eyes or even binoculars will offer a spectacular view.

(Radio Iowa) – Saturday, July 1st is the day dozens of state laws take effect, including the massive plan to reorganize state government. The number of state agencies is shrinking from 37 to 16. Next week, thousands of state employees will be reporting to new bosses. Another new state law changes child labor guidelines. It means 14 and 15 year olds can work until 11 p.m. for the rest of the summer and until 9 p.m. once school starts. Sixteen and 17 year olds can serve alcohol if they have a parent’s permission. Sixteen and 17 year olds also can work longer hours and in some jobs that were previously off limits.

Today (Friday) just before midnight is the deadline for low income Iowa parents to apply for a state-funded account to cover private school tuition. It will take a while to verify eligibility and whether there’s a spot in a private school for each child. According to the Iowa Department of Education’s website, July 15th is the earliest date the 76-hundred dollars in state funds will be deposited in one of these Education Savings Accounts.

(Radio Iowa) – Air quality due to smoke across Iowa’s eastern half remains in the “very unhealthy” category today (Thursday) and comparisons are being drawn about the equivalent of how many cigarettes you’d be smoking just by being outside. Des Moines oncologist Dr. Richard Deming says it’s unclear if the environmental conditions are raising our risk of developing lung cancer, but it’s certainly not good.

Inhaling smoke of any kind is detrimental to health, Dr. Deming says, adding it’s “theoretically possible” that inhaling Canadian forest fire smoke for a few weeks increases the risk of lung cancer. The Iowa D-N-R is extending its air quality advisory for the state’s eastern half through midnight tonight, and even healthy adults are urged to limit outdoor activities. Lung cancer is the most common cancer killer in Iowa, accounting for one out of every four cancer deaths.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Lottery sales have already hit records for the fiscal year with the June numbers still to be added to the total. Lottery C-E-O, Matt Strawn, told to the Lottery Board today (Thursday) it will be the strongest year of lottery performance in the 38-year history of the organization. Sales that will approach 480 million dollars once June numbers are in and Strawn says says proceeds returned to the state top 100 million dollars for the first time in the first 11 months of a fiscal year. The fiscal year ends June 30th and a record for sales is assured.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision Wednesday afternoon in Creston caused $3,000 damage, but no one was injured and no citations were issued. According to Creston Police, vehicles driven by 18-year-old Gabriel R. Lovell, of Creston, and 35-year-old Jamie Anne Horton, of Lenox, were both traveling southbound on Sumner Avenue at around 12:19-p.m., and approaching the stop lights at Russell Street.

Both drivers said that traffic came to an abrupt stop, causing the right front bumper of the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Horton, to strike the rear bumper of the 2003 Ford Focus, driven by Lovell.