DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s public employee pension system lost 4.3 percent in value during the stock market’s recent wild ride. The system assets dropped to an estimated $22.1 billion on Aug. 5 from $23.16 billion on June 30. By comparison, California’s main employee pension fund dropped about 7.5 percent of its value from July 1 through early August. In Kentucky, the loss was 15 percent. The Florida fund lost 7 percent.

Iowa system spokeswoman Judy Akre says the system’s relatively modest losses are a result of its conservative investment strategy, “based on a decades-long horizon, not a five-week window.” The Iowa Public Employees Retirement System has about 324,000 members.

Today was supposed to have been the first day of classes for the Corning Community School District, but at least some of the students will have an extra day to get psyched-up for school. Classes at the Corning High School will be delayed until Thursday, due to construction and construction-related inspections, slated for this morning. The Corning Junior High and Elementary will hold classes as planned for today, and, the buses will run as normal, with dismissal slated for 1-p.m.

Other area schools are also getting underway today, including classes in the Atlantic, CAM, EHK-Exira, Harlan, IKM-Manning, Red Oak & Walnut Community School Districts. AHST, Riverside & the Shenandoah Schools start tomorrow. Nodaway Valley doesn‘t start its school year until Monday, while Clarinda won‘t hold classes until next Tuesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa is ranked No. 2 among states where more than half of graduating high school students took the ACT college entrance exam. A report issued  Wednesday says 61 percent of Iowa’s 2011 high school graduates took the ACT, compared with 72 percent in Minnesota, the state with the highest ACT score. Iowa’s average composite score was 22.3 out of a possible 36. Minnesota’s average was 22.9. The national average was 21.1.  The ACT report says 31 percent of Iowa students who took the test reached benchmark scores that suggested they are ready for college. That’s up a percentage point from 2010. Nationally, 25 percent of this year’s graduates tested as college-ready.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say 41-year old William Delee Hardy, of Red Oak, was arrested Tuesday afternoon, on an assault charge. Hardy was taken into custody in the 23-hundred block of State Highway 48, on a charge of Simple Assault.

He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond.

Three members of the same Villisca family were arrested Tuesday evening on domestic assault charges. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 46-year old David Alan Adsit, 43-year old Julie Anne Adsit, and a 16-year old male were arrested after authorities received a 9-1-1 call a little after 5-p.m., with regard to a domestic assault occurring at a residence on 170^th Street in Villisca.

David and Julie Adsit were held in the Montgomery County jail, pending a court appearance, while the juvenile was processed and released on juvenile referral.