DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad is suspending certain Iowa regulations to make it easier to transport hay, straw and stover at a time when drought has depleted livestock feed. Branstad’s action took affect yesterday and will continue for 60 days. Details about the rules are available online at www DOT Iowa DOT gov.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Two men have been rescued from the Mississippi River at Davenport by a passing tour boat after their sailboat capsized in a rapidly developing thunderstorm. The men were pulled from the water by passengers of the Channel Cat Water Taxi around 3:45 p.m. yesterday. The men declined to give their names.

JEWELL, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they’ve recovered decomposed human remains from a lake in central Iowa, and are investigating. Hamilton County Sheriff Dennis Hagenson said Thursday that a man fishing at Little Wall Lake found the remains at about 10:00 a.m. and called the sheriff’s office. The lake is located about 55 miles north of Des Moines. The remains are being taken to the state medical examiner’s office for further examination. Hagenson says the remains are not believed to be linked to the disappearance of the two missing cousins in Evansdale.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids company has agreed to pay more than $19,000 in fines and $100,000 to install new equipment to reduce the amount of chrome waste it generates. Electro-Coatings of Iowa Incorporated, a chrome, nickel, and zinc plating operation, reached an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency to pay the civil penalty. The EPA says the company also agrees to spend at least $110,000 to install technology to reduce waste.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 28-year-old former Des Moines police officer who was caught with drugs in his patrol car has been given a year’s probation. The Des Moines Register reports that Brandon Singleton pleaded guilty yesterday to misdemeanor charges of drug possession. Police say officers found methamphetamine and marijuana in Singleton’s squad car on April 24th after it struck a parked car.