OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An economic index for Iowa, Nebraska and eight other states has dropped again, and an economist says the drought is “dampening economic activity across the region.” Creighton University economist Ernie Gross says his Rural Mainstreet Index dropped further into negative territory this month, hitting 47.1, compared with 47.9 in July and 56.7 in June.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Anthrax experts and veterinarians are warning ranchers to watch their herds for sudden deaths after more than 100 animals died in anthrax outbreaks on ranches in Colorado and Texas in the past two weeks. Anthrax outbreaks happen occasionally in livestock herds in the U.S., usually west of the Mississippi River.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An attorney for an Iowa researcher is defending his client’s decision to force a group for which she volunteered to remove hundreds of articles she wrote about unsolved murder cases from its website. Attorney Kirk Hartung said yesterday that Nancy Bowers of Ames is the owner to the copyrights of more than 300 articles that she wrote and uploaded to Iowa Cold Cases, which chronicles Iowa’s unsolved homicides and disappearances.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa defensive lineman John Sawhill is leaving the Hawkeyes because of an injury during preseason practice. Coach Kirk Ferentz said yesterday that the senior from Jefferson joined the program earlier this summer after playing for Drake while he earned his bachelor’s degree. Iowa opens the season September 1st against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field in Chicago.