Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic state Senator Jack Hatch is contemplating a run for governor in 2014. Several weeks ago, Hatch filed paperwork with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board to change his campaign committee to reflect that he is considering running for governor. He says he’ll make a formal announcement regarding his plans after the legislative session ends.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A landmark verdict for 32 mentally disabled workers who suffered years of abuse will be reduced. Because of a law capping their damages the verdict will be reduced from $240 million to about $1.6 million. Jurors found that Henry’s Turkey Service discriminated against the men, who they hired out to work at an Iowa turkey processing plant. The men lived in a filthy bunkhouse and faced verbal and physical abuse at home and at work.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The next state auditor will be Mary Mosiman. Gov. Terry Branstad has appointed the deputy secretary of state to take over the post vacated by David Vaudt. He resigned last month to become chairman of a national nonprofit accounting board. Mosiman is an accountant who served for 10 years as the Story County auditor.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — U.S. farmers are making the most of a break from the wet spring to get their crops planted. But, the pace still keeps them well behind schedule. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday that 28 percent of the nation’s cornfields have been planted, up from just 12 percent a week ago. But the latest numbers are well short of the 65 percent of the crop that already was in the ground by this date over the previous five years. At this time last year, 85 percent of the corn was planted.