Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — If you think this was a brutal winter, there’s data to back it up: Iowa officials say it was the ninth coldest in the state since record-keeping began more than 140 years ago. Harry Hillaker, state climatologist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, compiled data on the meteorological winter season that ran from December 1st through February 28th. He says the past winter was also the coldest in 35 years.

SHELL ROCK, Iowa (AP) — Officials say no one was injured following a freight train derailment in the northeast Iowa city of Shell Rock. Iowa Northern Railroad Company tells the Waterloo-Cedar Fals Courier that the early Friday incident near a railroad crossing involved some train cars going off their tracks around 2 a.m.

TAMA, Iowa (AP) — Federal authorities have charged a 25-year-old man with the killing of his parents last month on the Meskwaki Settlement in central Iowa. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports an FBI agent Friday filed a criminal complaint against Gordon Lasley Junior in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids in the killings of Gordon Lasley Senior and Kim Lasley. They were found dead n their home on February 5th.

WALCOTT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a woman and her 5-month-old child have been hospitalized after hot liquid was spilled on them at an eastern Iowa apartment. The Walcott Police Department says the accident occurred around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the apartment on West James Street.

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas firm is recalling about 29,200 pounds of seasoned raw, chicken breast strips due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said Friday the recall involves George’s Inc. of Springdale.

The products are formulated with soy protein, a known allergen, and monosodium glutamate. But they were released with a label for George’s boneless skinless breast pieces with rib meat, which does not declare soy or MSG on the label.

The products were produced and packaged from Dec. 21 through Dec. 23 and were sold to distributors in Tennessee and Iowa for further distribution. The recalled products bear the establishment number “P-13584” below the USDA Mark of Inspection and “Packed on” date in the format of “month-day-year” on the carton label.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials say a breach of personal information relating to some child and dependent adult abuse cases in Polk County took place over five years. The state Department of Human Services announced Friday that the information of more than 2,000 individuals was included in the breach, though there are no reports it’s been misused.

The agency says two workers used personal emails accounts, storage accounts and electronic devices for work purposes, beginning in 2008. That is a violation of department policy. The information included names, mailing addresses, Social Security numbers and other data. Letters have been mailed to the affected individuals to alert them, and they’ve been offered free credit monitoring.

Officials say appropriate personnel action has been taken, but they did not elaborate.

A reminder for trappers from the Shelby County Conservation Service: Shelby County is continuing the beaver bounty until April 15th. Beavers must be harvested legally in Shelby County prior to April 15th and the tails brought into the Conservation Board office to receive the $20 per tail bounty. Paperwork also has to be submitted along with the tails and can be accessed under the documents tab at Shelby County’s website http://shco.org

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Friday (Today) elevated fine particle (PM 2.5) pollution levels were observed at Viking Lake State Park near Stanton, on Thursday. Levels rose overnight across much of Iowa, but should fall later today as a cold front moves eastward through the state and winds increase. The DNR recommends that Iowans with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children limit prolonged outdoor exertion until the cold front passes through later today.

The EPA’s 24-hour health threshold for PM 2.5 is 35 micrograms per cubic meter. Levels of 37.1 were recorded yesterday at Viking Lake. The daily average, as of 10 a.m. today, was 43.2 at Waterloo, 40.4 at Clinton, 39.5 at Emmetsburg, 39.2 at Davenport, 36.9 at Lake Sugema, 37 at Cedar Rapids, 35 at Iowa City, 34.1 at Muscatine and 25.2 at Des Moines.

Nitrate is a primary component of winter time haze in Iowa. Nitrate formation is enhanced during prolonged periods of high humidity and near freezing temperatures that sometimes occur during a spring thaw. Fine particles are also emitted by vehicle traffic and other combustion sources and by chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Stagnant air masses do not allow the fine particles to disperse, and pollutant levels rise.

EPA’s national air quality map is available online at www.airnow.gov.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Paramedics from four states have gathered in Sioux City for an annual conference that focuses on the skills needed to keep patients alive until they can reach a hospital.  The Emergency Conference involves paramedics, EMTs, nurses and other personnel. The two-day event is being held Friday and Saturday at the Sioux City Convention Center.

The Sioux City Journal reports national and local speakers are scheduled to discuss issues like motor vehicle collisions, hazardous materials and illnesses.  Terry Sudrla, an area paramedic, says the emergency medical services profession requires keeping up to date on processes, protocols and equipment.

Cass County Local Food Policy Council (CCLFPC) is hosting a “Local Foods Meet and Greet” to help connect local food producers with potential buyers, such as restaurants, schools or other wholesale markets. Local food producers and potential purchasers are invited to join CCLFPC on Monday, March 10, 2014 from 4-5:30 PM at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. This is a come and go event, and those interested in attending are encouraged to stop by as available.

There will be a short program at about 4:15-4:30, followed by a chance for networking and discussion. The event will be held in Conference Room 1 (enter through East doors and take a left). Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to RSVP to Emily Krengel, Cass County Health System Food Service Director at kreeh@casshealth.org or 712-243-7550 ext. 3421 by Monday at Noon.

Police in Atlantic cited a local man following an accident Thursday afternoon at 7th and Mulberry Streets. Officials say Armando Rosales, of Atlantic, was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop or Yield sign after he pulled away from the intersection and hit a vehicle driven by Scott Lauritzen, of Exira. The accident happened after Rosales stopped at the intersection and waited for a car to pass before making a left-hand turn onto 7th Street from southbound on Mulberry. Damage from the accident amounted to $1,700. No injuries were reported.

Legislative leaders like House Republican Leader Linda Upmeyer say the tide may be turning for efforts to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes, although they don’t expect legalization to happen this year.  “The discussion has risen to a different level or changed appreciably this year,” Upmeyer says. Upmeyer, who holds a masters degree in nursing, says legislators “want to be educated” because “technically it’s very challenging” to write a law that would legalize marijuana use in limited circumstances. “But I think there is interest, certainly,” Upmeyer says. “The moms…who testified make a very compelling argument for folks to at least study this issue and see what’s possible.”

Sally Gaer of West Des Moines is a mother who has told her story, twice, during public events at the statehouse this year. Gaer’s 24-year-old daughter, Margaret, has a rare form of epilepsy. “We want the ability to have cannabis as a treatment option for Margaret in Iowa. We want this option available for other Iowans as well who suffer from life-threatening, debilitating diseases,” Gaer told a senate committee this past week. “The medical evidence is overwhelming that cannabis has accepted medical benefit.

Epileptic patients are witnessing miracles with cannabis in the form of a oil, edible pill, juiced or vaporized.” Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs says it’s “pretty clear” research has determined medical marijuana can be an “appropriate treatment” for things like seizure disorders and for patients undergoing chemotherapy. “I think there’s a lot of people in the legislature that understand that,” Gronstal says. “I think there are still a great number that have significant resistance to doing anything on that front.” If the legislature “goes down this path” of legalizing medical marijuana, Gronstal predicts it will be “highly limited” and will not be made available for just any medical malady.

“I guess we’ll see if there’s a consensus that can develop around that,” Gronstal says. “At the moment, it seems like a long shot.” Twenty states have legalized medical marijuana. Illinois is setting up a medical marijuana program this year. Fifth-nine-year-old Connie Norgart, a retired nurse from West Des Moines, suffers from chronic, severe pain due to post-polio syndrome and she pleaded this past week with legislators to change Iowa law.  “Last year I tried cannabis for two months. Within two months I had weaned myself off of all my pain medications…I slept all night and was pain-free. I had not experienced this in years,” Norgart said. “Why did I take a chance of being arrested and deemed a criminal?” Norgart asked, her voice cracking with emotion. “Because I want a quality of life. I want to be pain-free.”

A retired neurosurgeon who spoke to a senate committee this past week said he’s not interested in the “recreational effects” of marijuana, but he told lawmakers it’s time to acknowledge marijuana “does work” as a treatment for chronic pain, for nausea and for seizure control.

(Radio Iowa)

An Atlantic man was arrested Thursday on an assault charge. Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report 49-year old David Kirchner was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault. Kirchner was booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending a court appearance.