• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon snipped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon snipped fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 two to two-and-a-half pound boneless pork top loin roast (single loin)
• fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, thyme, chili powder, rosemary and cayenne pepper.  Sprinkle mixture evenly over roast; rub in with your fingers.

Place roast on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.  Insert an ovenproof meat thermometer into center of roast.  Roast for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until thermometer registers 155 degrees.  Cover with foil and let stand for 15 minutes (the temperature of the meat will rise 5 degrees during standing).  If desired, garnish with rosemary sprigs.  Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Des Moines Police and the capital city’s leaders held a news conference Monday morning, after the city recorded its 15th homicide of the year over the weekend. Mayor Frank Cownie said “Today’s conversation is about violent crime, and violent crime needs to be punished.” The city and private groups are providing additional funding to create an incentive for the public to cooperate with police. Cownie says the ultimate goal is to reduce instances of violent crime.

Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert said the unnamed program will provide police with money to offer to witnesses of violent crimes to testify. Fourteen people, mostly city and county leaders, were involved in today’s news conference. State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad of Des Moines was in attendance and said “no one from the black community” appeared to be invited. Still, Abdul-Samad said he “commends” the project and he plans to get involved with the group. He blames the recent rise in violence, in part, on cuts in funding to “programs that have worked” in the past.

“One of the things I know we did at Urban Dreams in 1999 was a ‘gun trade back’ and we took almost 150 guns off the street,” Abdul-Samad said. “We didn’t continue that in the fashion that we needed to.”

Urban Dreams is a program that aims to help inner city residents of Des Moines. It was founded in 1985 by State Representative Wayne Ford. There were 13 total homicides in Des Moines during all of last year. There have already been 15 in the first five months of this year. The man found dead early Sunday, one of four shooting victims discovered by police, was identified as 19-year-old Ruot Gach of Carroll. No one has been charged in the case. The fatal shooting is the third to happen in recent months in or just outside Des Moines’ Beaverdale neighborhood.

(Radio Iowa)

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Iowa State University Extension Department has released the results of its first horticulture survey since 2000. Arlene Enderton with the extension Outreach Local Foods Program, says the survey includes crops that can be eaten that are grown to sell to others. “It would include sweet corn, any fruits or vegetables, also it included nuts. And it included pumpkins, even though people don’t usually eat them, you could eat them. We also included honey and maple syrup — which are not horticultural products — but they are specialty crops,” according to Enderton.

The top five crops were tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, green beans, and winter squash. Sweet corn was the top crop in the last survey in 2000, followed by tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, and sweet peppers. Enderton says the survey gives them a picture of the types of growers. “We found that the vast majority of them had been growing horticultural crops for less than ten years. So according to the U-S-D-A that would make them beginning farmers, assuming they hadn’t been growing other types of things prior to growing horticulture type crops,” Enderton says. “The median farm size was two acres, which means that half of them are farming on less than two acres and half of them are growing on more than two acres. The largest was eight acres.”

She says grower retirements appear to have impacted the industry. “The average acreage per farmer went down, so we are getting the impression that our farms are smaller today and it appears that some of our larger horticultural farmers may have retired or gone out of business since 2000. We saw a lot fewer of the really large farms — which would be farms that had 20 acres or more,” Enderton says.

She says while farmers are retiring, there appears to be many people stepping in to take over. “One thing that I thought was really encouraging is there is a lot of new farmers. There’s a lot of interest in growing horticultural crops, “Enderton says. “I think that’s a really good thing. I think there’s a potential for a lot of growth.”

About half the growers market their products exclusively through direct-to-consumer markets including farmers markets, farm stands, community supported agriculture, you-pick, and online sales. You can see the full survey on the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s website under the “Hot Topics” section.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State regulators say an Iowa insurance brokerage accused of a deceptive practice has agreed to repay more than $1.3 million to local governments. The Des Moines Register reports Two Rivers Insurance Co., which is based in Burlington, was accused in 2014 of inflating the amount it spent on premiums for health coverage purchased from Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Documents release Monday say Wellmark complained to state regulators that the brokerage had improperly included up to 7 percent in its own fees in “premium” costs that it billed to local governments for insurance for 10,500 public employees.

Two Rivers President Todd Ackerman says the brokerage still denies any wrongdoing but is settling the dispute to avoid “an extremely costly and burdensome legal process.”

Police in Creston said Monday night, that four vehicles were heavily damaged during an accident that took place early Sunday morning. The incident happened at around 12:25-a.m., as a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup driven by 15-year old Dillon Wyatt Weis, of Afton, was traveling east on W. Adams Street in downtown Creston. The pickup drifted toward a row of legally parked vehicles and struck a 1990 Chevy pickup.

Weis’ vehicle also collided with a 2006 Toyota Tundra, and a 1996 Oldsmobile Cutless Supreme. Damage to all the vehicles amounted to $16,000 ($4,000 each). According to the report, excessive speed was a contributing factor to the accident. No citations were issued.

A man from Missouri was arrested Monday evening in Red Oak, on drug and weapon charges. Red Oak Police report 25-year old Dillon Ray McCracken, of Hale, MO., was taken into custody at around 7:40-p.m. in the 500 block of W. Coolbaugh Street, for Carrying Weapons, felony Possession of Meth with the Intent to Deliver, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. McCracken was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $25,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has voted to confirm Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad to serve as U.S. ambassador to China. The 70-year-old Republican says he intends to use his decades-long relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) to advance U.S. and international interests. The two met in 1985 when Xi, then a provincial official, led an agricultural trade delegation to Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Gov. Terry Branstad’s upcoming departure marks the end of a career in state politics that spans several decades. The 70-year-old Branstad was confirmed Monday as the U.S. ambassador to China. Branstad says he’s leaving Iowa with a low unemployment rate and renewable energy investments in wind farms and ethanol. Critics point to legislation he approved this year that weakened public unions, restricted minimum hourly wage increases and added a voter identification requirement.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police have announced a nearly $50,000 fund to pay for tips that help solve open homicide cases. The Des Moines Register reports police announced the fund Monday, saying the money came from unnamed private donors. Police will decide on a case-by-case basis how much a tip is worth. The fund was created at a time when Des Moines police are working on 12 unsolved homicides from the past two years. There have been 15 homicides so far this year, compared to 13 in all of 2016.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge who has already authorized a contempt of court action against one reporter is setting strict rules for journalists covering the trial of “The Bachelor” star Chris Soules. Judge Kellyann Lekar warned Monday that violations may result in contempt proceedings or a ban from the courtroom. She says reporters must give 24 hours’ notice to attend proceedings and cannot enter or leave court except during breaks, among many rules aimed at protecting Soules’ right to a fair trial.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Gov. Terry Branstad’s upcoming departure to Beijing marks the end of a career in state politics that spans several decades. The 70-year is the longest serving governor in the U.S. at more than 22 years. The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Branstad Monday as the next ambassador to China.

As Branstad gets ready to leave Iowa, he’s highlighted the state’s low unemployment rate and renewable energy investments in wind farms and ethanol.

But critics point to legislation he approved this year that weakened public unions, restricted minimum hourly wage increases and added a voter identification requirement at the polls. Branstad in recent years also privatized Iowa’s Medicaid health care program for the poor and disabled without legislative approval.

Once Branstad resigns as governor, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will replace him.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Gov. Terry Branstad Monday as the new U.S. Ambassador to China. The Governor received 82 Yes votes from the Senate and 13 No votes, thereby sealing his confirmation bid. KCCI-TV reports Branstad is expected to resign as Governor and be sworn in as Ambassador to China on Wednesday. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds would then be sworn in as Governor.

In a statement, Branstad said: “I want to thank President Trump and Vice President Pence for nominating me to be the United States Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.  I also want to thank Chairman Corker, Ranking Member Cardin, and the United States Senate for the confidence they have placed in me.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think that a boy from a small farm in Leland, Iowa, would one day have the opportunity to represent my country and my state on the world stage, working closely with one of the world’s most influential countries and one of America’s largest trading partners.  None of this would have been possible without the dedicated love and support of my wife Chris and my family.”

He added that “While I’m temporarily leaving the state I love and have governed for over 22 years, I know I’m leaving Iowa in great hands with Kim Reynolds as governor.  I look forward to working with both my friend President Donald Trump and my old friend President Xi Jinping for the mutual benefit of both of our countries and the rest of the world.”

Reaction flowed-in Monday evening…

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey issued the following statement following the confirmation of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad as U.S. Ambassador to China: “It is great news for Iowa and for the nation that Governor Branstad is now confirmed and will soon be in place as Ambassador to China.  Governor Branstad is uniquely qualified to serve in this critically important position and will vigorously support our nation’s interests.”

Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said “Terry Branstad is Iowa. And now, we are happy to share the best this state has to offer with the world. Branstad’s work ethic is boundless, his passion to make a difference is strong, and perhaps most importantly, his heart is one with Iowa. Our sincere gratitude and prayers go with him as he embarks on this next journey.”

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, speaking on the Senate Floor, said “Having worked alongside the Governor for many years, I know he will exemplify the same leadership, thoughtfulness, and dedication in his role as Ambassador to China on behalf of the United States as he did for the people of Iowa.”  She said also “It has been an honor to serve the people of Iowa alongside Governor Branstad – the longest serving governor in United States history – and I am thrilled to continue to work with him in his new role serving the American people. “I thank Governor Branstad for his service to Iowa, and I wish him and his family the best as they prepare to depart for Beijing.