Wet weather slowed progress, but Iowa farmers were able to get some planting done last week. The latest crop report from the U-S-D-A shows 40 percent of the corn acres have been planted. That’s up from 13 percent reported last week. The planting is already six days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the five-year average.

The report says farmers in the north central, central, and southeast portions of Iowa have made the most progress — with half their corn crop now in the ground. The U-S-D-A report did not mention any soybean planting, but Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey says he’s heard some reports of farmers already starting to plant their beans.

(Radio Iowa)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – The Council Bluffs City Council has unanimously supported construction of a new police headquarters.  The Daily Nonpareil reports all five City Council members announced their support of the new facility on Monday. The council also encouraged residents to head to the polls on May 3 to vote for a request for $20 million in general obligation bonds for the new headquarters.

At least 60 percent of voters must choose in favor of the bond issue in order for it to pass. The location and design of the potential new headquarters has not been decided, but Councilwoman Melissa Head says several sites are under consideration. The current 19,000-square-foot facility was built in 1977. Police Chief Tim Carmody says at least 58,000 square feet is needed for current and future needs.

Members of the Griswold and Lenox School District Boards of Education held a joint meeting Monday night in Lenox, to discuss the subject of Superintendent sharing between the districts. Griswold School Board President Scott Hansen told KJAN News the meeting was kind of like the early stages of dating….having coffee to see if you want to continue seeing the other person.

He said both boards will take about a week to mull over what they discussed, and meet again to decide if they want to continue with talks about a sharing arrangement. Hansen said also, they don’t want to rush it, and there’s a lot of work still to do before details are even hashed out.

After that, if both districts are still on the same page, public forums will be held for patrons of both districts, to gauge input and answer questions.

(In an update to our 7-a.m. report)

Police in Council Bluffs say a vehicle driven by a Nebraska man ended-up in Lake Manawa this (Tuesday) morning, after the man took evasive action to avoid hitting an animal. 38-year old Enrique Iglesias, of Omaha, was traveling north on Northshore drive at around 5:30-a.m., when he saw an animal on the road and swerved to avoid hitting it.

His 2012 Kia Rio went out of control and drove into the lake near the intersection of Westlake Road and Northshore Drive. The car has since been removed from the lake.

Iglesias, who was standing on the road when officers arrived, was not hurt. Authorities say alcohol does not appear to have played a role in the mishap.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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• 8 chicken thighs, skin on
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh rosemary
• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 8 oz. mushrooms, quartered or halved
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon snipped fresh Italian parsley

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Season chicken on both sides with salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon of the rosemary and 1 tablespoon of the thyme.  In a large cast iron or other oven-going skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add chicken, skin sides down; cook 5 to 7 minutes until browned on one side.  Turn chicken pieces over and place skillet in the oven.  Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until done (170 degrees).
2. Remove chicken from skillet; set aside and cover to keep warm.  In the same skillet, cook and stir mushrooms over medium-high heat for 4 minutes.  Add flour to skillet, stirring to coat.  Stir in chicken broth, wine and mustard.  Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir one minute more.  Remove skillet from heat.  Add remaining rosemary, thyme and the parsley.  Serve mushrooms and sauce over chicken.  Makes 4 servings.

The area’s top news at 7:07-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A car whose driver apparently swerved to miss a rabbit on the road, ended-up in a lake this morning, on the south side of Council Bluffs. According to KETV in Omaha, the accident happened on the west side of Lake Manawa near Pelican Drive, at around 5:30-a.m. The driver, and only occupant of the vehicle, escaped unharmed.

Two women from Creston were arrested on drug charges early this (Tuesday) morning, in Creston. Creston Police says 40-year old Amy Crispin was arrested at around 2:25-a.m., for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3^rd or subsequent offense. And, 21-year old Kami Hilton was arrested at around 2:15-a.m. for Possession of a Controlled Substance, with the Intent to Deliver. Both women were taken into custody at 702 S. Poplar Street, in Creston, and brought to the Ringgold County Jail, where they were being held on $5,000 bond, each.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The nation’s largest health insurance carrier says it will leave the Iowa marketplace for subsidized insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Iowa regulator said Monday that UnitedHealthcare‘s decision will affect about 9,000 consumers. The company says it’s lost millions of dollars by selling on the marketplaces.

The Des Moines Register reports that people who bought UnitedHealthcare policies on the Iowa exchange will be covered through 2016. And they will have a new option for 2017: Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Wellmark is the state’s dominant insurance carrier but had previously opted not to become part of the Care Act exchange for Iowa. It announced in October that it would be joining the exchange for the 2017 calendar year, however.