The Iowa Concern Hotline has been receiving an increasing number of calls from farmers and those who depend on agriculture related businesses. Director Margaret Van Ginkel says that sector of the economy was thriving just a couple of years ago, but weather and low commodity prices are pushing things in a different direction. “We’re hearing some concerns from those smaller machinery businesses that are looking down the road to see how much those farmers are able to spend on machinery this year, and they could be having a tough year too,” Van Ginkel says.

Large equipment manufacturers are also feeling the pinch. Deere and Company idled one thousand workers earlier this week. The phone bank was initially established by Iowa State University Extension to offer advice to farmers back in the 1980s. The calls are free and confidential. “Sometimes you need to get a few things off your chest and just get rid of some of that stress,” Van Ginkel says. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can just call and be anonymous. You don’t have to give us your name.”

The Iowa Concern Hotline is not just for farmers. VanGinkel says they hear often from families who wonder how they’ll make their budget stretch if both food prices and other costs continue to increase. The number for the Iowa Concern Hotline is 1-800-447-1985.

(Radio Iowa)

Today (Saturday), marks the start of the pheasant hunting season in Iowa. Mick Klemesrud, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says weather conditions should be ideal for hunters this weekend, though there will be challenges. “We’ve got a lot of crops still out in the field and that could cause a little bit of tougher hunting if there’s a lot of standing corn for the birds to escape to,” Klemesrud says. “On the flip side of that, it could provide some better late season hunting because the birds haven’t been hunted that much.” He’s hopeful the number of hunters on opening day will be up this year after a drop in 2013.

“We’re hopeful that we can hit 60,000,” Klemesrud says. “Last year was our lowest on record of about 41,000. Traditionally, back in the late ’80s and ’90s, we’ve had opening day numbers around 200,000. We used to call it the largest sporting event in the state. We’re hoping that some of them come back.” Hunters should always get permission from land owners to hunt on their property. Klemesrud has some other safety tips.

“We always want to stress blaze orange, knowing the zone of fire, stay in a straight line, talk to everybody in the hunt so they all know what their role is and where there zones of fire are going to be,” he says. “You always want to be seen in the field. Go beyond the minimum. Wear as much blaze orange as you can.” The DNR says there was one hunting-related injury during the pheasant season last year. Learn more about the pheasant season at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Customers of Mediacom in Fort Dodge and Webster City had their Internet access cut for at least 14 hours after a crew encountered problems in trying to make a fiber line repair. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports the problems began late Tuesday when a crew from Windstream, from which Mediacom leases fiber lines, tried to repair fiber between Fort Dodge and Humboldt. Mediacom spokeswoman Phyllis Peters said service resumed at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A pack of wild coyotes in Illinois has proved to be pivotal in the capture of an Iowa fugitive. The Muscatine Journal reports that 21-year-old Daniel Rice is back in Muscatine County custody, facing a charge of escape in addition to other allegations. He’d been taken from the Muscatine County Jail on Monday to a Muscatine hospital for treatment of a heart-related issue when he slipped out of handcuffs. The Rock Island County, Illinois sheriff’s office respond early Wednesday to a call about coyotes chasing two men at a forest preserve, including Rice.

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — That cougar sighted in Evansdale? It’s probably a house cat. KWWL-TV reports that’s the verdict of Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Jason Auel after studying photos a woman took near the Cedar River on Tuesday.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa man has been convicted of making and using counterfeit credit cards. Federal prosecutors say Yoirland Rojas of Storm Lake was found guilty Thursday in Sioux City.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Frontier Airlines is saying goodbye to a Sioux City airport, ending a four-month stint serving the community. The Sioux City Journal reports the flights began with much fanfare and were popular, but the airline says it’s focused on faster-growing markets, such as Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. In August, the airline announced that it was stopping its nonstop flights from Sioux Gateway Airport to Denver International Airport.

The last flight from the Sioux City airport was on Friday. Frontier flights traveled three times each week between the two cities. American Airlines is now the only other carrier at Sioux Gateway Airport. The airport’s director says Frontier’s lease in the terminal ends next month. He says crews from the airline will soon remove computer systems and ground equipment.

The Red Oak Police Department made three unrelated arrests this (Friday) afternoon. 58 year old William Wayne Elliottt of Red Oak was charged with violation of a protective order. 56 year old Charles James Netherton also of Red Oak was arrested aggravated assault and held on 2-thousand dollar bond.  50 year old Candace Suzanne Johnson of Red Oak was charged with third degree harassment and was being held on 3-hundred dollar bond.

A man from Central Iowa was arrested this (Friday) morning, on a theft charge. Red Oak Police say 19-year old Ryan James Corder, of Gilbert, was taken into custody at around 9:25-a.m. on a warrant for Theft in the 5th degree. Gilbert was arrested at the Shelby County Jail. His bond was set at $300.

Police in Lenox have arrested a local man for writing bad checks. 36-year old Jeremy Harris, of Lenox, was arrested at around 9:40-a.m. on a warrant for theft in the 4th degree. The warrant was issued as the result of an investigation into several hundred dollars of bad checks written to Lenox area businesses, Harris was transported to the Taylor County Jail where he was being held on a $1000 cash only bond

A traffic stop in Red Oak this (Friday) morning, resulted in two people being arrested on drug charges. Authorities say officers stopped a vehicle in the 600 block of west Coolbaugh Street at around 8:25-a.m., and upon further investigation, charged the driver, 26-year old Samuel Joseph Kier, of Red Oak, with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, 2nd offense. He was also given warnings for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign and Failure to Obey.

A passenger in the vehicle, 20-year old Gillian Ray James Bourne, of Red Oak, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, 3rd offense. Bourne was also issued a warning for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both men were brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where Kier was being held on $1,000 cash bond. Bourne’s bond was set at $2,000.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad’s administration says 3,200 union workers are expected to be reimbursed for years of meal expenses that were improperly cut. After lengthy negotiations with the state’s largest union, the Department of Administrative Services agreed last week to refund meal reimbursements that were cut in August 2011.

A department spokesman tells The Associated Press that the deal with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is expected to cost nearly $1.5 million. The state has already reimbursed members of two other unions nearly $250,000 under prior settlements.

AFSCME Council 61 President Danny Homan said Friday that checks might go out in February after the reimbursements are calculated. Homan says employees who traveled every day – such as motor vehicle enforcement officers – might receive $2,500 or more.