WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Iowa’s rural bridges are poor shape, ranking third worst in the nation as structurally deficient. TRIP, a national transportation research group, reports that 22% of Iowa’s rural bridges are structurally deficient, with only bridges in  Pennsylvania and Rhode Island in worse shape. The states with the bridges in the best shape? Florida, Texas, and Nevada.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa teen smoking has fallen dramatically, but the rate is still higher than the U.S. average. The Iowa Hospital Association reports that just over 7% of Iowa teens smoke, down from over 14% a decade ago.

DES MOINES, (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture has announced four more probable cases of the avian flu in Buena Vista and Sioux counties, bringing the total to 60 cases. These include a turkey farm, a commercial laying operation, a pullet farm, and a backyard flock.  Approximately 275,000 birds are included in these four cases.

JOHNSTON, (IRN) – The director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy has notified the governor he plans to retire at the end of June. Arlen Ciechanowski has been the academy’s director since 1996.  WHO TV reports that earlier this year the Senate Judiciary Committee grilled Ciechanowski over some troubling issues at the academy, ultimately deciding to not recommend him for re-appointment.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man who was paroled from a life sentence in a 1976 murder is back behind bars for allegedly leaving the state of Iowa without permission. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports that Duane Eugene Brant, 58, was found in California last week with an estimated $220,000 in cash. He is being held in the Black Hawk County Jail. Brant was convicted of murder in a 1976 convenience store robbery that left the clerk dead.

MODALE, IA (IRN) – Two Sioux City residents are in custody after a short pursuit led to gunfire on Interstate 29 Monday. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation reports that a Department of Transportation officer was checking on a car parked on the shoulder of the road, when the driver of the vehicle started acting suspicious and drove away.  During the pursuit, at least one round was fired, hitting the law enforcement vehicle. Chauncy Jewett, 17, has been charged with Attempted Murder, and Sydney Swanson, 20, has been charged with Identity Theft and Interference with Official Acts.

NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines will acquire the Skiff Medical Center in Newton. The Des Moines Business Record reports that the Newton City Council approved the agreement that transfers ownership of Skiff, all of its land, buildings, and assets to Mercy. Skiff is owned by the city of Newton, and has been in operation for over 90 years. The sale is effective July 1.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – While wet weather slowed planting last week, the USDA reports that ninety-two percent of the Iowa corn crop has been planted, 6 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of the 5-year average. Southwest Iowa is still lagging behind with 75 percent planted, compared to northwest Iowa, where 98 percent of the corn was in the ground.  Soybean planting was at 51%  at the end of the week.