PERRY – Iowa’s minority political party in the statehouse is seeking a re-extending of unemployment benefits. Last year, Republican lawmakers shortened the window of post-termination support from 39 to 26 weeks. Democrats, who are overwhelmingly in the political minority statewide, are citing concerns over a Tyson plant closing and more than 700 Perry residents losing full-time work, with no immediate alternatives available. Only Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver or House Speaker Pat Grassley could bring such a measure to the floor of their respective chamber this late in the legislative session.

MARSHALL COUNTY – A grain bin in rural Marshall County exploded early Friday. The Times Republican reports that several emergency crews responded to reports of a blast at 5:27 that morning. Marshall County deputies reported a soybean bin containing more than 300,000 bushels had fully collapsed, the force of which pushed a nearby office building off of its foundation. No employees were on scene at the time of the incident.

IOWA CITY – Thousands of potatoes made their way to the former state capital Friday. KCRG-TV reports 58,000 pounds of spuds were take in pallets to food pantries throughout Johnson and Linn Counties, with the United Way helping make the shipments possible. The Farmlink Project helped connect the donor to the local area.