IOWA – Dry weather with isolated showers led to 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 1st, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Primary field activities included planting, cutting hay and spraying emerging crops. Topsoil moisture condition rated 5 percent very short, 23 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Corn planted reached 97 percent and emerged reached 87 percent, six days ahead of last year’s pace and one day ahead of normal.

ALTOONA – The former owners of Adventureland settled with the family of a boy who died in the theme park in 2021. KCCI-TV reports a trial that was planned to start this week had been removed from the schedule in relation to the death of 11-year-old Michael Jarmillo. He died on the Raging River ride one day after it had passed an inspection. The family’s attorney released a statement, mentioning a settlement had been reached, and citing ongoing concerns about safety in the amusement park industry as a whole.

SIOUX CITY – Comments made by Senator Joni Ernst last week in a town hall prompted a Democrat to announce his intent to run for U.S. Senate. KCRG-TV reports State Representative J.D. Scholten plans to run against Ernst if he wins the Democratic primary in 2026. Scholten cited comments Ernst made that everyone dies in her response to criticism that proposed Republican cuts to Medicaid would kill people. Scholten earned recognition for nearly defeating Republican Steve King in 2018 in one of the most conservative districts in the country. He joins Nathan Sage as two Democrats who have publicly announced campaigns for U.S. Senate.