DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A veteran Cedar Rapids teacher who spent most of her career with kindergarten students is the 2013 Iowa Teacher of the Year. Governor Terry Branstad recognized Tania Johnson yesterday for the state’s top teaching honor. The Cedar Rapids educator and the other finalists will be honored on October 26th at the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A new heating and cooling system at Dubuque City Hall is worth its weight in water. The city replaced the system this year after an energy audit showed City Hall was using between 8 and 12 million gallons of water a year. The new system cost $660,000. Funding came from a capital improvement budget and federal money.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque contractor has been sentenced to five months in prison followed by five months of house arrest in a case involving illegal immigrants. The U.S. attorney’s office says Thomas Kehoe was sentenced yesterday in Cedar Rapids federal court on one count of conspiracy to transport, harbor and encourage illegal immigrants to live in the country. Kehoe pleaded guilty in April.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The emerald ash borer, which kills ash trees, appears to be staying put in Allamakee (AL’-uh-muh-KEE’) County. The northeast Iowa county has been under quarantine since 2010 when the insect was discovered along the Mississippi River. The quarantine covers firewood and ash products, including lumber and bark chips.