CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Some Iowa lawmakers are questioning whether Governor Terry Branstad has overstepped his authority by signing off on bonuses paid to two state directors, raising their pay beyond state salary caps. Courtney Kay-Decker, director of the Iowa Department of Revenue, has received an $800-per-pay-period housing allowance for her first year on the job. That makes her annual compensation more than $175,000. Public Safety Commissioner K. Brian London reportedly received a more than $16,000 recruitment bonus, making his annual pay $145,000.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Two men and a woman have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a man whose body was found in a Davenport field. Robby Kohn’s body was found December 8th, four days after 20-year-old Barry Hamilton of Chicago bailed Kohn out of jail. Police say Hamilton, 20-year-old Jessica Loerzel of Davenport, and 21-year-old Darious Johnson of Chicago drove the 41-year-old Kohn to a field and shot him.

HOPKINTON, Iowa (AP) — Fire has destroyed a building at Bacon Recycling in the eastern Iowa town of Hopkinton. Fire Chief Craig Wilson tells Cedar Rapids television station KCRG-TV that the blaze began around 5 a.m. Saturday.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State’s decision to play freshman quarterback Sam Richardson in the final two games of the regular season resulted in a win, a loss and a lot of hope for the future. Now Richardson has the chance to grow some more in Iowa State’s December 31st’s Liberty Bowl against Tulsa.