BOONE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in central Iowa are investigating a series of fires they say could be arson. Television station KCCI reports the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and Story County Sheriff’s Office are investigating between 20 and 30 recent fires.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Council Bluffs man has committed suicide in his county jail cell. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says Shawnessey McKnight cut his neck with a razor last night at the county jail. Danker says McKnight also did pushups before and after slashing himself in an effort to bleed out faster. The staff had given the 43-year-old McKnight a razor for shaving.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A registered nurse and former congressional candidate from northeastern Kansas has been chosen to head a four-state region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Department Secretary and former Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced the appointment of Stephene (STEH’-fa-nee) Moore as director of HHS Region 7 today. The region covers Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has hired former Colorado assistant Bobby Kennedy as its wide receivers coach, added Jim Reid as a defensive assistant. The Hawkeyes also announced the departure of running backs coach Lester Erb today. No specific reason was given for Erb’s departure.