Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is getting a warm welcome from Iowa Republicans in his first campaign appearance since returning from a rocky trade trip to the United Kingdom. Christie appeared at a Monday event sponsored by a county GOP organization held in suburban Des Moines. Seeking to introduce himself to voters in the kickoff caucus state, Christie touted his record as a conservative governor in a Democratic state, citing his efforts to cut taxes and reduce spending.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa President Sally Mason has discussed details of a merger with a Des Moines business college that will become part of the university in 2016. Mason says the AIB College of Business will be gifted to the university instead of technically merging because of accreditation issues. AIB will graduate its last students at the end of June 2016, and the University of Iowa will take over operations the following month. AIB athletes at the meeting later expressed concern about the merger.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources says results from several monitoring stations along the Mississippi River show much of the ethanol that leaked into the water after several train cars derailed has dissolved. DNR spokesman Kevin Baskins says the highest levels of ethanol have been detected nearest the site where 14 cars containing the fuel went off the tracks Wednesday in a remote area north of Dubuque.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Three trial dates have been set for a Davenport man accused of molesting multiple children over several years. And April 27 trial date for the first case was scheduled Friday for 54-year-old Melvin T. Lucier, a registered sex offender. Police say Lucier was charged in 2014 with six counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse after they say they received reports of Lucier fondling at least five young children.