FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are looking for a Fort Dodge man accused of throwing hot grease on his dog and burning him. Webster County officials say an arrest warrant was issued for 52-year-old Gary Wilson on one count of animal torture. Wilson is accused of throwing hot grease on his black Labrador retriever, Bob, in November. Baldridge says the alleged abuse caused second- and third-degree burns to the dog’s head and face.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A private company hired to help manage Iowa’s $4.2 billion Medicaid program is formally challenging its recent contract termination. WellCare of Iowa says in a petition that it wants the state Department of Human Services to temporarily halt its plans to terminate the company’s contract while the issue is sorted out in legal proceedings. A state official on Friday reaffirmed a judge’s recommendation that the state terminate WellCare’s contract over its contact with state officials during the bidding process and a failure to fully disclose information involving fraud or mismanagement.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say it could cost at least $52,000 for cleanup completed at the Webster County Courthouse following a vandalism incident. Webster County Supervisor Merrill Leffler says that total for a cleaning company doesn’t include associated costs like extra personnel who helped clean affected computers. Insurance should pay for all costs associated with the vandalism, which was reported on Dec. 8 and closed the courthouse for a week.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson will need a comeback if he wants to recover the momentum that briefly propelled him to the top of the GOP field this fall. But since then, the retired neurosurgeon has faced questions about his readiness for the job and lashed out publicly at media scrutiny of his compelling life story. His campaign leaders say he remains in a strong position to win Iowa and do well in South Carolina once voting begins in February.