Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill that would create a system for manufacturing, dispensing and possessing medical marijuana in Iowa has advanced in the Legislature. The Republican-majority House Commerce Committee voted 17-6 to pass the measure on Wednesday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A big year from Iowa’s football and basketball teams means a big raise for athletic director Gary Barta. Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that Iowa President Bruce Harreld and Barta reached a five-year contract extension last month. Barta’s biggest hire, basketball coach Fran McCaffery, has turned a once-moribund program into the nation’s fourth-ranked team.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa has seen a 36.4 percent increase in faculty resignations during the 2014 to 20015 academic year, compared with the year before. The Iowa Board of Regents’ most recent faculty report says the number of resignations at the university increased from 66 to 90 between fiscal years 2014 and 2015. The Press-Citizen reports the Iowa Board of Regents is scheduled to discuss the reports when they meet February 24th and 25th in Ames.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Polk County inmate has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and sex abuse after being held in jail for over three years. The Des Moines Register reports that 45-year-old Lavelle McKinley admitted Monday as part of a plea deal to sexually assaulting and strangling Cynthia Rouse. He has been held on a murder charge since January 16th, 2013, two days after Rouse died.