Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:54 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ first day in office has included a thank you letter to state employees. Reynolds sent the letter via email Wednesday. A spokesman says it was sent to employees in all state agencies. Reynolds says in the letter to employees that she is “honored to serve Iowa with you.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The chairwoman of the University of Iowa Alumni Association has resigned ahead of a key meeting on whether the group should be merged with the UI Foundation. Association board chair Clare Kelly had been critical of UI President Bruce Harreld’s merger plan, unveiled in March. She submitted her resignation last week, ahead of a June 9 meeting to discuss the merger idea.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State officials say fake food inspectors have again popped up at restaurants in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals says in a news release Wednesday that people posing as inspectors appear to be targeting ethnic restaurants in Scott County and central Iowa. The scam involves a person posing as a food inspector who promises restaurant owners a license renewed license in exchange for a $5 payment by credit card.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he killed a sheriff’s deputy and wounded another while escaping from an Iowa jail. Court records say Wesley Correa-Carmenaty filed the written pleas Tuesday to charges of murder, attempted murder, escape, kidnapping and other crimes. Authorities say Correa-Carmenaty grabbed one of the deputies’ guns and shot them both before escaping from the jail in Council Bluffs. He was caught in Omaha, Nebraska.