Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has voted to confirm Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad to serve as U.S. ambassador to China. The 70-year-old Republican says he intends to use his decades-long relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) to advance U.S. and international interests. The two met in 1985 when Xi, then a provincial official, led an agricultural trade delegation to Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Gov. Terry Branstad’s upcoming departure marks the end of a career in state politics that spans several decades. The 70-year-old Branstad was confirmed Monday as the U.S. ambassador to China. Branstad says he’s leaving Iowa with a low unemployment rate and renewable energy investments in wind farms and ethanol. Critics point to legislation he approved this year that weakened public unions, restricted minimum hourly wage increases and added a voter identification requirement.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police have announced a nearly $50,000 fund to pay for tips that help solve open homicide cases. The Des Moines Register reports police announced the fund Monday, saying the money came from unnamed private donors. Police will decide on a case-by-case basis how much a tip is worth. The fund was created at a time when Des Moines police are working on 12 unsolved homicides from the past two years. There have been 15 homicides so far this year, compared to 13 in all of 2016.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge who has already authorized a contempt of court action against one reporter is setting strict rules for journalists covering the trial of “The Bachelor” star Chris Soules. Judge Kellyann Lekar warned Monday that violations may result in contempt proceedings or a ban from the courtroom. She says reporters must give 24 hours’ notice to attend proceedings and cannot enter or leave court except during breaks, among many rules aimed at protecting Soules’ right to a fair trial.