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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo man who sent threatening tweets to U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst has been convicted by a jury of sending threatening communications. A federal jury in Cedar Rapids reached the verdict for 34-year-old Joseph Hilton Dierks on Wednesday after five hours of deliberations.

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — A Polk County prosecutor has been charged with child endangerment, accused of striking a child. Court records say Joseph Crisp pleaded not guilty Monday in Dallas County Court in Adel. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press. The complaint says Crisp used an open hand to strike the child across the back on Nov. 15 as punishment for defecating in a diaper.

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — Kwik Trip is planning to make a $300 million capital investment to support its convenience store chain. Plans by the La Crosse-based retailer include a $113 million bakery plant, expanding its dairy manufacturing facility, kitchen operations and transportation fleet. The investment is expected to create more than 300 jobs in the La Crosse area over the next five years.

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — An airport in western Illinois is launching an initiative to encourage area businesses along the Illinois-Iowa border to prioritize flying local. The Quad-City Times reports that the Fly Local Alliance program comes as the Quad-City International Airport in Moline works to retain and increase passengers. Airport officials say participating companies won’t pay a membership fee. In exchange, companies promise to communicate with airport officials about their travel spending.