Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:09 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A program that helps refugees become farmers is growing, thanks in part to a federal funding boost. Des Moines-based Lutheran Services in Iowa will use a new $24,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to offer training to refugees about food safety, organic production and crop planning. The money helps fund an effort to evolve the program from one that only offers some community garden plots to one that also provides intense training to help participants start businesses.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Residents of an Iowa city are growing frustrated with the federal government’s lack of action on a long-closed Veterans Affairs hospital that has been allowed to fall into ruin. The Des Moines Register reports that the Knoxville hospital closed in 2004 when the VA decided to move most of its services to a location in Des Moines. The Knoxville hospital has 39 buildings, some of which date back to 1905. Residents say many of the buildings have mold, asbestos, leaking roofs and peeling paint.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old Iowa man who had been reported missing died in a crash in Kansas. KTIV reports that Jake Roos of Ashton, Iowa, was reported missing early Friday morning while he was on the way to pick up a load of cattle.

BELLEVUE, Iowa (AP) — Police officers from around the country are reaching out to support a fallen Iowa officer’s son. Anamosa police Officer Mitch Kelchen died in a car crash over Labor Day weekend while off duty. After his death, Kelchen’s oldest son, Shane, collected business cards from other officers. But someone at his school destroyed the cards. KCCI television station in Des Moines reports that officers from Kansas City, Kansas, presented a special gift to the family Friday in Bellevue, Iowa.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old man from northwest Iowa who had been reported missing died in a crash in Kansas. KTIV reports that Jake Roos of Ashton, Iowa, was reported missing early Friday morning while he was on the way to pick up a load of cattle.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says Roos’ vehicle crossed the center line and crashed on U-36 about four miles east of Phillipsburg around 2 a.m. Friday. Roos had been driving to Stockton, Kansas, to pick up the cattle. He wasn’t wearing a seat belt.

One person was transported to a hospital by helicopter following an accident this (Sunday) morning, in Crawford County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 23-year old Moises A. Carrera, of Denison, who was wearing his seat belt, was transported to the Crawford County Memorial Hospital by ambulance and then flown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, after the 2008 Nissan Altima he was driving crashed at around 8:25-a.m.   The Patrol says Carrera was traveling north on N. 10th Street in the City of Denison, when the car left the road near Northwood and struck a tree before coming to rest.

The accident remains under investigation.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Free towing will be offered in Nebraska and Iowa on Halloween to discourage drunken driving. AAA and Anheuser-Busch Wholesalers are co-sponsoring the towing program again this year. The free service is available to everyone, not just AAA members.

Anyone who calls (855) 286-9246 can get a tow of up to 10 miles anytime Tuesday through 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. AAA will transport the person calling and their vehicle.

The towing service has been offered in certain areas on holidays since 1998.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Residents of an Iowa city are growing frustrated with the federal government’s inaction on a long-closed Veterans Affairs hospital that has been allowed to fall into ruin. The Des Moines Register reports that the Knoxville hospital closed in 2004 when the VA decided to move most of its services to a location in Des Moines.

The Knoxville hospital has 39 buildings, some of which date back to 1905. Residents say many of the buildings have mold, asbestos, leaking roofs and peeling paint. Gail Graham is the central Iowa director of the VA health system. She says the VA is working to improve the grounds and plans to hire a private security firm to stop vandalism.

The federal government hopes to sell the property to private developers within a year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A program that helps refugees in Iowa become farmers is growing, thanks in part to a federal funding boost. Organizers with Des Moines-based Lutheran Services in Iowa will use a new $24,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to offer training to refugees about food safety, organic production and crop planning.

The program, known as Global Greens, launched in 2011 by providing refugees with community garden plots near their neighborhoods around Des Moines. It later expanded by offering a training farm in West Des Moines. There’s now an aim for more independence and improving production.

The grant expands beyond previous USDA awards for the program. It solidifies a yearslong effort to evolve the program from one that only offers some community garden plots to one that also provides intense training to help participants start businesses.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

BELLEVUE, Iowa (AP) — Police officers from around the country are reaching out to support a fallen Iowa officer’s son. Anamosa police Officer Mitch Kelchen died in a car crash over Labor Day weekend while off duty. After his death, Kelchen’s oldest son, Shane, collected business cards from other officers. But someone at his school destroyed the cards. KCCI television station in Des Moines reports that officers from Kansas City, Kansas, presented a special gift to the family Friday in Bellevue, Iowa.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge had ordered the appointment of a receiver to manage a 12-story historic art deco building in downtown Sioux City while foreclosure proceedings against the building’s owner and developer continue. The Sioux City Journal reports that the order was issued Friday for the historic Badgerow Building. The Badgerow Building was built in 1933 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids woman accused of breaking the leg of a baby in her care has been charged with child endangerment causing serious injury. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that 21-year-old Victoria Stastny was operating a child day care when the 1-year-old boy was injured on July 18. The boy’s mother reported that he was screaming when she picked him up from the day. She took him to a hospital, which discovered a spiral fracture in his left femur.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — A southern Iowa woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzling nearly $19,000 from a Fort Madison chiropractic office where she had worked. The Hawk Eye reports that 48-year-old Danylle Lei Weiler, of Chariton, was sentenced Friday in Lee County District Court _ even though prosecutors had asked for a suspended sentence because of her lack of criminal history. Weiler’s attorney has also asked for a deferred judgment. Weiler pleaded guilty to theft after being arrested last year.

The driver of an SUV was transported to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries following a single vehicle accident early this (Sunday) morning, in Council Bluffs. Authorities say Council Bluffs Police and Fire fighters were called at around 12:30-a.m., to the area of Happy Hollow and North Broadway for a single vehicle personal injury crash. The vehicle had left the roadway and had dropped into the Indian Creek canal.

A preliminary investigation indicates a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee was south bound on North Broadway, in the north bound lanes, when it lost control and left the roadway backwards. The vehicle broke through the fencing on the east side of the creek canal. The vehicle then fell approximately 15-20 feet into the canal landing on its tires.

A 21 year old female was located on scene and appeared to come out of the vehicle before it went over the edge into the canal. She was transported by rescue squad to the University of Nebraska Medical Center with serious injuries. Her name was being withheld pending verification of identity and notification of family.

The case is currently being investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Special  Operations Traffic Unit. Anyone with information in reference to crash is urged to contact the (712) 328-4948 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP (7867).

One person died as the result of a single-vehicle accident Saturday evening, in Council Bluffs. According to Council Bluffs Police, officers were sent to the vicinity of the 54-mile marker off Interstate 29 at around 7-p.m. Saturday, for a vehicle that had left the roadway and rolled into the ditch. Upon arrival, officers determined the vehicle had left the roadway, hit two light poles and a sign, rolled at least one time then came to rest in the roundabout near the Avenue G entrance and exit ramps.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in life-threatening condition. As of last report, authorities were still trying to contact family members so the names of those involved were not released.

The Council Bluffs Police Department Traffic Unit is investigating the possibility of both alcohol and speed being factors in this accident.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids woman accused of breaking the leg of a baby in her care has been charged with child endangerment causing serious injury.

Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that 21-year-old Victoria Stastny was operating a child day care when the 1-year-old boy was injured on July 18. The boy’s mother reported that he was screaming when she picked him up from the day. She took him to a hospital, which discovered a spiral fracture in his left femur.

Police say Stastny admitted becoming frustrated with the boy and tossing him “from one couch to another.”

If convicted, Stastny faces up to 10 years in prison. Court records indicate she is representing herself in the case.