Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:00 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Utilities Board is defending its decision to spend thousands of dollars sending five employees to a conference in Portland this week. A list of attendees to the National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys shows Iowa and two other states sent five employees. The majority sent none, one or two. The four-day conference, which concluded Wednesday, charged $400 per employee in fees, plus hotel, airfare and meal charges.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has decided to keep open a longtime research center, though he still plans to remove its funding. Branstad used his veto power Friday to cut language in a roughly $7.2 billion state budget that would have eliminated the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. But he kept plans to redirect a tax worth roughly $1.5 million that helps pay for the center. The governor’s staff did not give a reason for the setup.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has rejected the University of Iowa’s request to delay the upcoming trial in a lawsuit filed by former women’s field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum. Judge Eliza Ovrom says Griesbaum’s trial will go ahead June 5 as scheduled. Griesbaum alleges she suffered discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation in Athletic Director Gary Barta’s decision to fire her in 2014.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Top lawmakers in Minnesota and Iowa are trying to work out an arrangement allowing Iowa residents to immediately start buying medical marijuana from their northern neighbors. Iowa’s Legislature passed a tightly controlled medical marijuana program but it is still awaiting Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s signature. With Minnesota’s approval, Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says the arrangement could give sick Iowans immediate access while the state sets up its own program.

Bigfoot’s been spotted in southern Iowa — the mushroom variety — not the big hairy ape-like creature. The Iowa D-N-R is showing a picture of large morel mushrooms on its Facebook page that was sent in by the daughter of the man who found them in southern Iowa. The D-N-R’s Alan Foster says the large yellow-colored morels are different from their smaller yellow counterparts.

“It’s technically a separate species — at least from the training that I’ve received. It’s a morchella crassipes, more well known as bigfoot,” Foster says. And it’s one that pretty much signals the end of the season in that particular area.” The bigfoots are the last in the line of the morels that pop out in spring.

“With the progression of morel growth, we start with the greys, and then we get the yellows that are typically four to five inches tall. And then we get the bigfoots. Like their name implies, they can be a foot tall and as wide as a pop can,” Foster says. The recent discovery of the monster mushrooms fits in with the way the entire season has gone.

“It’s been a good season, it’s been kind of weird. We had perfect conditions as far as temperatures, daytime, nighttime soil temperatures. Moisture was good. But it was really strange, people were finding greys in southern Iowa while people in central Iowa were finding yellows. Some people were finding decent groups, some people just find ten or 12,” Foster said.

Michaela Welch took this picture of her grandfather, Everett Garr, and the bigfoot morels he found.

I mean, it’s been a solid season, but I wouldn’t say it has been gangbusters.”  The area of the state where you hunt mushrooms could dictate how well you did in finding them. “I think with the fluctuation of weather patterns and stuff, certain areas didn’t get what they needed, and certain areas did,” Foster says. If you haven’t been out hunting morels yet this season, time maybe running out.

Foster says this weekend may be about the end unless you can find some in the northern part of the state. He says some of his friends are heading to northeast Iowa this weekend and if they don’t find any mushrooms, they will be done for the season. The photo that’s getting all the attention was sent into the D-N-R from Michaela Welch, and shows her grandfather, Everett Garr, and the bigfoot morels he found in southern Iowa two weeks ago.

(Radio Iowa)

Governor Terry Branstad today (Friday) approved the legislature’s compromise plan to set up state-licensed operations in Iowa that will grow marijuana for the production and distribution of cannabis oil. Iowa doctors may now prescribe cannabis oil for treatment of 15 chronic and debilitating conditions, like epilepsy. In late April, Branstad had signalled this would be his decision.

“This is certainly a subject that has a lot of interest and support,” Branstad said. “…I’m pleased that the legislature was able to reach a consensus on this difficult and contentious issue.” Critics say the law so narrowly limits T-C-H content that the cannabis oil that will be available in Iowa will be like “baby aspirin.” Branstad took action on 10 bills today (Friday) and has now signed ALL the bills passed by the 2017 legislature. Nearly all aspects of the Republican-led legislature’s spending plan for state government got Branstad’s approval, including a proposal to “defund” Planned Parenthood.

“As your governor, I’m proud to be able to sign pro-life bills,” Branstad said last week. “I’ve done some over the years, but I think this year was really a banner year for the pro-life movement. History was made this session.” G-O-P lawmakers voted to forgo nearly three-million dollars in available federal funds that could have been used at health care organizations that perform abortions. Instead, three million in state tax dollars will be used on family planning services for Medicaid patients — for things like prescriptions for contraceptives and reproductive health exams.

Branstad faced a May 22nd deadline for either signing or vetoing ALL the bills the House and Senate approved before ending the 2017 legislative session in late April. The governor of Iowa also has ITEM veto authority on spending bills. He used that authority to erase language in a budget bill that called for closing the Leopold Center at Iowa State University that has financed hundreds of ag research projects aimed at reducing soil and farm chemical runoff. However, Branstad approved the legislature’s decision to shift state funds for the center to other research at Iowa State. The Leopold Center has relied on state funding, but it does have other sources of funding.

“There are bequests that have been made to the Leopold Center that I’m told could put it in jeopardy if it were eliminated,” Branstad said a week ago. The budget plan Branstad ratified for the state fiscal year that begins July 1st is about 14-MILLION dollars less than the current year’s budget. Branstad is calling the 2017 legislative session “one of the most significant and productive sessions in our history.” And the governor says Republican initiatives will “make Iowa more competitive and prosperous.” Senator Rob Hogg — the Democratic leader in the Iowa Senate — has the opposite view. Hogg says the 2017 legislative session was a “nightmare” and the G-O-P’s budget “is a mess.”

“Not because of a national or global recession, but because of their bad budgeting decisions and their failure to create jobs and raise family incomes as promised,” Hogg says. Hogg and other Democrats accuse Branstad and his fellow Republicans of approving too many “tax give-aways” over the past six and a half years.

(Radio Iowa)

A Judge says a Greene County man must remain in custody pending his July 3rd trial on drug and weapons charges at the Federal Courthouse in Des Moines. 36-year old Tyson James Ruth, of Jefferson, made his initial appearance in court Friday (May 12th) on an indictment charging Ruth with three counts of being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm and two counts of possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Each count is subject to a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years and a maximum $250,000 fine.

According to the indictment, in December of 2016, Ruth illegally possessed two sawed-off shotguns and three additional guns including a revolver, pistol, and a Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle. The public is reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation, and that Ruth is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Carroll Police Department, Jefferson Police Department, and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Officials with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office report three Taylor County Secondary Roads Department employees were injured late Thursday morning, when a large tire exploded as they were making repairs. The incident happened at around 11:45-a.m. at the Taylor County Secondary Roads shop in Bedford.

The injured were identified as Jim Rowe of Bedford, Jason McMillin of Bedford, and Randy Peterman of Gravity. All three men were transported to area hospitals for medical treatment.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Top state lawmakers are trying to work out a system allowing Iowa residents to start buying medical marijuana oils and pills in Minnesota, a novel arrangement that could raise issues with the federal government.

It’s not a done deal yet. The legislation creating a tightly controlled medical marijuana program is still awaiting Gov. Terry Branstad’s signature. And Minnesota lawmakers would need to approve too.

But the bill specifically allows Iowa residents to buy their supply from Minnesota and directs state regulators to contract with two licensed manufacturers in Minnesota.

It’s comes from discussions between Iowa House Linda Upmeyer and Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt. Upmeyer says it could provide Iowans immediate access while the state sets up its program.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports the arrest on Thursday of 25-year old Cassandra Burcham-Hoagland, of Audubon. The woman was taken into custody on a charge of Child Endangerment stemming from an incident that took place Tuesday, separate from the previous charge of Child Endangerment filed on Monday. Burcham-Hoagland turned herself in on the warrant and was held pending an appearance before a magistrate.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Lorimor resident reported Thursday, that someone had damaged her mailbox sometime overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning. The person or persons unknown also took a sign and forest tree farm sign. The loss was estimated at $100.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting this past Wednesday morning. Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports a Certificate of Appreciation was presented to retiring Secondary Roads employee Craig Meyer for his 23 years of dedicated service to Cass County. In other business, the Board discussed whether or not a speed restriction or limit should be placed on a portion of roadway known as Troy Road and Cass Street, south of Griswold. The matter came about as the result of complaints from some residents and others, with regard to dust being kicked-up.

Part of the roadway is inside the City limits, while the other is outside. County Engineer Charles Bechtold has stated a new engineering study of the roadway is not needed. Sunderman said the Griswold City Attorney has prepared an amendment to the City Ordinance to set the speed limit at 35 on its part of the roadway. The County has been requested to adopt a similar speed restriction on its part of the road. The Supervisors agreed to take the issue under advisement.

In the final order of business, Wednesday, the Board approved the abatement of tax (in accordance with Iowa Code) on four parcels now owned by the City of Massena. The move also absolves the City from any penalties and interest collectible.

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report 29-year old Travis Johnathan Humbert, of Underwood, was arrested Thursday afternoon for being a Habitual Offender. A Pott. County Sheriff’s Deputy patrolling on Old Lincoln Highway, observed a vehicle known to be registered to Humbert traveling on the roadway. After the Deputy turned around and called in the license plate, dispatch confirmed Humbert was barred from driving. He was pulled over and taken into custody without incident and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

And, two male students ages 15 & 16 were arrested and then released on citations into juvenile court, following a fight Thursday evening near the Lewis Central School. One of the boys, age 16, was taken to the hospital for treatment of possible broken bones and other injuries. Both youth face charges of Disorderly Conduct/Fighting for the incident which took place earlier at the Iowa West Foundation Park, just south of the Lewis Central School. The names of the juveniles were not released.