Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — One of three men initially charged in the death of a Council Bluffs man has pleaded guilty to lesser charges as a part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Twenty-two-year-old Sarael Duncan, of Omaha, Nebraska, pleaded guilty to theft. He was originally charged with murder in connection with the August death of 20-year-old Jacob Combs but that charge has been dropped.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The Black Hawk County Gaming Association board has given $750,000 to Waterloo’s Fourth Street canopy bridge project, although few members offered resounding support of it. The board gave its unanimous approval to split the grant into two payouts, which will fund about 50 percent of the $1.5 million project. The project, set the start this spring, will rehabilitate the walkway portion of the Fourth Street bridge that crosses the Cedar River.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Lottery officials say the record Powerball jackpot in January helped send lottery ticket sales soaring to new records. The Powerball jackpot grew for more than two months before it reached a world-record level of nearly $1.6 billion. It was split three ways in the Jan. 13 drawing by tickets purchased in California, Florida and Tennessee. Iowa lottery sales in January exceeded $54 million, topping the previous monthly sales record of $42 million set in February 2006.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Senate panel has advanced a bill that would make it a hate crime in Iowa to commit an offense against a person because that person identifies as transgender. The bill would make it a hate crime if an offense is committed against a person or their property because of the person’s gender identity or gender expression. Current language in Iowa code includes multiple characteristics, including sexual orientation.