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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers Monday asked Republican lawmakers to reconsider plans to eliminate an agriculture research center they say is vital to the state’s largest industry. Farmers spoke out against the proposed elimination of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at a hearing where other citizens criticized proposed budget cuts for higher education and victims’ services as well as the loss of federal family planning money. GOP lawmakers hope to approve a roughly $7.2 billion budget this week.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — The prison that houses Iowa’s most dangerous offenders is tightening security after an infiltration of synthetic drugs that a union is calling the worst in its history. The Iowa Department of Corrections says the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison has changed procedures related to inmate mail and visiting to prevent contraband from getting inside. The announcement comes after a union said that 12 inmates have been linked to drugs such as K2 in recent days.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has passed a bill that would cap payouts to patients in some medical malpractice lawsuits. The Senate voted 37-12 Monday to approve the legislation. The House passed it this month and it now heads to Gov. Terry Branstad. The bill would limit pain and suffering payouts at $250,000 in most cases of medical malpractice. The cap can be exceeded if a jury finds an individual suffered substantial impairment to bodily function, substantial disfigurement or death.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The University of Vermont Foundation is getting a new president and CEO. The foundation announced Monday that Shane Jacobson, currently the vice president for development and alumni relations at Grinnell College in Iowa, will start his new job in Burlington on May 30.