Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have announced murder charges against two people already being held on other charges in connection with the January killing of a Des Moines man. Des Moines police say 50-year-old Ricky Hascall and 26-year-old Monica Fagan were each charged Friday with first-degree murder in the January death of 31-year-old Michael Huckleberry. Hascall and Fagan have been jailed since February on robbery charges in connection with Huckleberry’s death.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An attorney who served as counsel to Gov. Kim Reynolds when she was No. 2 to former Gov. Terry Branstad has been named the state’s next public defender. Larry Johnson Jr. will replace Adam Gregg, who was appointed acting lieutenant governor on Thursday. Reynolds also announced Friday that Mark Lowe, interim director of the Iowa Department of Transportation, will now be in the job permanently. Katie Averill will serve as superintendent of the Iowa Division of Credit Unions.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for forcing another vehicle off the road and stealing the occupant’s purse, as well as passing forged checks. The Sioux City Journal reports that 42-year-old Stephanie Dunscomb pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree theft and forgery. Police say Dunscomb used her vehicle to force another vehicle off the road in Sioux City on May 5, then stole the victim’s purse. Police say she also stole and forged checks in November.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group has proposed building greenhouses along railroad tracks in Iowa’s capital. The Des Moines Register reported that a New York architect and a local venture capitalist met with the Des Moines City Council this week to share their plans for downtown. They say the project could take 20 years to build and could cost tens of millions of dollars, but that it would meet demands for locally grown food and provide research space.