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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The federal government says it will give farmers an additional $14 billion to compensate them for the difficulties they’ve experienced selling their crops, milk and meat because of the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released details of its plan Friday, saying it will provide “financial assistance that gives producers the ability to absorb increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.” President Donald Trump first mentioned the aid in a speech Thursday night in Wisconsin, a state that is considered vital for his chances to win a second term. The additional payments also illustrate the importance of farmers as a voting block to Trump’s reelection.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coronavirus infections grew by 1,259 confirmed cases on Friday with 10 additional deaths. The state now has more than 78,000 confirmed cases, and the total number of death since March has risen to 1,258. Gov. Kim Reynolds earlier in the month ordered that bars be closed in Story and Johnson counties, which are home to Iowa State Universities and the University of Iowa. With infections rates remaining high in those areas, Reynolds on Friday signed a new proclamation that keeps those bars closed at least through Sept. 27.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A high school teacher in Iowa has been placed on leave for assigning students to “pretend you are a black slave.” The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the assignment asked students to write four sentences about what they would do if they were a slave who was freed. The assignment was for an Iowa City school district online learning program for students assigned to different schools. The district says the teacher was placed on administrative leave and the assignment was removed. The district called the assignment “inappropriate.” The teacher’s name hasn’t been released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate for August dropped to 6%, continuing a decline from an April high hit amid an economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the August rate was down from 6.8% in July and 11% in April. There were 96,500 people listed as unemployed in August, a decline from 110,300 in July. Iowa’s unemployment ranked 12th nationally. The U.S. unemployment rate for August was 8.4%