Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:25 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in the Iowa Senate approved a bill sharply limiting early voting, with some arguing hat changes were needed to ensure the integrity of Iowa’s election despite no evidence of fraud. The bill was approved Tuesday on a vote of 30-18 with only Republican support. It would reduce the mail and in-person early voting period, tightly regulate how absentee ballots can be returned and require polls in all elections to close at 8 p.m., an hour earlier than currently for general elections. The House, also controlled by Republicans, is expected to approve the bill as soon as Wednesday. If so, it will go to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has indicated her support.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Republican lawmaker and a man later charged with participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot were among thousands of people who criticized Iowa’s attorney general for refusing to seek to overturn Donald Trump’s electoral defeat. Trump supporters who wrongly believed the election was stolen called Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller a coward, stupid, blind, lazy, pathetic, and worse. Several vowed to work to defeat the Democrat if he runs for reelection in 2022. The emails to Miller illustrate how authorities at all levels of government came under pressure from Trump’s biggest supporters to subvert the election results. GOP state Sen. Ken Rozenboom and Capitol riot participant Leo Kelly were among those who pressured Miller to get involved.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The FBI have identified an Iowa woman and her adult son as participants in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol after a tip from a longtime family acquaintance. An FBI agent says in a court document that videos posted to social media and surveillance video at the Capitol also confirmed that Deborah Sandoval and Salvador Sandoval Jr. were part of the mob. The affidavit describes surveillance video showing 23-year-old Salvador Sandoval pushing two officers with the Metropolitan Police Department and trying to grab the shield of a third. The mother and son were arrested on Friday in Des Moines and have been released from custody pending further proceedings.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Agricultural groups and anti-hunger organizations are pushing the Biden administration to continue a program launched by President Donald Trump that spent $6 billion to prevent farmers from plowing under food and instead provide it to millions of Americans left reeling by the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture began the Farmers to Families Food Box program in April 2020 after many people were shocked to see farmers destroy crops even as food banks were being overwhelmed by demand from people suddenly out of work. If the USDA extends the program, it will be a rare example of the new administration retaining rather than dismantling a Trump initiative.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Tuesday, identified 39-year old Arnell States, of Cedar Rapids, as the suspect involved in the February 20th homicide investigation of Katrina Brinson.

States was shot by a Cedar Rapids police officer who was first to arrive on a 911 call following the report of a disturbance at the Rodeway Inn located at 4011 16th Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids. The victims directed the officer to States, who was observed running from the scene.  After the shooting, medical treatment was immediately given to States. States was transported to a local hospital and today, February 23, 2021, States succumbed to his injuries.  An autopsy will be performed by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.

Per department policy, the officer remains on paid administrative leave.  The officer’s name will be released after the officer is interviewed by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.   No additional information will be released at this time.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in the Iowa Senate approved a bill sharply limiting early voting, with some arguing hat changes were needed to ensure the integrity of Iowa’s election despite no evidence of fraud. The bill was approved Tuesday on a vote of 30-18 with only Republican support. It would reduce the mail and in-person early voting period, tightly regulate how absentee ballots can be returned and require polls in all elections to close at 8 p.m., an hour earlier than currently for general elections.

The House, also controlled by Republicans, is expected to approve the bill as soon as Wednesday. If so, it will go to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has indicated her support.

A man from Corning was sentenced last week to prison, for receiving child pornography. 54-year old Lonnie Ray Schafroth was sentenced Friday in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to 65 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Microsoft provided law enforcement a cyber-tip that resulted in a search warrant served on Schafroth’s residence in Corning. The search resulted in the seizure of a computer which contained over 3,000 images of child pornography, many of which depicted children under the age of 12. Schafroth had obtained the images from searches conducted on the Internet between July of 2017 and June 12, 2019.

The matter was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

(UPDATE: Authorities say the 2 juveniles were found and are safe!)

The Council Bluffs Police Department Tuesday evening, asks for the public’s assistance in locating two missing juvenile females, who were last seen in the area of 500 Woodbury Avenue in Council Bluffs at 8:00 am this morning. The parents of the children were contacted by their school at approximately 10:00 am stating they were not in class.

Embrosia Smith

Zoey Valentine

14 year old Embrosia Smith is described as 5 foot, 185 lbs. with Brown hair and Hazel eyes. 12 year old Zoey Valentine is described as 5’5 feet, 140 lbs. with Brown hair, but dyed pinkish and blue eyes. At this time they are not believe to be in danger.

If these children are located, please contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at 712-328-4728 or call 911.