Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Wednesday night’s Powerball jackpot was worth at least $550 million and grew to an estimated $640 million without a winner. Numbers for Wednesday night’s Powerball were: 4-19-23-25-49 and a Powerball of 14, with the next drawing Saturday. The Powerball prize drawing was only a day after no one won a $625 million Mega Millions jackpot, causing that prize to grow to $750 million ahead the next drawing on Friday night. It’s been months since anyone has matched all six numbers and won either jackpot. The odds of winning jackpots are 1 in 292.2 million for Powerball and one in 302.5 million for Mega Millions. Both games are played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is offered in Puerto Rico.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has been charged with first-degree murder in a New Year’s shooting that left one person dead and three other people injured. Christopher Morales was charged Wednesday in the death of 18-year-old Mia Kritis. Prosecutors say Morales forced a person to go into the home where a New Year’s party was being held. He and others than allegedly fired at least 27 shots shots into the house, killing Kritis and wounding three juveniles. Morales also was charged with going armed with intent and three counts of reckless use of a firearm. He is being held on $1 million bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man with extensive experience as a federal prosecutor will be acting U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Iowa. Richard Westphal will replace Marc Krickbaum, who resigned last week. U.S. Justice officials announced that Westphal will serve until Nov. 16, or until the new administration of President Joe Biden selects another nominee before then. Westphal has been an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District since June 1997. He is a native of Iowa and earned his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1990. Southern District hold courts in Davenport, Des Moines and Council Bluffs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen says the coronavirus pandemic forced the court system to enact two shutdowns of jury trials and institute remote hearings, but she is determined to resume in-person trials in February. Giving the annual Condition of the Judiciary speech to the Iowa Legislature on Wednesday, Christensen said judiciary officials worked to balance the need to keep people safe with a commitment to conduct court business. She spoke on a day that Iowa reported 10 additional deaths, raising the state total to 4,232. Virus spread is increasing again. The seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate has climbed 39% since Dec. 29.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday, approved the resignations of  Mike McDermott, Head H.S. Football Coach; School-to-work Coordinator JoAnn Runyon, and Achievement Center Custodian Lindsay Williams. Superintendent Steve Barber said Williams had served as a custodian and paraeducator for about 10-years, and is working on becoming a counselor.  McDermott has been the head football coach for five-years. And, JoAnn Runyon had served as School-to-Work Coordinator for a number of years. Barber said she has been “Instrumental in getting our Mock Trial interviews organized every year, and instrumental in trying to get the Career Fair going.”  Barber and the Board thanked those individuals for their hard work and determination.

The Board approved contract recommendations for: Laura Juhl, Preschool Paraeducator; Adam Smith, MS Wrestling Coach, Tracy Purkapile, Car Driver, and Avery Anderson, part-time bus driver.

The Atlantic School Board voted to continue the current mask mandate until March 10th, taking into consideration the likelihood school staff will have received either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines by then. The Mask Mandate was first implemented Oct. 23rd and renewed three times thereafter, for approximately 30-days each. Superintendent Barber had recommended the policy be in-place until the end of the school year. The Policy states “Face coverings will be required when social distancing is not possible.”

On a related note, the Atlantic School Board approved Superintendent Barber’s recommendation with regard to Emergency Sick Leave for COVID-19, for the following reasons:

• The employee is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to the virus.
• A health care provider has advised the Employee to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19, or
• the employee is experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis.

The COVID-related leave balances would not “start over” for those employees who have already used all or a portion of this leave. Sick leave can be used for those who have exhausted the 10-days of COVID leave. The Federal COVID -19 sick leaves expired on December 31, 2020.

In other business, the Board approved Mr. Barber’s recommendation to change the current school calendar to have a Professional Development day on Feb. 22nd, instead of a regular school day. The School board also approved February 10 as the date for a public hearing to amend the school calendar to allow for a Professional Development Day instead of a regular school day.

(Radio Iowa) – The Democrat representing Iowa’s third congressional district voted “yes” while the three Republicans from Iowa serving in the U.S. House voted “no,” Wednesday, on the articles of impeachment that passed the House Wednesday afternoon. Democrat Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says President Trump incited last week’s Capitol mob with “dangerous” rhetoric and she voted for impeachment.

Republican Ashley Hinson of Marion says Trump bears responsibility for one of the darkest days in our country’s history, but she says impeachment is the wrong path forward. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa says last week’s attack was horrific, but she said impeaching Trump would make it more difficult for President-elect Biden unify the nation.

Republican Randy Feenstra of Hull says impeachment is divisive, Trump only has a few days left in office and it’s time for the country to come together.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has been charged with first-degree murder in a New Year’s shooting that left one person dead and three other people injured. Christopher Morales was charged Wednesday in the death of 18-year-old Mia Kritis. Prosecutors say Morales forced a person to go into the home where a New Year’s party was being held.

He and others than allegedly fired at least 27 shots shots into the house, killing Kritis and wounding three juveniles. Morales also was charged with going armed with intent and three counts of reckless use of a firearm. He is being held on $1 million bond.