CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Idaho man has pleaded guilty to trying to influence a victim of his brother’s investment scheme. U.S. District Court records say David Emerson Smith, of Pocatello, Idaho, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

Smith’s brother, Darrell Smith, of Forest City, Iowa, was sentenced in October to 14 years and seven months in prison. He’d pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft in connection with the investment of clients’ money into an ethanol plant in Hopkinton.

Prosecutors say Darrell Smith had David Smith contact a woman who lost nearly $162,000 in his brother’s scheme and offered her money, tax credits and shares in an energy company if she’d stop complaining to authorities about the amount of her loss.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 9-p.m. Wednesday, of 40-year old Shawn Lyle McKenzie. The Red Oak man was taken into custody for Theft in the 5th degree, a simple misdemeanor. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials have announced that a portion of Interstate 29 in southwestern Iowa has reopened after being damaged by flooding in March. The Iowa Department of Transportation says I-29 between U.S. Highway 34 near Pacific Junction and the Missouri border has reopened, but that travelers should expect some lane closures and slower travel times. Nebraska Highway 2 between Nebraska City and the Iowa state line remains closed.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A stretch of interstate highway in northwestern Missouri is open again for the first time since floodwaters shut it down in March. Interstate 29 reopened Wednesday to the Iowa state line. Historic flooding in March forced closure of the busy north-south roadway. I-29 also is open in Iowa, but with some restrictions. Many other roads and highways in northwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa remain closed due to flood damage.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a measure into law that gives her greater control over the way judges are selected and weakening the influence of attorneys. Reynolds signed it Wednesday with no fanfare, announcing her approval in an email that also noted four other bills. She says she’s proud to sign it “to give all Iowans a greater voice in the process.” Democrats accused Republicans of trying to stack the courts in their favor after losing abortion and same-sex marriage cases.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa State University employee will get a settlement of more than $27,000 from the state after claiming discrimination in the way the university managed its health insurance for transgender employees. Elyn Fritz-Waters sued the state in January when her employee health insurance denied care for gender dysphoria, which included her request for hormone therapy and a sex reassignment surgery.