Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:31 a.m. CDT

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Prestage Foods is working to obtain the environmental permits it needs to build a $240 million pork processing plant in Mason City. The environmental review process will address how much water the plant will need, how its wastewater would be treated and what effect it might have on air quality. Many residents have spoken out against the project.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Despite all the attention on water quality initiatives at the Iowa Legislature this year, it appears unlikely lawmakers will reach consensus before adjournment over how to pay for it. Leaders in the split Legislature have fundamental differences over whether to use existing funds or to generate new dollars to deal with longstanding issues over Iowa’s polluted waterways. There is no indication they will reach compromise soon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa nurse accused of having sexual relationship with woman he was caring for. Authorities say the woman may not have been capable of consenting to sex with the nurse.

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — All of the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is opening for the summer season this weekend. That means nature trails, mushroom hunting and bird watching will all be available. The refuge is north of Omaha near Missouri Valley, Iowa.

Members of the Audubon School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday evening in their Board Room at the High School, beginning at 7-p.m.  During their session, the Board will act on  Fiscal Year 2017 Budget reduction options that are equal to or greater than any increase in the District’s expenditure budget for FY17.

During a special session last week, the board held a public hearing on, and approved, a proposed regular program budget adjustment, during which their were no comments from the public. During their meeting Monday evening, the Board will also act on  approving an LED lighting project and softball field improvements.

Toward the end of the meeting, and prior to adjournment, the Audubon School Board will hold an exempt (closed) session for collective bargaining strategy negotiations.

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — All of the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is opening for the summer season this weekend. The refuge’s auto tour road, nature trails, bird watching and mushroom hunting areas are now open for the season. Fishing and boating will also be permitted as long as anglers have a valid license from either Iowa or Nebraska. Spring archery turkey hunting begins on Monday.

The refuge is located north of Omaha, Nebraska, along on U.S. Highway 30 near Missouri Valley, Iowa. An entrance permit is required to enter the refuge. For more information, call 712-388-4800.

The Griswold School District’s Board of Education is expected to act Monday on a Superintendent Sharing Agreement with the South Page and Sidney School Districts. The Sidney School Board is expected to vote on the sharing arrangement during their meeting Monday, as well. The South Page District’s School Board last week approved the sharing of their Superintendent Gregg Cruickshank with Griswold. Cruickshank also serves the Sidney School District.

Griswold Superintendent Dana Kunze had earlier announced his resignation effective the end of June. As we’ve mentioned in previous reports, if the arrangement is approved, Cruickshank would spend two days per week in Griswold, two days in Sidney and one day in South Page. Initially though, more time would likely be demanded by Griswold, which also faces the prospect of budget reductions.

Two students from the Atlantic High School will be honored Monday afternoon, in Ames. Seniors Haley Carlson and Aubrey Schwarte will be part of an historic event where Iowa will be the first state in the nation to conduct a Letter of Intent to Teach Agricultural Education. The goal is to recognize young people who are committed to pursuing teaching as a career. The ceremony honoring Carlson and Schwarte will take place on the ISU Campus at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, beginning at 3:10-p.m.

Dale Gruis, ‎Ag Ed Consultant for the Iowa Department of Education, and State FFA Advisor, says nationally, the number of college students pursuing degrees to teach K-12 is down 30-percent. In Iowa, there are currently about 20 teaching positions that remain unfilled in Agricultural Education (grades 5-12). While southern states have had Ag Ed instructor shortages for many years, the 2015-year was the first such shortage, in Iowa. Gruis says in addition, 25-percent of high school Ag Ed instructors are eligible to retire by 2018.

Agricultural Education is linked with the FFA, the largest student-led organization in the world. Gruis says students can only become members of the National FFA if they are first enrolled in Ag Ed courses.

BIG SPRINGS, Neb. (AP) – Officials have reopened Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 30 in the Nebraska Panhandle after closing it for several hours because of a snowstorm in Wyoming. KNEB reports both westbound highways were reopened Sunday afternoon. They had been closed at Big Springs because of road closures in Wyoming. Wyoming transportation officials requested the closures because of the heavy, wet snow that is causing problems in southeast Wyoming.

BIG SPRINGS, Neb. (AP) — Officials have closed Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 30 in the Nebraska Panhandle because of a spring snowstorm in Wyoming. KNEB reports both westbound highways were closed Sunday at Big Springs because Wyoming officials had already closed both highways at the state border.

Wyoming transportation officials requested the closures because of the heavy, wet snow that is causing problems in southeast Nebraska. The highways will likely be closed for much of Sunday.

Authorities in Iowa are searching for a woman who failed to return from a furlough for work release. 42-year old Shannon Balava VanArsdale failed to return Saturday to the Waterloo Women’s Center for Change Work Release Facility. She was serving a 30-year sentence for Burglary in the 1^st degree, Assault on a Peace Officer with Injury, Escape of Felon and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Her sentence began Sept, 2004.

Shannon Balava VanArsdale

VanArsdale was described as being an African-American female, 5-feet four-inches tall, weighing 219 pounds. She has black hair, brown eyes, a scar on her right forearm, tattoo on her neck. Both of her ears are also pierced.

She was placed on Work Release February 8, 2016 following a parole revocation. If you have any information as to her location, contact the Waterloo Police Department of Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office (or, dial 9-1-1).

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Despite all the attention on water quality initiatives at the Iowa Legislature this year, it appears unlikely lawmakers will reach consensus before adjournment over how to pay for it. Leaders in the split Legislature have fundamental differences over whether to use existing funds or to generate new dollars to deal with longstanding issues over Iowa’s polluted waterways. There is no indication they will reach a compromise soon.

Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled House propose a plan that would use special infrastructure money and a tax on water use. Gov. Terry Branstad backs the plan, though it differs from his proposal to use money from an education infrastructure fund. Leaders in the Democratic-majority Senate have floated ideas that would use surplus dollars from the budget or increase the sales and use tax.

Two people were arrested on alcohol-related charges late Saturday night, in Red Oak. According to the Police report, 45-year old Shelby Joann Olivares was arrested at around 11:15-p.m., and 22-year old Dalton Paul Valentin, both of Red Oak, was arrested at around 11:45-p.m.  Each was charged with Public Intoxication. Both were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond, each.