OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) — Flooding has forced the Air Force to cancel the 2019 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha. Missouri River floodwater fed by heavy rain and snowmelt has covered about a third of the base and damaged dozens of buildings. Officials say, however, that the units based at Offutt remain capable of fulfilling their missions.

The commander of Offutt’s 55th Wing, Col. Michael Manion, said Tuesday evening that “it is obvious it will be some time before we can return to normal operations or have the capacity to host an event like an air show and open house.” The famed Air Force aerobatics team, Thunderbirds , was scheduled to be featured at the June 1-2 event.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An April sentencing has been scheduled for a former Des Moines school district art teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a female student. Polk County District Court records say 51-year-old Jason Soliday pleaded guilty last week to misdemeanor assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Prosecutors lowered the charge from a felony: sexual exploitation by a school employee. Soliday had been arrested last May.

His sentencing is set for April 29. The former East High School teacher faces up to two years in prison. Authorities say Soliday and the 16-year-old had a sexual relationship for about four months.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Another Democrat has been elected to represent the Waterloo area in the Iowa Senate. Eric Giddens beat Republican Walt Rogers and Libertarian Fred Perryman for the District 30 seat in Tuesday’s special election. Giddens will replace Jeff Danielson, who resigned Feb. 14 for a new job as a regional state policy director for the American Wind Energy Association, a national trade group for the wind energy industry.

The 45-year-old Giddens is a Cedar Falls school board member and a program manager for the University of Northern Iowa. The district includes Hudson, Cedar Falls and Waterloo in Black Hawk County.