DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former campaign treasurer for a Des Moines legislator has been charged with stealing more than $7,000 in campaign donations. Polk County court records say 47-year-old Falecia Mtayari, of Des Moines, is charged with theft, fraudulent practice and unlawful transfer of campaign funds. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Mtayari.

The records say Mtayari admitted writing checks and withdrawing cash from the account of Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines, a Democrat who represents north-central Des Moines’ District 32 in the Iowa House of Representatives. Gaines reported the theft in November.

Police in Council Bluffs say a convenience store was robbed at around 4:34-a.m. today (Thursday). Officers were dispatched to the Bucky’s store at 3434 Nebraska Ave., in reference to a robbery call. Upon officers arrival they were informed that a light skinned black male dressed in a red Nebraska Hooded Sweatshirt gave the clerk a note demanding merchandise and an undisclosed amount of money. After receiving the items, the man left the area on foot.  The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Council Bluffs Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

(Radio Iowa) — The lawyer for the man accused of killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts says he may request a change of venue for the trial. Chad Frese is representing 24-year-old Cristhian Rivera, who is charged with killing the 20-year-old Tibbetts after following her on a run in her hometown of Brooklyn. “We have to find a place, no matter where it is, whether it’s Poweshiek County or anyplace else where we can find a jury of 12 people who can hear the case impartially,” Frese says.

Frese spoke after he and Rivera appeared at the Powesheik County Courthouse Wednesday to plead not guilty to a first-degree murder charge. Tibbetts disappeared while out for a run in her hometown of Brooklyn on July 18th and the case got national and international attention as family, friends and law enforcement searched for more than a month trying to find her. Federal officials say Rivera, is in the country illegally from Mexico. Frese says that won’t be part of the trial. “Immigration really has nothing to do with this case and we aren’t going to let that become an issue with this case,” according to Frese. “Our focus is Cristhian’s charge that he is facing and the death of this woman.”

Investigators say Rivera told them he doesn’t remember killing Tibbetts because he blacked out, and that has led to some speculation about what Frese will use for his defense. The lawyer is not giving any details beyond the immigration issue. “Whether or not he is a illegal or legal immigrant has nothing to do with the facts of this case,” Frese says. Rivera also waived his right to a speedy trial during the arraignment Wednesday. The trial has been scheduled to begin at 9:30 a-m on April 16th.

A traffic stop at around 6:40-p.m. Wednesday, in Red Oak, resulted in the driver’s arrest for Operating a vehicle While Intoxicated. Red Oak Police say 24-year old Kaylie Louise Hudson, of Red Oak, was arrested at the intersection of Highway 48 and J Avenue. She was charged with OWI/1st offense and held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Teammates and others who knew an Iowa State University student-athlete who was killed this week while playing golf near the campus shared stories about her and lit candles in her memory. The vigil Wednesday evening to remember 22-year-old Celia Barquin Arozamena drew a large crowd to the Ames campus. Several speakers, including women’s golf coach Christie Martens, talked about the star golfer from Spain. Barquin, an engineering student, was the Big 12 women’s golf champion this year.

NEW YORK (AP) — Even as the White House has seized on crimes committed by those living in the U.S. illegally as proof of the need for an immigration crackdown, agents are increasingly apprehending people with no criminal records at all. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests of noncriminals soared 66 percent in the first nine months of this fiscal year over the same period a year earlier, while apprehensions of criminals have gone up only 2 percent.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Despite criticism by Democrats of Gov. Kim Reynolds for taking campaign contributions from a company that provides Medicaid services, records show two Democratic leaders also accepted money from such companies. The Des Moines Register reports Rep. Mark Smith of Marshalltown accepted multiple campaign contribution from Medicaid vendors, as Sen. Janet Petersen of Des Moines.

MERRILL, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a young child has been killed in a crash in northwestern Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports that 6-year-old Ayaan Ibrahn died in the Monday night crash at the intersection of Highway 75 and a city street in Merrill. The Iowa State Patrol says the child was in a southbound SUV driven by 38-year-old Mohamed Abdullahi-Mohamud, of Sioux City, when it went onto the highway shoulder, overcorrected and went into the northbound lanes, hitting a pickup truck nearly head-on.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, voted 4-to 3 to move forward with ways to address the City’s housing needs, by means of using the City EDR (Economic Development Revolving) loan Fund as part of an Infill Housing Initiative. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee has already endorsed the further exploration of ways to identify a potential buyer or buyers of a home to be built on land owned by the City north of 7th Street or 14th Street.

Mayor Dave Jones was asked by Councilman Dick Casady if City money would be involved. Jones said there would be some to start with, if needed, but it would be paid back. He said “It’s something to get started, no matter what happens.” Jones said they’re looking at a company out of Missouri Valley to construct a modular house.

The buyer — who Jones said would preferably be a working couple — would have to be pre-approved by a lender. The City would supply a vacant lot where a home was previously demolished and the land cleared. The idea is to get the property back on the tax base. Councilman Chris Jimerson, who voted in favor of moving forward, was initially opposed to using City money for a construction zone to a pre-qualified buyer. Councilman Casady expressed similar concerns.

Casady, Councilpersons Hayes and Hartkopf voted against the move. Hayes said not enough has been done to promote the vacant lots the City owns that are available to build on. She said she would prefer if the City stay out of the business of building homes, and give adjacent property owners a chance to purchase the lots if they so desire.

Jones said he’s working on the finer details of the program, but the bottom line is that expensive homes aren’t likely to be built on those lots, so it’s better to offer an alternative, such as the in-fill program.  In other business, the Council, by a vote of 6-to 1, decided to move forward with keeping the speed limit on the northern section of Sunnyside lane at 25 miles per hour, and the southern-most 1,600+ feet 35-mph. The next step is for the City Attorney to review a draft ordinance on the matter, and for a vote on the final draft.