Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Organizers of the Midlands Humane Society have opened a new facility in Council Bluffs. The Daily Nonpareil reports the 11,591-square-foot building was designed with plenty of natural light. It has rooms designated for animal adoptions, animal control, and the treatment of sick animals. There also is an area that would allow for a future expansion of the building.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say a man who apparently tried to rob a bank was tackled by a customer and taken to a hospital. The Register reports the man entered a U.S. Bank in east Des Moines about noon Friday. He was armed with what looked like a handgun, though it may have been a BB gun or fake weapon. Police Sergeant Jason Halifax says a bank customer tackled the 48-year-old man and held him in a chokehold until an officer arrived.

MOVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities released on Friday the name of a 27-year-old man who was killed in a rollover crash near Moville in northwest Iowa. The accident that killed Joshua Worrell of Sioux City was reported around 10:50 a.m. Thursday but may have occurred early New Year’s Day.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) —The Volunteers scored on their first four possessions, and Tennessee beat Iowa 45-28 yesterday in the TaxSlayer Bowl. Hawkeyes sophomore quarterback C.J. Beathard finished with a 145 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Jacksonville, Florida.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Organizers of the Midlands Humane Society have opened a new facility in Council Bluffs. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports the 11,591-square-foot building was designed with plenty of natural light. It has rooms designated for animal adoptions, animal control, and the treatment of sick animals. There also is an area that would allow for a future expansion of the building.

A board of directors has been working for eight years to open the facility in Council Bluffs. Board chair Leslie Southard says organizers are “thrilled to be a part of helping tails find happy endings.”

Officials with the Council Bluffs Fire Department Friday afternoon, released details pertaining to a fatal fire that occurred Friday morning. Authorities say that around 7:18-a.m., firefighters from Council Bluffs were dispatched to a one-story residential structure fire. The fire units to arrive on the scene found heavy smoke and fire emitting from the basement of the home.

When crews began to attack the flames and conduct a search for victims, they found a man in a bedroom. He was transported to Mercy Hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. A female resident in a basement bedroom was found deceased. Officials say she had no means of secondary egress from the basement. An additional male and female who were residing in the home managed to escape prior to the arrival of firefighters.

Crews quickly extinguished the flames, and no other properties were damaged. The damage was primarily confined to the basement, where the fire originated. The rest of the structure sustained only smoke damage.

An investigation was being conducted to determine the origin and cause of the fire. The names of the victims and other information is currently not available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Powerball ticket bought at a Johnston convenience store on new Year’s Eve is worth $1 million. Iowa Lottery officials say the ticket was bought at a Casey’s General Store location and missed the $120 million jackpot by one number. The ticket matches the first five numbers but not the Powerball. It is one of five tickets across the country to hit the first five numbers and win $1 million prize.

The Powerball jackpot grows to $131 million for Saturday’s drawing. Lottery officials say five tickets bought in Iowa in 2014 won $1 million prizes.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Friday morning in Atlantic to take care of administrative and organizational matters for the new year. Following a vote, 2014 Board Chair Frank Water was re-elected as Chair for 2015. The votes for Vice-Chair went to Gaylor Schelling.

The Board then acted on approving the following recommended appointments: Bev Groves, office assistant for Cass County Attorney Dave Wiederstein; Marci Wallingford, as deputy in the Cass County Recorder’s Office. Bethany Nichols as Motor Vehicle Deputy, Julie Symonds as Driver License Deputy, Beth Marcsisak as Deputy, Kate Winston as assistant and Brandi Wittrock as Drive Examiner. All serve in the Cass County Treasurer’s Office.

In addition to various other administrative matters and appointments of Board members to various committees and boards, the Supervisors also agreed to continue to meet weekly on Wednesday’s, beginning at 8:30-a.m., unless otherwise noted. There next regular meeting will take place Jan. 7th.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Shenandoah man on charges associated with the theft of a vehicle that took place New Year’s Day. 21-year old Jacob Tacker faces charges that include Operating a motor vehicle without Owner’s Consent, Theft in the 2nd Degree, Trespassing, and Interference with Official Acts.

Tacker, who allegedly took a pickup from Green Plains Renewable Energy, was booked into the Fremont County Jail and later released on $7,600 bond. Deputies were assisted in their investigation by officers with the Shenandoah Police Department.

A traffic stop Wednesday south of Denison resulted in the arrest of a Shelby County man on drug charges. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office reports 42-year old Shawn Steinkuehler, of Defiance faces  a Possession of Marijuana charge after the vehicle he was in was pulled over on Highway 58.

The Crawford County K9 Bayou was deployed and alerted to the order of narcotics. After an investigation, Steinkuehler was taken into custody.

Officials with the Cass County Conservation Service said Friday (today), there has been a change of venue for Saturday’s  “Soiree with the Swans.” The event, which was to have been held at the Schildberg Quarry Recreation Area, will instead take place at the Atlantic Public Library.

You’re invited to join Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning for the Soiree with the Swans event in Atlantic, on Saturday, January 3rd. Lora will be giving ten-minute presentations regarding the Trumpeter Swans at the Atlantic Public Library from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with a light lunch available.

Hot chocolate, cookies, Sandwiches, and other snacks will be provided free of charge with donations being accepted (for swan care).The event is being sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Atlantic Public Library.

Iowa has received a failing grade for its laws governing disclosure of some of the campaign spending on races for governor and the legislature. The National Institute of Money in State Politics gave Iowa an “F” — and faulted the state for making it difficult for the public to figure out what’s going on. Iowa Campaign Disclosure Board director Megan Tooker says she’s offered legislation in the past to require more disclosure.

“We’ve had trouble getting any traction in that regard,” Tooker says. “…We, of course, are happy to work with any legislators that want to propose legislation to require disclosure.” Tooker is backing other legislation that would scale back some reporting requirements for campaigns, moves that will comply with court orders.

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Groups representing rape victims and college administrators are asking a court to uphold Iowa State’s decision to kick a basketball player off the team for alleged sexual misconduct. The Victim Rights Law Center and Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education say the case of former Cyclone guard Bubu Palo has national significance. Iowa State is asking the Iowa Supreme Court to reverse an August ruling that found there wasn’t evidence that Palo violated its sexual misconduct policy.

In a friend-of-the-court brief filed Monday, the national groups say the case could impact students and colleges in Iowa and across the country. They say universities must be able to use internal disciplinary hearings to enforce stricter standards of sexual misconduct than criminal law allows.