OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — In response to complaints about lack of room, Omaha Public Schools has announced it will move all of its high school graduation ceremonies next year — out of state. Omaha television station KETV says all of the OPS graduation ceremonies will be held in the Mid-America Center across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The 7,000-seat arena will allow the district to allot six tickets per graduate to the graduate’s family, with an option to buy more.

This year, the district held graduations in the Sapp Fieldhouse on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. The smaller venue limited families to four tickets. OPS plans to move graduations in 2016 and beyond to a new arena being built on the UNO campus.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa legislative leaders don’t plan to change ethics rules for political work after a former state senator admitted to lying about receiving payments to switch his support from one Republican presidential candidate to another. The U.S. Department of Justice announced last week that former Sen. Kent Sorenson pleaded guilty to receiving thousands of dollars in “under the table payments” from a 2012 presidential campaign and lying about the money.

State Senate rules forbid sitting lawmakers from being paid by a campaign while in office. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, says in Sorenson’s case, the Senate oversight process worked In the House, lawmakers can accept paid political work but must disclose the income. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen says there are no plans to change the rules.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Five firefighters have been treated for injuries they received fighting a fire in a downtown Des Moines building. Officials say the firefighters’ injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The Des Moines Register says the fire was reported shortly after 12 a.m. Saturday in the 19-story Equitable Building. No other injuries have been reported.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a Polk County inmate found hanging and unconscious in a cell last week has died. The Des Moines Register reports that the inmate, whose identity has not been released, died Monday at a hospital. No further information was immediately available.

MADRID, Iowa (AP) — The family of an elderly Iowa woman who died this week is suing the nursing home where she lived, saying it left the woman naked and soiled on the floor of an unfurnished room. The Des Moines Register reports that Kris Gerhard, the daughter of 74-year-old Rochelle Gerhard, filed the lawsuit Friday against Madrid Home for the Aging.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jake Rudock threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns and Iowa hung to beat Northern Iowa 31-23 yesterday. Kevonte Martin-Manley added eight catches for the Hawkeyes, who survived despite allowing 203 yards receiving to Panthers running back David Johnson. Sawyer Kollmorgen had 380 yards passing for the Panthers, who fell to 1-16 against the rival Hawkeyes.

A traffic stop Thursday in Crawford County resulted in the arrest of one person on drug charges. The Sheriff’s Department said Friday 21-year old Dakota Boger, of Denison, was arrested on charges that include Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Methamphetamine, both of which are Serious Misdemeanors.

The traffic stop was conducted just south of T Avenue and Highway 59 in Crawford County. During the stop, the Sheriff’s Dept. K9 “Bayou” alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle. During the search of the vehicle, methamphetamine and marijuana were located and seized. 

The case remains under investigation.

(click on image to enlarge) Area in yellow indicates a “Slight” risk of severe weather.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines reports thunderstorms are expected to develop during peak heating of the day Sunday along a cold front through the Missouri River Valley and then move into Iowa during the late afternoon and early evening hours. Some of the storms may be severe with heavy, potentially flooding rains. Large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes are all possible.

Many people will likely have outdoor plans this Labor Day weekend. Keep a close eye on the weather, have your safety plan in place and be ready to seek shelter if threatening weather approaches.

Police in Lenox report the arrest Friday evening of a man wanted on a warrant for 5th degree theft.

Austin Reed

The warrant for 19-year old Austin Reed, of Lenox, was obtained by the Lenox police department following an investigation into a stolen debit card. Reed was released after posting bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A motorcyclist has died in an Omaha, Nebraska hospital after crashing on a Council Bluffs roadway. Omaha television station KETV says the crash happened Saturday afternoon on the 16th street ramp onto Interstate 29, near the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office in western Iowa. The biker was taken to an Omaha hospital, where he died.

A witness told investigators that the crash happened when the motorcyclist swerved to avoid another bike. Police have not yet released the name of the motorcyclist.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Morningside College has reported the largest enrollment in the school’s 120-year history. The Sioux City Journal reports the college has enrolled 2,824 full- and part-time students for the fall 2014 semester.

That total includes 1,280 full-time undergraduate students. The college enrolled 429 new full-time students for the fall 2014 semester. Officials say this fall’s total enrollment surpasses the previous record of 2,542 full- and part-time students last fall.

One-person was killed, two other were injured during a crash late Friday night in northwest Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened about three-miles north of Inwood at the intersection of Highway 182 and Lyon County Road A-34, at around 11:30-p.m.

Authorities said a 2008 Dodge Charger collided with a 2004 Dodge Caravan. The names of the victims were not released, pending notification of family. The ISP was assisted at the scene by deputies with the Lyon and Sioux County Sheriff’s Offices, Inwood Fire and Rescue and other agencies.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Five firefighters have been treated for injuries they received fighting a fire in a downtown Des Moines building. Officials say the firefighters’ injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The fire was reported shortly after 12 a.m. Saturday in the 19-story Equitable Building. Fire Chief John TeKippe tells The Des Moines Register that two firefighters were hurt by falling debris, one fell off an 8-foot ladder and two others were treated for heat-related issues.

No other injuries have been reported. Officials say the fire was contained in a crawl space with electrical wiring and ductwork on the second floor, where most of the damage occurred. Some upper floors received smoke damage.

Firefighters remain at the scene.