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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A proposal in the Iowa Legislature to lessen penalties for people who possess small amounts of marijuana could save the state money and reduce what groups say is racial injustice, yet its chances of advancing this session are unclear. The bill would make first offense possession of marijuana that’s five grams or less a simple misdemeanor instead of a serious misdemeanor, reducing jail time and court fees for a person facing the charge.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Abortion legislation emerges as a hot topic as state legislatures get back to work around the country. Republicans seek to ban abortions after a certain point in pregnancy and prohibit a common procedure used in late-term abortions. The National Right to Life Committee has drafted model legislation that it hopes will be viewed favorably if appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former dentist who had operated clinics in West Des Moines and Des Moines has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for drug and gun convictions. The Des Moines Register reports that 39-year-old Shawn Michael Kerby was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for obtaining hydrocodone by misrepresentation and being a user and addict of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man has been sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison for killing a puppy by snapping its neck. The Des Moines Register reports that 26-year-old Christopher Vogel was sentenced Thursday and ordered to pay a $650 fine. Police say Vogel went to a friend’s apartment and asked the neighbors if he could use their Wi-Fi password, then killed their 12-week-old dog when they refused his request.

In case you missed the Audubon Cenex “Super Bull” ad during the Super Bowl, we’ve provided a link for you to watch it. The folks at Landus Cooperative said on their social media page, “Cenex, a brand of CHS, a farmer cooperative, put Iowa’s super bull on the worldwide media stage tonight [Sunday]. Congratulations Audubon County!!”

Here’s the link to the 30-second TV spot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=sWXYZpUDaYA&app=desktop

And, in case you didn’t see it the first time we posted it, here’s a link to the 5-minute, full version, about “Albert the Bull,” that was designed especially for the residents of Audubon, and Audubon County…featuring some familiar faces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llKOk_AA02A

Red Oak Police, Sunday afternoon, arrested 38-year old Christopher Allen Fry, of Red Oak. Fry was taken into custody at around 2:45-p.m. in the area of 2nd and Oak Streets on a Felony 2nd Degree Theft charge.

He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond and held, pending an initial court appearance.

A pursuit that appears to have begun in Shelby County late Sunday evening ended in a Cass County ditch off Highway 83, just west of Highway 173, at around 6:05-p.m.  Information is sketchy at this time, but there were numerous law enforcement agencies involved in the pursuit. Stop sticks were deployed by a Cass County Deputy at least twice.

The driver, who was apparently operating the vehicle while revoked, suffered unknown injuries and possibly a diabetic reaction. Marne Fire and Rescue, Atlantic Rescue and Medivac responded to the scene. The subject was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic by Medivac. LifeNet was called to the hospital as well.

No other details are currently available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A proposal in the Iowa Legislature to lessen penalties for people who possess small amounts of marijuana could save the state money and reduce what groups say is racial injustice, yet its chances of advancing this session are unclear.

The bill would make first offense possession of marijuana that’s 5 grams or less a simple misdemeanor instead of a serious misdemeanor, reducing jail time and court fees for those convicted of the charge.

Half of the roughly 3,400 cases of marijuana possession convictions in Iowa during the budget year that ended in 2016 involved 5 grams or less. In the same period, 18 percent of people convicted for first offense marijuana possession were African Americans.

The proposal has been debated a handful of times over the years and comes amid a shift in the national conversation over marijuana use.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report 23-year old Cody Gene Anderson, of Shenandoah, was arrested at around 10-p.m. Saturday, for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Anderson was taken into custody at the intersection of N. 4th Street and Alix Avenue, in Red Oak. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

Police in Red Oak report two people were arrested, Saturday. At around 10:15-p.m., 56-year old John Hoaglan Lucky, of Red Oak, was arrested for Violation of a Protection/No Contact Order. Lucky was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond. And, at around 10:40-a.m., Red Oak Police arrested 24-year old Logan Samuel Cashatt, of Red Oak, for Simple Domestic Abuse Assault. Cashatt was arrested after officers responded to a reported possible domestic assault in the 1000 block of N. Miller Avenue. Cashatt was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.