DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Senate committee has passed a bill that allows MidAmerican Energy to seek permission from regulators to move forward with a nuclear power plant. The measure allows MidAmerican to ask the Iowa Utilities Board for a rate increase from the company’s customers to fund the cost of permitting, licensing, and building a plant.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate has passed a measure that would allow existing casinos and racetracks to offer Internet poker. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission would be in charge of the poker games, which projections show could generate between $3 million and $13 million in state tax revenue. The measure moves to the House.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says state law allows online schools as long as the curriculum is taught by a licensed teacher and students are supervised. The CAM and Clayton Ridge school districts have said they plan to launch online-only programs run by for-profit companies next school year.

LOGAN, Iowa (AP) — A former high school principal accused of pulling down the pants of a female student on January 20 has pleaded not guilty to a simple assault charge. Mike Loftin was fired from his position at West Harrison Community School District in Mondamin. Loftin had also coached the girls’ basketball team and allegedly pulled down a girl’s warm-up pants before a game.