DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The largest union representing state employees is seeking repeated 2 percent raises over the next two years. Danny Homan, president of AFSCME Council 61, says in its initial contract proposal, negotiators called for 2 percent raises on July 1, 2015; Jan. 1, 2016; July 1, 2016; and Jan. 1, 2017. The Iowa Department of Management says the raises would cost the state an extra $523 million over two years. State and union officials will resume contract organizers in two weeks.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans and Democrats are sticking with their leaders in the Iowa House and Senate. House Republicans say GOP members had elected Rep. Kraig Paulsen, of Hiawatha, to continue in his role as House speaker. They also opted to keep Rep. Linda Upmeyer, of Clear Lake, as House majority leader and Rep. Matt Windschitl, of Missouri Valley, as speaker pro tem. In the Senate, the majority Democrats chose to keep Sen. Mike Gronstal, of Council Bluffs, as majority leader and Sen. Pam Jochum, of Dubuque, as president of the Senate.

ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) — The trial of a western Iowa mother accused of lying about her young daughter’s cancer diagnosis has been moved to another county. A motion argued that extensive media coverage and gossip among residents would prevent 30-year-old Leatha Slauson from receiving a fair trial in Cass County. Slauson is accused of telling her community that her 5-year-old daughter had terminal cancer and collecting donations for her treatment. An investigation this year determined the child was not sick.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former University of Iowa researcher charged with first-degree murder in the strangling death of his wife in 1997 has died. Leon Spies, an attorney for John Bloomfield, says his client died suddenly on Thursday at a hospital in Minneapolis. He did not elaborate on a cause of death. Bloomfield was arrested in November 2013 in connection to the death of his wife, Frances Bloomfield, in Iowa City about 17 years ago.