Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says since Iowa has no laws governing the transfer of fetal tissue his office has no authority to investigate abortion providers about the practice of donating tissue for research. Republican lawmakers delivered a letter in August to Miller asking him to investigate abortion practices. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, which operates 13 Iowa clinics, voluntarily offered answers, saying it has never accepted donated fetal tissue for research.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Police have charged a Marshalltown school board member with child endangerment and animal neglect after finding numerous pets in her home, including two dead cats. KCCI-TV reports someone called police Tuesday to express concern about the living conditions of school board member Kendall Derby’s 13-year-old child.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A surge in absentee ballots is forcing Black Hawk County officials to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on new voting machines and vote-counting equipment. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the county Board of Supervisors this week received bids from three firms.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa president-select J. Bruce Harreld has erased doubts about his qualifications before, but this time could be an even tougher sell. Many faculty, staff and students are revolting against Harreld’s appointment as Iowa’s president, arguing the businessman was the least qualified out of four finalists. But a former colleague says Harreld will succeed by listening and leading.