Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:15 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The board that oversees Iowa’s three public universities has responded to an inquiry from some state lawmakers about the search for a new president at the University of Northern Iowa. Katie Mulholland, president pro tem of the Iowa Board of Regents, sent a letter Tuesday addressing Sens. Rob Hogg, Jeff Danielson and Brian Schoenjahn. The letter details the timeline for hiring a president to formally replace Bill Ruud at the Cedar Falls school.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As work progresses on an oil pipeline crossing Iowa opponents are holding protest rallies and taking the state utilities regulators to court in hopes of stopping construction. A hearing is scheduled for Friday in Des Moines on a motion to stay construction on several parcels of land.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An arbitrator has been suspended for an error-filled ruling that upheld the firing of a judge who testified against Gov. Terry Branstad’s administration. The Iowa Public Employment Relations Board says John L. Sandy will be suspended for six months. The discipline stems from Sandy’s ruling upholding the firing of Administrative Law Judge Susan Ackerman.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge is ordering protesters in North Dakota not to interfere with the construction of a $3.8 billion, four-state oil pipeline. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland granted the developer’s motion for a temporary restraining order Tuesday. The pipeline would go from North Dakota across South Dakota and Iowa to Illinois.