Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:55 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ruled that an Iowa Transportation Department officer didn’t have legal authority to issue a speeding ticket. A Polk County judge said in her Thursday ruling that the Iowa Supreme Court declared nearly 70 years ago that the department officers didn’t have power over most moving violations. The Des Moines Register reports that if the ruling survives a possible appeal, legal challenges could follow on thousands of tickets.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Early voting data shows Hillary Clinton seems to be showing strength in the battleground states of North Carolina and Florida. The Associated Press is collecting data that also indicates Donald Trump is holding ground in Ohio, Iowa and Georgia. More than 4.4 million votes have been cast already, far outpacing the same period in 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man has pleaded guilty to murder in the death of his wife and was sentenced to life in prison. The Des Moines Register reports 48-year-old Barney Fraaken pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife, Amy Fraaken, in November 2015. He originally also was charged with murder in the death of the couple’s 16-year-old daughter, Amber, but that charge was dropped in a plea deal. The life sentence includes no possibility of parole.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The former city clerk for the small western Iowa city of Casey has been sentenced to five years in prison and will be required to pay restitution in an amount to be set later. Dorothy Dillinger was sentenced Friday. She pleaded guilty to mail fraud and malicious use of fire.