Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has formally launched its latest session. Legislative leaders from both chambers gaveled in shortly after 10 a.m. Monday at the state Capitol in Des Moines. The day is expected to be focused mostly on ceremonial speeches. Republicans with majorities in the Senate and House will set the agenda for the session, and they’ve indicated that overhauling Iowa’s tax code will be high on their to-do list. A proposal has not been shared publicly.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has hired a human resources director to oversee harassment complaints at the state Capitol. Colin Tadlock, a spokesman for House Republicans, confirmed Monday the manager will begin work Jan. 21. The state agreed in September to pay $1.75 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a former GOP Senate staffer who said she was fired after reporting sexual misconduct in the workplace. The Legislature is still grappling with the fallout.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa attorney general’s office has filed a lawsuit against a former Sioux City council member alleging the improper storage and disposal of millions of pounds of electronics and hazardous waste. The Sioux City Journal reports the state filed the lawsuit Monday against Aaron Rochester, seeking unspecified civil penalties and a permanent injunction against his recycling businesses. The state says more than 17 million pounds of waste has been stored at facilities in Iowa and Nebraska.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A California man from Russia charged with using stolen identification from Russian immigrants to file fraudulent unemployment benefits in Iowa and two other states has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison. Court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Iowa say Nikolai Monastyrski also must repay the state of Illinois more than $230,000, Iowa more than $114,000 and Pennsylvania $46,000.