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

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman has pleaded guilty to three kidnapping charges related to the 2017 starvation death of her 16-year-old adopted daughter. The Des Moines Register reports that 41-year-old Misty Jo Bousman Ray pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of first-degree kidnapping and two counts of third-degree kidnapping involving two other adopted children in her care illegally confined to her Perry home. First-degree kidnapping carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors dropped first-degree murder and other charges. The charges stem from the May 2017 death of Sabrina Ray, who weighed only 56 pounds when she died.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Palestinian immigrant who was jailed in Iowa for two years while awaiting deportation has been released after a federal judge ruled he had been held for too long without a reasonable expectation of being repatriated soon. Advocates for immigrants’ rights say Hasan Salama Dibai Ghithan’s case is not unusual and that far too many immigrants awaiting deportation are jailed indefinitely because they don’t know how to navigate the U.S. legal system. Ghithan was released last week.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge has struck down a 2012 Iowa law making it illegal to get a job at a livestock farm to conduct an animal cruelty undercover investigation. Judge James Gritzner in an order filed Wednesday sided with opponents of a law intended to stop organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals from doing animal abuse investigations at farms and puppy mills. The judge found the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment right to free speech.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Billionaire Tom Steyer says he’s decided to stay focused on getting the president impeached instead of trying to replace him. The investor and Democratic activist has been traveling around the country promoting a political platform. But in his announcement Wednesday in Iowa, Steyer said he would spend $40 million this year to encourage the impeachment of President Donald Trump rather than mount a presidential campaign himself.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A three-term Iowa state senator says he plans to challenge longtime U.S. Rep. Steve King in next year’s Republican primary. Randy Feenstra, an assistant Republican legislative leader, announced Wednesday he intended to run for the northwest Iowa seat and has opened a federal campaign committee. King just began his ninth term. He’s known for hardline views on immigration, abortion and gun rights.