Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. subsidiary of a Brazilian-based international meat processor is buying the pork division of Cargill Incorporated. JBS USA, a division of Sao Paulo, Brazil-based JBS, and Cargill said yesterday they have signed an agreement for the $1.45 billion transaction. JBS entered the U.S. pork market in 2007 and sells products under the Swift brand names.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A statewide firefighters union has censured the Des Moines fire chief, criticizing what it says is his anti-labor management style. The Register reports that the group took the action at its convention on Friday. The group president, Douglas Neys, says the censure has no actual effect on Chief John TeKippe other than subjecting him to public scrutiny for what the union says are his failings. TeKippe was president of Des Moines Local 4 before becoming chief in 2009.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Jurors have convicted a Pleasant Hill man of first-degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend’s fiance. The Des Moines Register reports the Polk County jury on Wednesday found 27-year-old David Moffitt guilty in the shooting death of 30-year-old Justin Michael. Moffitt killed Michael on May 8th, 2014, after breaking into his Grimes home.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man suspected in a Chicago slaying has been arrested in northern Iowa. Charles City police say officers and federal agents arrested Phil Jones of Chicago without incident on Tuesday morning. Floyd County Jail records say he remained in custody on Wednesday.

The City of Atlantic’s Yard Waste site is now open seven days per week, from 7:30-a.m. until dusk. That was the word from City Administrator John Lund during Wednesday evening’s regular meeting of the Council. The Yard Waste site had been previously been open only on Tuesday’s, Thursday’s, Saturday and Sunday, since March 21st.

A camera continues to monitor the site for any illegal dumping. Residents are reminded the site is only intended for trees, branches, grass, garden waste, and/or leaves.

The Atlantic Police Department has reported a subject submitting bad checks as payment in the area. The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says the checks are written on an account under the name of Kameo M. Smith. They include Gutherie County State Bank Bank Routing # 073921404, Bank Account # 6303395.

If you have received checks from that person, please contact the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.

Two Atlantic residents are among five individuals who have been named to Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s STEM Advisory Board in the Southwest Region. The Governor’s office today (Wednesday), said Misty Gray and Kathy Somers join Thomas Lesan, of Creston, Luann Langel, of Manning, and Barbara DeVore, of Osceola, on the Science,Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Board.

Other appointees from the area who have been named to various board and commissions include:

• Frances Parrott, of Council Bluffs, to the Iowa Arts Council.
• Charis Paulson, of Earlham, of the Criminal Justice Information Advisory Committee.
• Shelley Bishop, of Council Bluffs, to the Historical Records Advisory Board.
• Frank Hermsen, of Carroll, & Monte Neitzel, of Creston, to the Hospital Licensing Board.
• and Sherri Clark, of Red Oak, to the Vocational Rehab Council.

The positions are unpaid and are effective July 1st. They are not subject to Iowa Senate confirmation.

The Audubon Police Department reports three arrests so far this week. On Monday, officers arrested 16-year old Travis Theodore Wolff, of Audubon, for two counts of aggravated assault and one count of simple assault. Also arrested in connection with the incident was 18 year old Andrew Allen Malloy, of Audubon, on one count of aggravated assault. Wolff was transported to Juvenile Hall and Malloy was released on promise to appear.

And on Tuesday, the Audubon Police Department arrested 26 year old Jay Robert Edwin Pedrin, of Audubon, for Disorderly Conduct. Pedrin was charged and released on promise to appear. The incident remains under investigation by the Audubon Police Department.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A state audit has found major problems with how some Iowa state agencies spent tens of millions of dollars on information technology contractors. The state auditor’s report released Wednesday found cost overruns, excessive use of contractors, large hourly payments and questionable relationships between agencies and IT firms.

The report looked at major IT projects in the Iowa Department of Corrections, the Department of Administrative Services and the Department of Revenue dating back to 2000. It found that Corrections improperly awarded a no-bid contract to Advanced Technologies Group to develop its offender management program.

The report said Revenue repeatedly extended its contract with Terradata for its Tax Gap program. Meanwhile, two top Revenue officials went to work for the company before a mandatory two-year waiting period was up.