Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill that would allow non-essential workers to take unpaid time off to participate in Iowa’s presidential caucuses has received approval in the Senate. The Senate voted 26-24 yesterday along party lines. It now heads to the House, where it is unlikely to advance. The legislation would allow a person in Iowa to take up to four hours off to attend the caucuses.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Senate has passed a bill that would ban people in Iowa from buying powdered alcohol. The Senate voted 48-2 yesterday in support of the legislation. It now heads to the House.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An 18-year-old man who was pinned beneath a car is hospitalized in Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports that Zachary Ray became trapped Tuesday afternoon in a driveway as he was trying to fix something under the car. He was trapped from his head down to his midsection. Police officers were unable to lift the car enough to free him, but he was rescued after firefighters arrived and deployed jacks.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police say they have arrested a man in connection with a string of cigarette thefts throughout Des Moines. The Register reports 47-year-old Randal Caswell of Des Moines was arrested early Wednesday morning. Caswell remained in Polk County Jail without bond on Wednesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Republican-controlled Iowa House has approved a bill that would change the arbitration process for teachers and other school employees in the state. Under the proposal, which passed in a 56-41 vote Wednesday, an arbitrator would have more flexibility in determining final contract terms. Debate over the bill started Tuesday afternoon and concluded Wednesday morning, after an overnight break.

Currently, if a district cannot reach a labor agreement with teachers or school employees, an arbitrator must choose between two final offers on items like raises. The bill would allow the arbitrator to set a number in the middle.  Republicans say the change would help districts manage their budgets, while Democrats say it would worsen teacher compensation and educational attainment.

The bill is not expected to advance in the Democratic-majority Senate.

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) – The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa will host events to commemorate a Civil War-era steamboat that sank in the Missouri River. The refuge group plans to host a weekend of events March 27-29 to highlight the history of the Bertrand that sank on April 1, 1865.  Visitors will be able to see thousands of artifacts that were rescued from the Bertrand after private salvagers discovered the wreckage in what is now the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge.

The Daily Nonpareil reports that the Bertrand was making its way to Montana territory with passengers and mining equipment on board when it struck a snag in the shallow river 25 miles north of Omaha. The steamboat’s passengers abandoned ship and waded to shore as the boat sank into the mud. All survived, but the cargo was lost.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Elliott man was arrested Tuesday on a sex abuse charge. 31-year old Josh James Fink, of Elliott, was taken into custody on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Felony Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree. Fink was booked at the Cass County Jail and later released on $25,000 bond.

Authorities in Page County are investigating a motorcycle accident that resulted in two people being sent to the hospital, Tuesday. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says his office was notified at around 5:17-p.m. about the accident, which took place about two-miles north of Clarinda, near the entrance to the Nodaway Valley Park. Palmer says 61-year old Jack Newman, of Omaha, was operating a 1982 Honda motorcycle northbound on Highway 71, when there was a problem with the rear tire.

Newman, and his passenger, 49-year old Ann Standeven, of LaVista, NE, were ejected from the cycle. They suffered unknown injuries, and were transported by Clarinda Ambulance to the Clarinda Regional Health Center.

An investigation into the accident continues. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Clarinda Police Department along with the Clarinda Fire Department and Clarinda Ambulance service.

The Glenwood Police Department report 21-year old Andrew Jeppesen, of Malvern, was arrested this (Wednesday) morning. Jeppesen was charged with Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $300.