Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa woman has been convicted of charges she pretended to be a nurse to obtain prescription drugs to sell. Police say 30-year-old Kayleen Leedahl, of Royal, pleaded guilty to three counts of felony obtaining or attempting to obtain a prescription drug by deceit. Court documents say she will also pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of the same charge. Police and court documents state Leedahl posed as a nurse over a nearly four month period in 2013.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been arrested after allegedly bringing two teenage girls to Chicago from Iowa and forcing them into prostitution. Prosecutors say 18-year-old Ferid Mahalbasic, of Waterloo, is charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor and involuntary servitude. Prosecutors say Mahalbasic convinced the girls, age 17 and 18, to post ads online promising sexual acts in exchange for money.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration wants to provide greater access to fast broadband service in towns and cities across the country by encouraging the Federal Communications Commission to remove legal barriers to competition by Internet service providers. It also wants to help local communities improve their service with government loans and grants. The modest proposals do not require congressional approval and are part of a series of measures President Barack Obama is rolling out before his State of the Union address next week. Obama will be in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Wednesday to detail his broadband plans.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Workforce Development administrative law judge has filed a lawsuit against the state, former IWD Director Teresa Wahlert and other administrators alleging retaliation and defamation. Susan Ackerman was one of several judges to criticize Wahlert’s management at a legislative government oversight committee hearing last year. It is the third lawsuit from former IWD employees naming Wahlert, who retired suddenly on Friday.

Gov. E. Terry Branstad today (Tuesday) signed a proclamation directing a special election to be held on Feb. 10, 2015, for Iowa House District 23, following the resignation of Mark Costello who won a special election for the Iowa State Senate. Costello replaced U.S. Senator Joni Ernst in the Iowa State Senate.

House District 23 is comprised of Fremont, Mills and a portion of Montgomery County. The district
includes the communities of Glenwood, Hamburg, Malvern, Pacific Junction Red Oak, Sidney and Tabor.

A full district map can be found here: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/DistrictMaps/2013/House/House%20District%2023.pdf

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say they have broken up a branch of a Mexican drug cartel dealing methamphetamine in the Omaha area. Police announced Tuesday the arrests of 20 people associated with the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico following an 18-month investigation.

The Omaha Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency deployed investigators who received tips that a woman in charge of a sizeable methamphetamine ring was operating near Omaha. The investigation led officials to the source of the supply in California and the discovery of Nebraska and Iowa customers, who bought the methamphetamine and resold it in smaller amounts.

Authorities say they gathered about 12.5 pounds of methamphetamine and more than $35,000. Most are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, an offense that could mean 20 years to life in prison.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa woman has been convicted of charges she pretended to be a nurse to obtain prescription drugs to sell. Police say 30-year-old Kayleen Leedahl, of Royal, pleaded guilty to three counts of felony obtaining or attempting to obtain a prescription drug by deceit. Court documents say she will also pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of the same charge.

Police and court documents state Leedahl posed as a nurse over a nearly four month period in 2013. The Sioux City Journal reports Leedahl will be sentenced to 10 years in prison as part of her plea agreement. A sentencing hearing has been set for March 30.