The race for Senator-Elect Joni Ernst’s vacated Iowa State Senate seat now has six contenders. According to the Daily NonPareil, Charla Schmid of Red Oak announced her candidacy on Friday, and will vie with five other candidates during the Republican Party’s special nominating convention Dec. 11th, in Clarinda.

The Harlan Police Department, Friday, released a report on arrests dating back nearly three-weeks. The most recent arrests include 38-year old Ryan Schechinger, of Harlan, who was arrested Monday (12/1), when officers were called to a domestic disturbance in the 3000 block of 12th Street. Schechinger was taken to the Shelby County jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault for allegedly assaulting Shawn Schechinger, also of Harlan.

On Saturday, Nov. 29th: 31-year old Michael Gifford, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant. Gifford was transported to the Shelby County jail without incident; 23-year old Jordyn Timmerman, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Timmerman was charged with driving under suspension, operating a non-registered vehicle, and failure to show proof of insurance. Timmerman was cited and released; and 29-year old Jason Ostrus, of Earling, was arrested when officers were called to a domestic disturbance in the 1300 block of Garfield Avenue. Ostrus was taken into custody and taken to the Shelby County jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault for allegedly assaulting Makayla Hammel, Harlan.

And on Nov. 27th, 18-year old David Poole, of Turin, was arrested when officers were called to a residence on Cheyenne Avenue for a vehicle that pulled into a driveway and left leaving tire marks on the driveway. The home owner also allegedly received a phone call asking how he liked the marks. The vehicle was located in the same area. Poole was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal mischief. Poole was also cited for careless driving and failure to maintain safety belt.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Spanish teacher at a Des Moines middle school has been named the 2015 Iowa Teacher of the Year. Governor Terry Branstad announced Friday that the award would go to Clemencia Spizzirri, who teaches at Merrill Middle School. In a statement, Branstad called her a “role model to students and colleagues.” The 38-year-old Spizzirri has taught at Merrill Middle School for five years.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Fort Madison man facing a first-degree murder change in the death of a Burlington man has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports 42-year-old Lenard Polhans entered the guilty plea Friday to voluntary manslaughter in Des Moines County District Court. He remains jailed without bond as he awaits sentencing.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Police in central Iowa have arrested and charged a mother and her teenage daughter with assault after they say the pair fought with other students. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports that the 38-year-old Fort Dodge woman and her 16-year-old daughter fought with two other students inside Fort Dodge Senior High School Thursday morning.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa officials have removed a public art work meant to denounce racism after students were angered by its image of a Ku Klux Klan robe. Artist Serhat Tanyolacar says he displayed the 7-foot-tall robe on campus Friday to join with protesters upset over the shooting of Michael Brown.

RALSTON, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is offering up to $5,000 for information related to an arson fire at a post office in the western Iowa community of Ralston. KCIM radio reports the fire began shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday. Firefighters from Ralston and Glidden put out the fire quickly, but it caused extensive damaged inside the building.

The U.S. Postal Inspector Service is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of those who set the fire. Ralston, a city of less than 100 people, is about 15 miles east of Carroll.

A search warrant executed Wednesday at a home in rural Pottawattamie County resulted in 117 marijuana plants being seized, a six-week old infant being taken into protective custody, and the arrest of four people. Chief Deputy Sheriff John Reynolds said Friday (Today), the drug bust went down at 21159 250th Street, near Underwood.

Taken into custody during the event on charges of Manufacturing Marijuana, a Tax Stamp Violation and Child Endangerment, was: 63-year old Bobby Wayne Berg; 58-year old Julie Maxine Berg; 32-year old Gustav Wayne Berg; and 29-year old Cassandra Jane Hoffman. Each of the subjects was booked into the Pott. County Jail.

The raid was carried out by Deputies from the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and officers from Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force and State of Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Revenue at a new casino in Sioux City is down from when it opened last summer, but an official says the drop was expected and the center is doing well. The Sioux City Journal reports the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sioux City had revenue of $5.8 million in November. That’s down from $7.2 million in adjusted gross revenue in August, when the casino opened.

Revenue in September and October was about $6 million each month. The $128 million gambling and entertainment center replaced the former Argosy Sioux City riverboat.

Mark Monson, the president of a nonprofit group that holds the Hard Rock’s state gambling license, says the lower revenue was expected during the winter. He maintains the center is meeting expectations, saying “they’re going great guns down there.”