OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man accused of causing a fatal crash while driving the wrong way on Interstate 480 has pleaded not guilty to felony charges. Victor Perez is charged with motor vehicle homicide while drunk and leaving the scene of an accident. A judge on Friday set his bail at $250,000. Police say the 24-year-old Perez was driving the SUV that struck Mickey Riesberg, who was riding a motorcycle. Riesberg was pronounced dead at Nebraska Medical Center.

Perez was arrested shortly after the crash after he pulled into the Ameristar Casino grounds in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Prosecutors say his blood alcohol level was 0.191 at the time of his arrest, more than twice the legal limit to drive. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 1.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Republican Party has voted to replace its current chairman with a former state lawmaker. The state central committee on Saturday chose former state Rep. Jeff Kauffman, of Wilton, as the new party chairman. Kaufmann replaces Danny Carroll, a former lobbyist for the Family Leader, a conservative Christian group.

The vote came after new committee members were elected earlier this year, with the support of Gov. Terry Branstad. Branstad wants the party unified to protect Iowa’s first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Kaufmann, a loyal Branstad supporter, says he will work to unite the party, raise money and get Republican voters to the polls. Kaufmann set an immediate goal of raising $300,000 over the next three months.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — New state laws aimed at corn growers, drones and electronic cigarettes are set to go into effect Tuesday in Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports) that the laws will allow for potential increases in Iowa’s corn promotion check-off, impose new restrictions on e-cigarettes and prohibit the state and local governments from using drones to enforce traffic laws.

Another law will allow consumers to use gift certificates indefinitely. The state Board of Educational Examiners will also receive the power to discipline teachers who engage in relationships with recent former students.

Iowa will also allow household pets to be included in protection orders in domestic abuse cases. The state will also provide services for minors forced into prostitution, instead of prosecuting them.