Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Winter is normally cold, but tundra-like temperatures are soon poised to deliver a rare and potentially dangerous sledgehammer blow to much of the Midwest, driving temperatures so far below zero that records will shatter. One reason, according to one meteorologist, is a “polar vortex” that will send cold air piled up at the North Pole down to the U.S., funneling it as far south as the Gulf Coast.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — The Burlington City Council has chosen the first black mayor in the southeast Iowa city’s history. The Hawk Eye reports the council on Thursday narrowly elected Councilman Shane McCampbell to a two-year term as mayor. He was chosen in a 3 to 2 vote over Councilwoman Becky Anderson.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Business leaders in Iowa and Nebraska are joining forces to promote economic development in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. Governors Terry Branstad and Dave Heineman signed an agreement Friday to add Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation, a new public-private partnership, to the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Transportation says it will spend less than $100,000 to implement a new logo. The Des Moines Register reports the department told DOT workers in an email that it would cost “below $100,000” over a five-year period to implement the new logo in offices, vehicles and other printed materials. DOT Director Paul Trombino says the new logo replaces one that’s been used for 32 years.

Authorities in Taylor County report charges have been filed in connection with a fatal accident between a car and a bicyclist just outside of Lenox, last Summer. The Lenox Police Department says the Taylor County Attorney’s Office charged Jessica M. Brown, of Lenox, with Failure to Stop at an Assured Clear Distance. On Friday, Jan. 3rd, 2014, a conviction was entered against  Brown for the offense and she was ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $500, plus fees and court costs amounting to $235.

Officials say the events leading up to the charge began on Sunday, June 23rd, 2013, at about 9:00 a.m., when the body of Gerald O. Williams was found in a ditch along 110th Street, approximately ½ mile east of Vail Avenue in Lenox.  Williams’ wife had been traveling out-of-state and when she was unable to contact him, she called local law enforcement and requested a welfare check be conducted. The officers determined that Gerald Williams was not at his home, and during the check of his residence officers noticed that his bicycle was not there.

Because Mr. Williams was an avid bicyclist, a search was made of popular bicycle routes in the area, and searchers ultimately found his body in the ditch along 110th Street, which is a popular bicycle route in the Lenox area. The incident was investigated by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Lenox Police Department and the Iowa State Highway Patrol, with assistance by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Through this investigation it was determined that the day prior to the discovery of Gerald O. Williams’ body, on Saturday, June 22nd, 2013, at about 9:15 a.m. Williams was riding his bicycle eastbound on 110th Street and was struck by an eastbound car driven by Jessica M. Brown.

Williams died as a result of the injuries he sustained when he was hit by the car.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have reopened a portion of Highway 30 near Ames after a plume of gas from a chemical leak dissipated. Crews responded to a business at the Iowa State University Research Park shortly before noon Friday after a hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid chemical leak spread over the area. Water was sprayed to diminish the plume.

Des Moines television station KCCI says a delivery driver was dropping off the chemicals at a business when the two accidentally mixed. The driver of the delivery truck was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

Sheriff’s officials in Page County say a College Springs man was arrested Wednesday following an investigation into a cut internet line. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says a female resident on Galesburg Street reported her internet had stopped working sometime during the evening of Dec. 31st or early morning hours of Jan. 1st. Deputies investigating the situation discovered the internet line had been cut.

During the investigation, the owner, Kevin Long, who resides in College Springs but not at the woman’s residence, was interviewed. Long has a no contact order in place between him and the female resident. Following the interview, Long was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order.

He was held in the Page County Jail and bonded out the next day.