Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a Cedar Rapids man as a homicide. The Cedar Rapids Police Department says 31-year-old Clifton Sparks was found fatally wounded on a street shortly after midnight Tuesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man suspected of stealing money from a Des Moines gas station thanked the cashier before heading out. Police say the robbery happened Monday night at a Git-N-Go store. Authorities are still looking for the suspect. The Des Moines Register reports the cashier told police the man approached the counter and demanded money. He then pointed a gun at her. The cashier says she handed over $100 in several bills. He then said, “Thank you” as he took the money and left the store.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque has declined to take up a proposal that would ban future home-based firearms businesses. The City Council on Monday declined to vote on a motion to move the issue forward. It had been tabled since September. The Telegraph Herald reports the proposal would have prohibited future conditional use permits for gun sales from residential homes.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Aaron Craft had 17 points with six assists and six steals to help Ohio State upset 17th-ranked Iowa 76-69 last night for its third win in four games. Mike Gesell had 16 points for lead Iowa, which shot just 3 of 20 from 3-point range and lost its second straight at home.

The Atlantic City Council will hold it’s regular meeting Wednesday at the Senior Citizen’s Center next to City Hall/the Police Station, instead of in their chambers at City Hall. The temporary move is necessary due to renovation projects underway at City Hall. During their session, which begins at 5:30-p.m., the Council will act on authorizing Mayor Dave Jones to execute an Engineering Services Agreement with Snyder and Associates Engineers of Atlantic, for the 2014 Street Improvement Projects (SIP).

City Administrator Doug Harris says the lump sum cost for the design and construction inspection services is $74,000, which he says reflects a reasonable 9.9% of the estimated project cost. The 2014 Street Improvement Projects include:

• The reconstruction of 17th St. from Redwood Dr. to East Dead End.
• Mill, patch & overlay 9th St. from Palm to Cedar, and Elm to Plum.
• Mill, patch & overlay 13th St. from Cherry to the Dead End east of Plum.
• Mill, patch & overlay Locust St. from 8th to 10th.
• Mill, patch and overlay Maple St. from 7th to 10th.

Snyder’s Dave Sturm has said the contractor and subcontractor for the work, both of whom are willing to hold their current contract prices, and go with a change order, instead of taking competitive bids for those projects. Harris said the benefit of utilizing a change order is that it will lock-in last year’s prices and save the City money, not to mention time. The preliminary cost estimate for the work is $755,000.

In  other business, the Council will enter into a closed session prior adjournment (as allowed by Iowa Code Section 21.5 [c]), to discuss initiating litigation to take title of an abandoned property.

Authorities in Audubon County say an Atlantic man was injured during a rollover accident south of Brayton Monday afternoon. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 50-year-old Kenny Leroy Logemann was traveling south on Highway 71 at around 1:40-p.m, when he fell asleep at the wheel of his 1995 Dodge. The vehicle crossed the center line, and northbound lane before it came into contact with the gravel shoulder on the east side of the road.

The vehicle continued for a short distance before Logemann woke up and overcorrected. His actions cause the vehicle to cross northbound lane and make contact with the west side gravel shoulder. The vehicle then entered a driveway on the west side of the road where it flipped and rolled over, coming to rest on the driver’s side.

Logemann was transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital by Exira Fire and Rescue. He was later cited for having No Insurance and Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to  his vehicle amounted to $3,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Veterans could receive preferential treatment in the hiring and promotion decisions of private businesses under a bill moving through the Iowa Legislature. The House Veterans Affairs Committee approved a measure Tuesday that would allow private sector employers to grant preference to veterans when deciding who to hire or promote. The bill now goes to the House floor.

State government already can give hiring preference to veterans. The bill clarifies that it is legal for the private sector to do so as well. Jimmy Centers, a spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad, says the bill is part of the governor’s plan to support veterans in Iowa.

Republican Rep. Dwayne Alons, who heads the committee, says this bill would also expand upon preferences allowed for veterans in federal positions.