Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration for five Iowa counties damaged by severe weather in early April. Yesterday’s announcement means the counties of Dickinson, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola and Sioux will get federal funding under a public assistance program. Funding can be used for emergency repairs, essential government functions and grants for public schools.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man arrested in Texas in connection with the shooting of an Iowa police officer is fighting extradition back to the state. The Sioux City Journal reports 21-year-old Jamal Dean has indicated to authorities that he intends to fight extradition. He’s in a maximum security section of the county jail in Kingsville, Texas.

WEST UNION, Iowa (AP) — Two men have pleaded guilty to charges related to a bank robbery and wild chase last fall that left two officers with gunshot wounds. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports 25-year-old Jeremiah Mumford and 19-year-old William Clayton pleaded guilty yesterday to first-degree robbery and two counts of attempted murder.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque authorities have been investigating an electrical problem that caused a small explosion inside a manhole downtown. Police Lt. Steve Radloff says the explosion yesterday afternoon behind the Dubuque County Jail caused a loud boom and a manhole cover to lift off its base and into the air. No injuries were reported.

(DES MOINES) – Former US Attorney Matt Whitaker shared his intentions to seek the Republican nomination for the open United States Senate seat in November 2014. Whitaker, who was a guest Monday afternoon on a Des Moines talk radio station, announced he is taking the necessary steps to run for the seat being vacated by Senator Tom Harkin’s retirement. Whitaker becomes the first Republican to officially state he will be a candidate in the Senate race.

“I am taking the steps to run for the United States Senate,” Whitaker said. “I will have the official campaign announcement on June 3.” Whitaker, who has been married for 20 years, said his wife and children support his Senate run. “They understand the challenges facing our country and state,” Whitaker said. “This is going to be a big election about big ideas.” The Republican Senate candidate said he is excited to travel across Iowa and meet with primary voters. “Let’s talk about the issues,” Whitaker said. “Common sense solutions are going to win in the primary election and November 2014.”

(Press Release)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man arrested in Texas in connection with the shooting of an Iowa police officer is fighting extradition back to the state. The Sioux City Journal reports 21-year-old Jamal Dean has indicated to authorities that he intends to fight extradition. He is in a maximum security section of the Kleberg County Jail in Kingsville, Texas. Kleberg County Sheriff’s Capt. Albert Castillo says Dean must enter a formal decision during a court hearing. Texas Gov. Rick Perry could be asked to authorize Dean’s removal from the state.

Dean was arrested Saturday after a hunt involving local, state and federal authorities. He is accused of shooting a rifle at Sioux City Officer Kevin McCormick during a traffic stop on April 29. McCormick is expected to make a full recovery.

Iowa’s top two youth volunteers of 2013, 18-year old Katelyn Cinnamon, of West Des Moines and 13-year old Samantha Dilocker, of Red Oak, were honored in the nation’s capital Sunday night, for their outstanding volunteer service, during the 18th annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.  Katelyn and Samantha – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – each received $1,000 awards and personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey and Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix at an award ceremony and gala dinner reception held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), named Katelyn and Samantha Iowa’s top high school and middle level youth volunteers, in February. In addition to their cash awards, they each received an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent to Washington, D.C., for four days of recognition events. Katelyn, a senior at Valley High School, has raised thousands of dollars to purchase iPad tablets for each exam room at the Blank Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic, and to send young cancer patients to a weeklong camp through the Children’s Cancer Connection.

Samantha, an eighth-grader at Red Oak Middle School, initiated  an annual auction of baked goods and crafts at her local Elks Lodge that has raised  more than $22,000 over the past seven years for a local food pantry, a scholarship fund, a community toy drive and a child with cancer. In 2006, Samantha’s mother’s employer announced that it would be closing. Samantha said “There was a lot of discussion in our home and community about people losing their jobs. I didn’t really understand what it all meant, but I knew I wanted to help.” So, she proposed a bake sale to her mother, who suggested the local Elks Lodge might want to help.

Together, they decided to ask lodge members to donate baked goods for a Christmas auction. Samantha asked a family friend to serve as auctioneer; solicited donations of cakes, cookies and pies from Elks members; made posters and signs to advertise the event; and helped run the auction. The final tally exceeded $1,000, and the auction has since grown to include craft items as well as baked goods. The proceeds have ballooned: $3,700 has been donated to a food pantry, $8,100 to a Christmas “share-a-toy” program, $3,300 to the National Elks Foundation and scholarship funds, and $6,100 to area families with children with leukemia.

Youth volunteers were invited to apply for 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. More than 28,000 middle level and high school students nationwide participated in this year’s program. More information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees can be found at http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.