DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials are trying to increase awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. The state Department of Public Safety says insurance company State Farm will present the Iowa State Patrol a $25,000 grant Wednesday. The money will be used to buy three distracted driving simulators to teach young drivers about the dangers of the practice. A patrol spokesman says demonstrations and more education will decrease fatalities among young drivers. The simulators will be used on various groups, including schools, civic organizations, churches and businesses.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new study says Des Moines is one of the best performing cities when it comes to funding its retirement pension fund. Omaha, Neb., is one of the worst. The study released Tuesday by Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonprofit public policy organization, says 16 cities funded 80 percent of the total liability in the fund and consistently made at least 90 percent of their annual recommended pension payments. Among them: Des Moines, Dallas, and Seattle.

Six cities regularly made less than two-thirds of their annual recommended contributions. They include Chicago, Omaha, and Portland, Ore. Pew examined pensions in 61 cities — the most populous one in each state — plus all others with populations over 500,000. It used data for 2007 through 2009, the most recent available.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A new report says home prices and sales in Iowa are up significantly. The Iowa Association of Realtors says the median sale price for a home was $125,000 in December. That’s a 7.8 percent increase compared with the same period a year before.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Soldiers and airmen from the Iowa National Guard have been assigned to help with President Barack Obama’s inauguration. The Iowa National Guard has announced that approximately 120 soldiers and airmen will assist federal, state and local agencies with the Jan. 21 event. Duties will include transportation and attendee management.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new Iowa law will allow veterans to have a designation on their driver’s license or identification card. The state Department of Transportation says the law was implemented Tuesday, several months ahead of schedule. The law, signed by Gov. Terry Branstad last year, is a voluntary initiative designed to help veterans get discounts throughout the state without carrying official military documents.

LEON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa teenager accused of shooting at several law enforcement officers has been charged with attempted murder. The state Department of Public Safety says the 16-year-old boy faces two counts of attempted murder after leading authorities on two pursuits in south-central Iowa. Additional charges are pending.

LEON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa teenager accused of shooting at several law enforcement officers has been charged with attempted murder. The state Department of Public Safety says 16-year-old Chance Newton, of Kellerton, faces two counts of attempted murder after leading authorities on two pursuits in south-central Iowa. Additional charges are pending. Officials say the Newton evaded arrest early Tuesday morning after a short pursuit involving a Ringgold County deputy who spotted a car that had been reported stolen on Monday. The deputy lost track of the car during the initial pursuit, but when the vehicle was observed in Kellerton a little more than an hour later, State troopers and other local authorities joined a second chase that ended near Leon at around 9-a.m.

Officials say the teen shot several rounds from his weapon and struck two enforcement vehicles. Some officers were transported for medical treatment with non-life-threatening injuries. Newton fled on foot. He was later found in a rural farm house and arrested without incident.