OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Results from a monthly survey of business supply managers show a slight slip in the economic conditions in nine Midwest and Plains states. The Mid-America Business Conditions Index report released Monday says the overall economic index for the region dropped to 60.1 in March from 60.5 in February. It’s the first index decline in five months.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the figures still point to a healthy regional manufacturing economy. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the heroin overdose death of a West Des Moines woman is scheduled to be sentenced next month. On Friday a Polk County jury also found 30-year-old Travis West guilty of delivery of a controlled substance. His sentencing is set for May 18.

Authorities say West provided the heroin to 26-year-old Bailey Jo Brady, who was found unconscious in an apartment on June 5, 2015. She died later at a hospital.

Police in Red Oak, Sunday night, arrested a man for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. 40-year old Richard Allen Straw, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 8:25-p.m. in the 200 block of W. Washington Avenue. Straw was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond until making an appearance before a magistrate.

And, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 21-year old Chase Paul Palmer, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 8:27-a.m. Saturday, for Interference with Official Acts.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa union leaders approached this legislative session with apprehension but say they never envisioned lawmakers would approve such dramatic changes governing worker rights and pay. GOP legislators, with support from Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, tightened the workers’ compensation system, limited the scope of collective bargaining rights for public employee unions and banned local minimum wage increases. Republicans say the changes will spur business activity.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Prolonged protests in North Dakota have failed to stop the flow of oil through the Dakota Access pipeline, but they’ve provided inspiration for protests against pipelines around the country. Tactics used in North Dakota such as resistance camps, social media and online fundraising are now being used against pipeline projects in nearly a dozen states. Some people don’t think their efforts will pan out under the Trump administration, which strongly backs the fossil fuel industry.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an Iowa man’s drowning in the Mississippi River might have been avoided if the 52-year-old had been wearing a life jacket. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports James Kenneth Freeman of Lansing, Iowa, drowned Friday after his fishing boat capsized and went under the dam gates near Genoa, Wisconsin.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating a shooting that injured five people in Des Moines early Sunday. Investigators found more than 40 shell casings and evidence of drug activity at the scene of the shooting near J&J Pizza.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Parents and Sioux City residents are lamenting the latest delay in the opening of a new elementary school after several homes were demolished to make room for it. The Sioux City Journal reports that plans to start classes at the new Bryant Elementary School in the fall of 2019 unraveled March 14 after the low bid for the project’s final phase came in nearly $3 million higher than estimated. The main reason for the high bids is likely rising concrete costs.

The school board decided to revisit the architectural plans to save costs rather than pay more money, which superintendent Paul Gausman says will push the school opening to August 2020. Resident Erik Peterson says the dirt blowing from the construction site has created an annoyance for neighbors.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa union leaders approached this legislative session with apprehension but say they never envisioned lawmakers would approve such dramatic changes governing worker rights and pay.

GOP legislators, with support from Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, tightened the workers’ compensation system, severely limited the scope of collective bargaining rights for public employee unions and banned local minimum wage increases. They also cut budgets amid a tax revenue shortfall.

Republicans say the changes ensure stability and will spur business activity. Others describe it as a war on workers. The director of labor education research at Cornell University, Kate Bronfenbrenner, says the changes may push more workers onto Social Security disability and Medicaid.

Union leaders worry the multiple changes regarding worker rights will spark unintended consequences, calling this session a nightmare scenario for workers.

A traffic stop Saturday night in Shenandoah, resulted in the arrest of a Nebraska man on a warrant for Failure to Appear in Court. Shenandoah Police stopped a vehicle at around 11:30-p.m. near Highway 48 and E Avenue. After making contact with the driver, 34-year old Tyler Morrow, of Omaha, Morrow was arrested on a valid warrant out of Lancaster, NE. for failure to appear. After further investigation Morrow was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. His warrant did not allow Morrow to post bond. He was transported to the Page County Jail and held, pending extradition to Nebraska.

Two people were arrested on separate charges early this (Sunday) morning, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say 50-year old Kristine Courtney Ryan, of Elliott, was arrested at around 1:55-a.m. at 508 5th Street, in Elliott, on a valid Red Oak Police Department warrant for Failure to Appear, on an original Breach of Peace charge. Ryan was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond, after failing to comply with the booking process.

And, at around 1:57-a.m., Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 32-year old Nicholas John Horgdal, of Henderson, following a traffic stop at 150th Street and F Avenue. Horgdal was taken into custody for Driving While Barred. His bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $2,000.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:40 a.m. CDT

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque woman has been stabbed to death, and her boyfriend has been charged. The Telegraph Herald reports that 21-year-old Samantha Link was killed in her apartment early Friday morning. Police say 25-year-old Fontae Buelow told officers he and Link had been arguing when Link stabbed herself in the stomach with a butcher knife, which was found at the scene. But police say Link had been stabbed twice in the chest and had bruises on her nose and forehead.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa say a man has been shot and wounded in a Davenport alley. The Quad-City Times reports that police were called Friday afternoon to a home, where they found a 19-year-old man who had suffered gunshot wounds not believed to be life-threatening. Police say the man was shot in the alley by someone in a vehicle. The victim was able to walk up a small hill near the alley and get help at the house.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 22-year-old western Iowa woman has been arrested following a crash in Omaha that left her young son critically injured. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that the crash happened late Thursday night on Interstate 80 in Omaha. When officers arrived, no one was there. Officers later found the women and boy at an Omaha hospital, where the boy was being treated for critical head injuries. Police say the mother had been drinking.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — The University of Northern Iowa has launched a digital media program that will focus on new ways of reporting and production. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the university held an event to introduce a digital media program Thursday that will replace its electronic media program. Three majors, including digital journalism, digital media leadership and digital media production, will be added to the new program.