(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds has given the green light to a new “blackout” license plate design. “Evidently it’s popular,” Reynolds said. “I have not even seen one on a car.” The “blackout” design has been on the road for a few years. More than 800 Iowans have purchased the specialty license plate for the Dordt College Defenders. It has a black background. The letters and numbers are white.

Legislators tucked language creating a new “blackout” license plate — without the reference to Dordt College — in a “multi-subject” bill the governor approved this week. You may recall that in August of 2017, Reynolds spearheaded a public vote on three designs for NEW “standard-issue” state license plates. The chosen design and color scheme have sparked complaints.

“We’re so many limited in what we can do because there are so many requirements,” Reynolds says. “Sure, we’d like all sorts of different things on them. We just don’t have the luxury of doing that.” Iowans who don’t want the standard-issue license plate can pay extra for specialty plates for their vehicles.

The D-O-T plans to start taking orders for the new “blackout” plates on July 1st.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A stretch of interstate highway in northwestern Missouri is open again for the first time since floodwaters shut it down in March. Interstate 29 reopened Wednesday to the Iowa state line. Historic flooding in March forced closure of the busy north-south roadway. I-29 also is open in Iowa, but with some restrictions. Many other roads and highways in northwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa remain closed due to flood damage.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police say a suspect has been shot after officers responded to a report of a business burglary in Iowa City. The Press-Citizen reports that the shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, when officers responded to a break-in alarm at a consignment store. Police say two officers fired their service weapons and injured a suspect, who remained hospitalized Thursday afternoon. Police have declined to say whether the injured suspect was armed when he was shot.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa wildlife officials have confirmed the sighting of a mountain lion near downtown Des Moines. Police said Thursday morning that they’re poring over video from the area near Interstate 235 and 31st Street. Snapshots taken from the video appear to show a mountain lion near some steps and a park bench. Police say they’re working with the Iowa Natural Resources Department, the Animal Rescue League and Blank Park Zoo to safely resolve the situation.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A downtown business group says the economic toll from Mississippi River flooding could run as high as $2.5 million a month. The Quad-City Times reports that the economic impact statement from the Downtown Davenport Partnership doesn’t include property damage. The statement is part of an application sent to state and federal officials for assistance. A temporary flood barrier failed April 30, allow floodwaters to cover several downtown blocks.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Thursday evening, updated a report about an incident that occurred February 2nd. On that date, Deputy Mather with the Mills County K9 Unit, conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Glenwood, for a traffic violation. During the stop, the K9 “Zehn” was deployed, and indicated on the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, nearly one-pound of meth was found, along with about $7,800 in U-S currency. The driver of the vehicle, 34-year old Chanel Traci Huff, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on numerous drug-related charges and transported to the Mills County Jail.

Upon further investigation, the Nodaway County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Office along with Maryville (MO.) Police, executed a narcotics search warrant at an apartment belonging to Huff. During the search, about $15,000 in U-S currency, meth, psyciliben mushrooms, LSD, drug paraphernalia and a loaded handgun were found.

Huff is currently awaiting a federal court hearing. The Mills County K9 Unit was assisted in the investigation by Glenwood Police, Nodaway County, MO., Sheriff’s Deputies, Maryville, MO. Police, SWINE (The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force), and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE).