Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic candidate for governor has topped Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in fundraising by giving $2.1 million to his own campaign. Fundraising records released Monday show businessman Fred Hubbell, the perceived front-runner among a field of six Democrats, raised about $3 million so far in 2018. Reynolds raised about $1.2 million. She has more than $4.2 million available to spend. Hubbell has about $248,000 available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state agency has selected a private insurance company to join two others in providing health coverage under Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program. The Iowa Department of Human Services confirmed Monday that Iowa Total Care, a wholly-owned subsidiary of St. Louis-based Centene, will provide coverage beginning in July 2019. Agency spokesman Matt Highland says the company will undergo a readiness review over the next year and more information will become available later.

WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — The Waukee school district has reached another settlement with an employee who filed a lawsuit claiming he was forced to resign after reporting improper conduct by the chief operating officer. The Des Moines Register reports the district on Monday paid a $175,000 settlement to Nicholas Bavas, who resigned as operations manager. He filed a lawsuit in June, claiming he was forced to quit after reporting conduct to investigators by chief operating officer Eric Rose.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo man accused of firing a shot at a police officer has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a firearms charge. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 23-year-old Miquelle Miller was sentenced Monday to 10 years without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty in October to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon.

An Iowa woman is now charged in connection with a South Carolina kidnapping case. William and Jessica Ray were arrested last Thursday in Winneshiek County after the sheriff’s office received a tip that the couple was spotted at the Decorah Walmart. The Rays were wanted for taking their daughter from Camden, South Carolina on April 15. They do NOT have custody of the two-year-old child.

Authorities say the Rays had been staying with 56-year-old Tami Linne at her home in Bluffton for three weeks. Linne is accused of helping hide the couple and the toddler. She’s now charged with accessory to a felony.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state agency has selected a private insurance company to join two others in providing health coverage under Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program. The Iowa Department of Human Services confirmed Monday that Iowa Total Care, a wholly owned subsidiary of St. Louis-based Centene, will provide coverage beginning in July 2019.

Centene attempted in an earlier bidding process to participate in Iowa’s Medicaid program but was not selected. Agency spokesman Matt Highland says the company will undergo a readiness review over the next year and more information will become available later.

Iowa privatized its Medicaid program, which provides health care to the poor and disabled, in 2016. The program was initially run by three companies until one dropped out last year.

The other companies providing Medicaid coverage are UnitedHealthcare and Amerigroup. Some patients and health care providers have reported reduced and delayed services under the privatized system.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic candidate for governor has topped Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in fundraising by giving $2.1 million to his own campaign. Fundraising records released Monday show businessman Fred Hubbell, the perceived front-runner among a field of six Democrats, raised about $3 million so far in 2018. Reynolds, the only Republican seeking her party’s nomination, raised about $1.2 million.

Reynolds has more than $4.2 million available to spend. Hubbell has about $248,000 available. Democrat Cathy Glasson, a union organizer, raised nearly $600,000 in large part to a donation by Service Employees International Union. Democrat Sen. Nate Boulton brought in about $500,000.

The other three Democrats raised significantly less. Former party chairwoman Andy McGuire raised about $270,000, while former party chairman John Norris collected about $235,000. Former Iowa City mayor Ross Wilburn raised about $6,400, and his campaign owes $515.

The Freedom Rock, located just south of Interstate 80 on Highway 25 in Adair County, is being painted once again this year, by Greenfield artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen. It’s the 20th Anniversary of the Freedom Rock, which is repainted each year in honor of Memorial Day. Images on the 12-foot tall, nearly 60-ton boulder, pay tribute to our  men and women in the military.

Freedom Rock. Photo courtesy Maria & Ray Sorensen.

Sorensen started painting the original Freedom Rock® the first week of May and plans to be finished by Memorial Day 2018. In a press release, Sorensen says  “This year’s edition is simple yet powerful.” Almost the entire surface will be covered with random faces of those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq/Afghanistan.

Complimenting the faces will be a quote over a flag that reads: “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” – George S. Patton. The helicopter remains as the paint that it is comprised of has been mixed with the ashes of our Vietnam Veterans since 2006.

Sorensen is not commissioned for his work on the original Freedom Rock® in Menlo, Iowa but works as an independent mural artist on the Iowa Freedom Rock® Tour. Sorensen is only able to complete about ten rocks per year, due to scheduling and weather and is currently booked into the 2021 year. Bubba said “I always say I have three goals with ‘The Freedom Rock®Tour’ and that is to honor America’s Veterans, promote Iowa tourism and provide for my family.”

The Freedom Rock® Tour is helped by the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation of Iowa Falls, Iowa, who provide the truck and Aluma Trailers of Bancroft, Iowa, who provide the trailer. For a list of complete counties booked for the Tour and locations of already existing Freedom Rocks®, please visit www.thefreedomrock.com.

Although it is Sorensen’s 20th annual year of painting the original Freedom Rock®, this is Sorensen’s sixth year on the Freedom Rock® Tour across Iowa. This also marked the second year since Sorensen began the 50 State Freedom Rock® Tour with rocks already painted in Missouri and Wisconsin. Freedom Rocks® have been booked for the states of Minnesota and Washington.

Sorensen plans to be at The Freedom Rock® over Memorial Day weekend, including Memorial Day to meet with visitors. Calendars as well as other merchandise are also available to help offset costs for the project.