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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has formally launched its latest session. Legislative leaders from both chambers gaveled in shortly after 10 a.m. Monday at the state Capitol in Des Moines. The day is expected to be focused mostly on ceremonial speeches. Republicans with majorities in the Senate and House will set the agenda for the session, and they’ve indicated that overhauling Iowa’s tax code will be high on their to-do list. A proposal has not been shared publicly.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has hired a human resources director to oversee harassment complaints at the state Capitol. Colin Tadlock, a spokesman for House Republicans, confirmed Monday the manager will begin work Jan. 21. The state agreed in September to pay $1.75 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a former GOP Senate staffer who said she was fired after reporting sexual misconduct in the workplace. The Legislature is still grappling with the fallout.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa attorney general’s office has filed a lawsuit against a former Sioux City council member alleging the improper storage and disposal of millions of pounds of electronics and hazardous waste. The Sioux City Journal reports the state filed the lawsuit Monday against Aaron Rochester, seeking unspecified civil penalties and a permanent injunction against his recycling businesses. The state says more than 17 million pounds of waste has been stored at facilities in Iowa and Nebraska.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A California man from Russia charged with using stolen identification from Russian immigrants to file fraudulent unemployment benefits in Iowa and two other states has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison. Court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Iowa say Nikolai Monastyrski also must repay the state of Illinois more than $230,000, Iowa more than $114,000 and Pennsylvania $46,000.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa attorney general’s office has filed a lawsuit against a former Sioux City council member alleging the improper storage and disposal of millions of pounds of electronics and hazardous waste.

The Sioux City Journal reports the state filed the lawsuit Monday in Woodbury County District Court against Aaron Rochester, who lost his bid for re-election in 2011 after a single council term. The suit seeks unspecified civil penalties against Rochester and a permanent injunction to prevent his recycling businesses from further violations.

The attorney general’s office says more than 17 million pounds of waste, some of which includes lead, mercury and other toxic material, has been stored at facilities in Iowa and Nebraska. The Iowa cleanup could surpass $1.5 million.

Rochester expressed surprise at the lawsuit and says he’s willing to work with the state.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has hired a human resources director to oversee harassment complaints at the state Capitol. Colin Tadlock, a spokesman for House Republicans, confirmed Monday the manager will begin work Jan. 21st. Nonpartisan administrators in both Republican-controlled chambers were involved in the hire. No additional information was provided.

The state agreed in September to pay $1.75 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a former GOP Senate staffer who said she was fired after reporting sexual misconduct in the workplace. The conduct centered on lewd and inappropriate language. The Legislature is still grappling with the fallout.

Tadlock says House Republicans considered creating the position prior to the lawsuit reaching trial last year. A recent internal Senate GOP report revealed office staff fear retaliation if they report harassment

Cass County Recorder Mary Ward, Monday afternoon, announced that she will be seeking re-election in the upcoming June 5th Primary and General Elections for 2018. Ward has been working in the Recorder’s Office for six years and this is her fourth year in her first term as Recorder. In a statement to the media, she said it has been a very rewarding job and she enjoys helping people that come into her office.

Ward said her office has seen a number of changes since she started this position. The changes include, but are not limited to: A state-wide system for registering boats, ATV’s, and snowmobiles, and, a state-wide system for all death and marriage records back to 1954 and births back to 1990.

Cass County Recorder Mary Ward

She said also, “Our recording of real estate documents has remained pretty steady the past couple of years with more documents being e-submitted rather than brought over the counter. We are also working on some back scanning projects for real estate records and have a few more projects that we would like to accomplish down the road.”

The records in her office dating back to the 1880’s. Ward says  she’s “Committed to making sure these records are preserved for current and future generations.” Mary Ward was raised in Adair and graduated from Adair-Casey High School. She obtained a Sales and Marketing Degree from Iowa Lakes Community College. She and her husband have lived in the Atlantic area for close to 25-years.

Ward added that she has taken courses to become a Certified Recorder with the Iowa County Recorder’s Association.