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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A rule designed to protect the legal rights of farmers who grow chickens and hogs for the nation’s largest meat processors has been delayed by at least six months, halting an initiative rolled out in the final days of Barack Obama’s administration. The rule was first proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2010 but was met with resistance in Congress and by the meat processing industry.

SIDNEY, Iowa (AP) — Rebuffing President Donald Trump and Republican leaders on the GOP health care bill seemed like a major political misstep for Iowa Rep. David Young, who quickly was punished by a political action committee linked to Speaker Paul Ryan. Nearly three weeks later, voters in Young’s southwestern Iowa district _ Republicans and Democrats _ say the GOP congressman made the right move.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is set to become the latest state to allow gun owners to keep firearms at their side while visiting the state Capitol. It’s a move that’s raised questions about how security workers would deal with armed visitors. Republican Gov. Terry Branstad plans to signs the measure Thursday as part of a wide-ranging gun bill. It will mirror similar activity at statehouses around the U.S. in recent years.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The owner of a gun that a 4-year-old boy used to kill himself last summer in Iowa has been charged with illegally owning the firearm after telling police he regularly used marijuana. Twenty-nine-year-old Daniel Henriksen pleaded not guilty Wednesday to being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. He wasn’t there when Jayden Choate shot himself June 17 in Henriksen’s trailer in Elgin.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Senate Republicans are showing support for legislation that would expand a state medical marijuana oil program, but it appears to lack support in the House.

The Senate Appropriations subcommittee approved a bill Wednesday to expand Iowa’s existing medical marijuana program, which allows use of cannabis oil for some people with epilepsy. The new proposal would allow use of the oil to treat 18 conditions, including epilepsy and cancer, but still bans smoking marijuana.

The Department of Public Health says lawmakers would need to allocate money to start the program. If approved by other committees, senators say the bill could be eligible for debate next week by the full Senate. However, House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says the bill would need to be more limited to pass in the House.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican lawmakers trying to finalize the next state budget have proposed reducing money used on services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. A GOP-led budget committee approved a bill Wednesday that would cut about $1.4 million from victim assistance grants distributed through the Iowa Attorney General’s office.

The roughly $6.7 million budget for the grants had already been reduced by about $260,000 during mid-year spending cuts. Republicans say increased federal funding in recent years for victims will ensure no services are cut. Advocacy groups say the reductions will affect staffing and diminish the capacity to provide services.

The cuts are in the justice budget, which would get about $559 million in the spending year that goes into effect in July.

Officials with Enhance Iowa have announced they awarded $1,264-million in Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants at their meeting Wednesday, in Waverly. Among the CAT Grant funds approved, was the full amount of $175,000 requested from the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Rec Department for the Schildberg Recreation Area and Campground Development. The $992, 179 total cost of the  project includes the addition of sewage hookups to the 20-pad campground, a bathhouse, picnic shelters, fishing pier, playgrounds and boat dock. An additional $100,000 from the City of Atlantic and $25,000 from the County, along with numerous other private donations and in-kind work, will help to pay for the project.

In Madison County, the  Bricker-Price Block Project in Earlham received $189,000 out of a requested $222,070, for the complete historic renovation of the building into a modern, community gathering space to provide opportunities for community education, culinary exploration, celebrations and more. The rear of the building will be a dedicated teen space. The total project cost amounts to $888,277.

Elsewhere, the Kalona Community Center, Kalona received a $500,000 CAT grant for the construction of a $5.3-million state-of-the-art recreational facility with three basketball courts, an elevated walking track, dedicated fitness and dance room, as well as new weight and exercise equipment. And, in Ft. Dodge, the  Fort Dodge and Webster County Trail Plan – Phase II, received $400,000 toward a $2.1-million project that includes the construction of more than four miles of new trails that will establish a circular loop of trails around the community.

The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, thirteen CAT awards have been granted by the board, totaling $4,432,481. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for May 10, 2017, in Des Moines.

CRESCENT, Iowa (AP) – Residents and business owners in Crescent are concerned by the closure of a key road just north of town for bridge construction and are urging officials to complete the project more quickly if possible. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Pottawattamie County shut down a bridge on Old Lincoln Highway on Monday for construction work that’ll replace the bridge and shift the roadway slightly to the northeast.

County engineer John Rasmussen told the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors and concerned residents Tuesday that the project is expected to be completed in mid-June. He said he’s working with Correctionville-based contractor Dixon Construction on ways to get the project done faster. More than 2,300 vehicles pass the bridge daily.

The Atlantic Police Department reports 28-year old Cameron Misner, of Atlantic, was arrested Tuesday. Misner was taken into custody under the authority of a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear (in court) on a Public Intoxication charge. Misner was booked into the Cass County Jail.