Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 8:15 a.m. CDT

(TAMA, Iowa) – One person is dead after a man and a woman tried to cross a road in eastern Iowa, Friday evening. The Iowa State Patrol says 41-year old Randolph Larry Papakee, Jr., of Tama, was struck by a Chrysler Town and Country van, as he and a woman were attempting to cross Highway 30 on foot. The woman made it across the road. The accident happened at around 7:50-p.m.. Friday. Papakee died from his injuries at the Marshalltown Community Hospital.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man accused of firing at a Woodbury County sheriff’s deputy has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. The Sioux City Journal reports that 24-year-old Melvin Spencer entered the plea Friday before in Woodbury County District Court. Authorities say a deputy had tried to pull over a vehicle carrying Spencer around 3:30 a.m. Feb. 26 and Spencer opened fire at the deputy, who shot back. Neither Spencer nor the deputy was injured, although another man in the car was.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Former University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen will serve as interim president of Iowa State University following the resignation of Steven Leath. The Press-Citizen reported Friday that Allen will begin his interim role on May 9. His annual salary will be $525,000 _ the same as Leath. Leath announced his resignation Monday to take the president’s job at Auburn University.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new report says Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.2 percent in February, its lowest level since 2001. Iowa Workforce Development announced Friday that the rate was two-tenths of a point lower than the 3.4 percent in January and was down six-tenths of a point from 3.8 percent a year ago. The national rate dropped to 4.7 percent last month from 4.8 percent in January.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — The mayor of Muscatine will have to wait until next month to defend herself to the City Council, which is considering her removal from office. The Muscatine Journal reports that the council met for 11 hours Thursday and listened to witnesses and lawyers talk about Mayor Diana Broderson. Broderson never got a chance to speak, however, so the council decided to reconvene April 1.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The police chief in northwestern Iowa’s Sioux City has announced plans to retire later this year. The Sioux City Journal reports that Chief Doug Young will retire at the end of September.

The 60-year-old Young has served on the Sioux City police force for 36 years — eight of them as chief. Young says he’s proud of how Sioux City’s police department has continued to stay with the times and has connected with its community.

Sioux City leaders will begin the search for a new chief this spring.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope is pleased to report the Sheriff’s Office K9 “Judge” will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. “Judge” is s three-year old Belgian Malinois/Shepherd mix, who was been on the road in Fremont County and helping the surrounding counties for the past two-years.

Aistrope says “On behalf of the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, we would like to extend out thanks and gratitude to Vested Interest in K9’s, Inc., for their support to law enforcement and our four-legged partners.” K9 Judge’s vest will be embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Ty, California City Police Department“. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.

Deputy Zac Buttercase & K9 “Judge”, part of the Southwest Iowa Highway Interdiction Team/Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,400 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 1.9 million dollars. All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $1,050.00. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.

(Update: A car has been reported as stolen. Authorities believe it is connected with the missing Clarinda Academy Students. Bronze Buick LeSabre, Iowa license BGU-806. STOLEN FROM 700 BLOCK SOUTH 22ND Street in Clarinda).

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports this (Saturday) morning, that law enforcement and Clarinda Academy personnel are looking for two missing students from the Clarinda Academy. The male students were discovered missing by Academy staff at approximately 4:00 a.m.

One student is a Black male, age 17 ,6’1 200 lbs afro style hair, possibly dressed in all black. The second student is White, age 15, 5’8 160, short hair, possibly wearing red and orange. Direction of travel unknown. If observed contact law enforcement.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of an Elliott woman early Saturday morning after a traffic stop at 106 W. Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak. At 12:18am Officers arrested 45-year-old Mindy Lane Hale of Elliott for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated, 1st Offense. Hale was also cited for Open Container of Alcohol and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 cash bond.