Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:15 a.m. CST

UNDATED (AP) — A prominent political scientist has routinely misled the public by suggesting he conducts focus group research when he actually just discusses news with acquaintances and colleagues. Iowa State University professor Steffen Schmidt has written repeatedly in newspaper columns about having a focus group that gives him unique insights. But Schmidt now says he contacts individuals to discuss issues as they arise. Experts say he has been misusing the term in a way that inflates his expertise.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Education has filed an ethics complaint against Davenport’s school superintendent, saying the district openly broke the law by using money in a reserve account to pay for ongoing programming. The Quad-City Times reports that the school district has spent $1.6 million of its estimated $20 million reserve fund. Superintendent Art Tate and school board members have cited a funding inequity in the state’s system that allows some districts to spend more money per pupil.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s lieutenant governor _ who is set to become Iowa’s next governor _ is celebrating a different milestone this weekend. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will attain her longstanding goal to get a bachelor’s degree when she graduates from Iowa State University on Saturday. Reynolds will be receiving her bachelor of liberal studies degree and will participate in the school’s fall graduation ceremony Saturday.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Linn County District judge has found a former Cedar Rapids substitute teacher guilty of having sex with a student. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that 24-year-old Mary Beth Haglin was found guilty Friday of sexually exploiting a 17-year-old student last year while she worked at Cedar Rapids Washington High School. She faces up to two years in prison on the misdemeanor count when she’s sentenced on Feb. 17.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet twice this coming week. The Board is scheduled to meet 8:30-a.m. Monday (Dec. 19th), to act on approving a Resolution “Providing initial authorization of AGREEMENT FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT with Elite Octane, LLC.

Last Wednesday, the Board approved a Resolution expressing intent to provide economic development support for the Elite Octane, LLC ethanol plant development project. The Company has requested that the County provide financial support to help to defray the costs of the Project, through a series of incremental property tax payments to be derived from the Property for a period of 15-years. The Company has also requested that the County undertake the planning, design and construction of certain road and grey water sewer system improvements necessary for the development of the Project.

A Development Agreement would indicate the County intends to support the Company in the undertaking of the Project, and making provisions for the funding of the Payments, as well as other statutory processes, including authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Bonds in order to pay the costs of constructing the Public Improvements Project.

The other Cass County Board of Supervisor’s meeting will be held Wednesday morning at 8:30-a.m. The agenda for that meeting has not yet been made available.

DES MOINES – Senator Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, has been named the chair for the Labor and Business Relations Committee for the 87th General Assembly. “I am very humbled to have been asked to chair this committee and consider legislation so important to my constituents and the people of Iowa,” Senator Schultz said. “I look forward to working with my fellow committee members on policy to move this state forward and make Iowa a better place to live and work.”

The Labor and Business Relations committee considers legislation related to small businesses, regulatory issues, business interests and labor concerns. Additionally, Senator Schultz was named to the Judiciary, State Government, and Ways and Means Committees. Senator Schultz is also a member of the Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

A man from Carroll County was injured Friday afternoon during a collision between a car and a semi in northern Iowa’s Hardin County. The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of a 2005 Honda Accord, 18-year old Trevor Samuel Caltrider, of Carroll, was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Iowa Falls. Authorities say his westbound car went out of control on Highway 20 at around 2:30-p.m., crossed the median, and collided with the rear dual wheels of an eastbound 2014 UPS International Semi. The impact caused the real duals to be torn from the semi.

The 42-year old driver of the semi, a man from Waterloo, was not injured.

Officials with SWIPCO say the city of Lewis is still seeking pre-applications from homeowners interested in participating in the Community Development Block Grant home rehabilitation program. The city, with the assistance of Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), is submitting an application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in January for the housing CDBG program.

If awarded, the program will provide funding to income qualified owner occupied homes within the target area.  The homes will be brought up to the Iowa Minimum Housing Rehabilitation Standards, which may include items such as furnaces, water heaters, windows, doors, roofing, siding, foundation, etc. up to $24,999 with an additional amount available for lead abatement.

All pre-applications are due by Wednesday December 28.  If the city is awarded the CDBG grant, all pre-applicants will be contacted to complete a full application.  If you are interested in pre-applying please contact city hall at 769-2216 or SWIPCO at 866-279-4720 for the application.

Southwest Iowa Planning Council is the council of government serving the eight counties of southwest Iowa with public transit, housing rehabilitation, and community and economic development.  SWIPCO is an equal opportunity employer, provider, and lender.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A retired Catholic priest in western Iowa has been found guilty of five misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy over an incident at a high school track meet in April. The Daily Nonpareil says the Rev. Paul Monahan was found guilty Friday by an associate judge in Council Bluffs. In the Friday ruling, the judge said he found credible the testimony of five male high school students who said Monahan repeatedly entered the high school restroom and looked at their genitals at an open urinal.

The 83-year-old Monahan was suspended in July after the Diocese of Des Moines learned of the investigation. Monahan faces up to two year in prison on each count when he’s sentenced on Jan. 18.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — A Mills County jury has found an Ohio man guilty of fatally shooting an 18-year-old woman in western Iowa. Prosecutors say it took the jury a little more than two hours Friday to convict 27-year-old Mark Troutman, of Sylvania, Ohio, with first-degree murder in the slaying of Kathryn Weber. She was found bleeding outside her Glenwood workplace on Sept. 17 and died at the scene.

Troutman was arrested at a Glenwood motel that night. Authorities say Troutman was Weber’s ex-boyfriend and that he shot her because he was distraught over their breakup. Troutman’s defense attorney, Eric Nelson, had argued that Troutman intended to commit suicide in front of Weber, and hadn’t planned to harm her.

Troutman faces life in prison when he’s sentenced Feb. 13.