Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:15 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The board that oversees Iowa’s three public universities has responded to an inquiry from some state lawmakers about the search for a new president at the University of Northern Iowa. Katie Mulholland, president pro tem of the Iowa Board of Regents, sent a letter Tuesday addressing Sens. Rob Hogg, Jeff Danielson and Brian Schoenjahn. The letter details the timeline for hiring a president to formally replace Bill Ruud at the Cedar Falls school.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As work progresses on an oil pipeline crossing Iowa opponents are holding protest rallies and taking the state utilities regulators to court in hopes of stopping construction. A hearing is scheduled for Friday in Des Moines on a motion to stay construction on several parcels of land.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An arbitrator has been suspended for an error-filled ruling that upheld the firing of a judge who testified against Gov. Terry Branstad’s administration. The Iowa Public Employment Relations Board says John L. Sandy will be suspended for six months. The discipline stems from Sandy’s ruling upholding the firing of Administrative Law Judge Susan Ackerman.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge is ordering protesters in North Dakota not to interfere with the construction of a $3.8 billion, four-state oil pipeline. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland granted the developer’s motion for a temporary restraining order Tuesday. The pipeline would go from North Dakota across South Dakota and Iowa to Illinois.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports officers with the Shenandoah Police Department stopped a vehicle near the intersection of Highway 59 and Airport Road Monday, for an equipment violation, and ended-up arresting the driver of the vehicle, 41-year old Christie Larson, of Lenox, on several drug, and other charges.

During the investigation, deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit deployed a narcotics K9 on the vehicle and discovered methamphetamine and marijuana inside the vehicle.

Christie Larson

Larson was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver/Methamphetamine, Driving Under Suspension, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, and Child Endangerment.

She was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $53,735 bond.

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in identifying the suspect involved a robbery Tuesday evening. Authorities say Darrah’s gas and service station at 3607 9th Avenue, was robbed at around 5:50-p.m. by a stocky black male, about 6-feet tall, in his late teens to early 30’s. The man had a black mask covering his face, and wore a gray hooded sweatshirt with dark pants.

The suspect fled the area in a red Chevy Impala parked south of the gas station, prior to officer’s arrival.

Darrah’s robbery suspecy

Another suspect was waiting in the vehicle. The second suspect was described as being a black male in his late teen to early twenties with a medium build.

The cashier on duty at the time stated that the main suspect entered the business with his hood up and stood in line with several other patrons before walking back to the beer cooler. The suspect then returned to the register and pointed a black semi auto pistol at the cashier and demanded all the monies in the cash drawer.

The suspect fled the business with an undetermined amount of monies as well as several cans of alcoholic beverages.  At this time the Criminal Investigation Division is continuing their investigation into this incident. Anyone having any information concerning this robbery should contact the Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4728 or at Crime Stoppers (712-328-7867.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old who pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in a Neola crash has been has been ordered to carry a photo of the boy who was killed. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Kael Karagianis was sentenced Monday to five years of probation after receiving a deferred judgment. Under a deferred judgment, the conviction can be wiped from Karagianis’ record if he successfully completes the terms of his probation.

Those terms include carrying a photo of 14-year-old Gage Williams, who died March 21. Authorities say Williams and another teen were sitting in the truck bed when Karagianis lost control of the truck as he intentionally swerved and hit the brakes.

The terms also include community service and making two presentations a year on the dangers of reckless driving.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Transportation officials say there has been a spike in traffic fatalities in Iowa this year.

Data from the Iowa Department of Transportation show at least 238 traffic fatalities recorded in the state between the start of the year and the middle of August. There were 182 traffic fatalities during the same period last year.

Steve Gent, the department’s director of traffic and safety, says there’s been an increase in fatalities nearly every month of 2016. There’s no specific reason for the jump, though Gent notes more people are driving Iowa roads in part because the price of gasoline has decreased in recent years.

There have been roughly 320 traffic fatalities every year in Iowa between 2013 and 2015. Gent says the department expects this year’s final tally to top that.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has been named to an agricultural advisory committee that will advise GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The Trump campaign announced Tuesday that Branstad is part of a 64-member committee that will provide advice on the agricultural industry. It includes several governors and state lawmakers from around the country.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Bruce Rastetter, president of the board that oversees Iowa’s three public universities, are also on the committee.

Media reports last week listed Branstad as a Trump adviser, and Branstad spokesman Ben Hammes reiterated that the position is unofficial and the Trump campaign isn’t paying the Republican governor.

Hammes says the committee will meet via phone, though Trump may also communicate one-on-one with Branstad, who has joined Trump at Iowa campaign stops.