Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque Community School District administrators want to expand the district interpreter program to keep up with the growing demand. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports the number of students in the district with limited English proficiency has increased by 170 percent over the past 10 years. Students in the English language learners program speak more than 20 different languages, including Tagalog, Russian, Arabic and Marshallese.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Two former Iowa National Guardsmen have been honored for valorous conduct while serving in Afghanistan. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports former Sergeant Justin Schmitt of Nashua, and former Specialist Brian Swedberg, formerly of Prairie City, were awarded Army Commendation Medals for valor on Wednesday at the National Guard Readiness Center in Waterloo.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo church has surprised firefighters and police officers with holiday treats, including hundreds of homemade cookies. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that members of Our Savior Lutheran Church’s youth and evangelism boards spent three days this week baking 904 cookies, 820 pretzels, 166 miniature popcorn balls and 20 pounds of fudge. The groups delivered the goodies Thursday to each Waterloo fire station and the police station.

HONOLULU (AP) — Chase Fischer scored 26 points to lead BYU to an 84-76 win over Northern Iowa in the fifth-place game of the Diamond Head Classic Friday. Matt Bohannon scored 21 points and Jeremy Morgan had 19 to lead the Panthers in Honolulu.

Red Oak Police report a multi-agency operation conducted Christmas morning in Clarinda resulted in the arrest of six people on drug charges. Red Oak Police, Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and officers with the Clarinda Police Department converged on a residence at 515 S. 10th Street, Lot 26, in Clarinda.

A search warrant executed at the home resulted in the arrest of the following individuals:

• 20-year old Jeffery Whitt, of Clarinda, who faces charges that include: Possession with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Drug Tax Stamp Violation and Gathering where illegal substances are used.
• 25-year old Charles Mace, Jr., of Clarinda, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Gathering where illegal substances are used.
• And, 33-year old Jonathon Wasson, of Villisca; 22-year old Skye James, of Clarinda; 21-year old Starla Holmes, of Clarinda, and 18-year old Jason Sarabia, Jr. of Red Oak, were all charged with Gathering where illegal substances are used.

Each of those subjects were transported to the Page County Jail and held pending an appearance in front of the magistrate.