Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Senate candidate Mark Jacobs says he raised $400,000 from donors last year, but the former energy executive won’t reveal if he has put his own cash into his campaign account. Jacobs, an Iowa native, formerly served as chief executive officer of Texas-based Reliant Energy. He has great personal wealth but hasn’t disclosed whether he plans to spend his own money on his campaign.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an Iowa inmate has died while in hospice care. Fred Scaletta with the Department of Corrections says 62-year-old Steven Daniels died yesterday at the hospice unit of the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville. Scaletta says Daniels died of natural causes due to liver failure.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A new sentencing hearing has been ordered for a Charles City teenager convicted of killing his 3-year-old cousin. The Waterloo-Cedar Fall Courier reports the Iowa Court of Appeals issued the ruling yesterday for Edgar Concepcion Junior. His convictions, including for first-degree murder, were upheld, but his life sentences were overturned and sent to district court for resentencing.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport has approved a program that will let residents use a property tax rebate to help save for college. The Quad-City Times reports the Davenport City Council voted on Wednesday in support of the College Cornerstone program, which will be an addition to the Davenport Now property tax rebate program.

A Shelby County resident who lived the farmer’s dream is now bequeathing most of it to local churches. Edwin “Bud” Skalla of rural Portsmouth, passed away on November 26th, 2013 at the age of 92 years old. During his lifetime, Skalla accumulated over $2 million in cash assets and 1,100 acres of land in Harrison and Shelby Counties. In a press conference Thursday, Ray Chipman, conservator for the Skalla estate, said most of the land and cash assets will be divided between thirteen catholic churches in southwest Iowa. In addressing the media, Chipman said Skalla was a quiet and frugal man.

“During his lifetime he wouldn’t have bought you a cup of coffee that cost five cents. But now in his passing, I think we can say 98 percent of his estate will be given to catholic churches in southwest Iowa. Portsmouth in particular will inherit a farm which was appraised at almost $3 million. That is an out right gift to Portsmouth.”

Chipman says the 292 acre farm going to St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Portsmouth is one of six parcels of land Skalla owned southeast of Portsmouth. The other 858 acres will be auctioned. “In addition to the farm given to Portsmouth, the residual of his estate, and we don’t know what that is going to be because we have 858 acres and we don’t know what that will bring per acre, but depending on what that brings added to $2.5 million in cash assets that he has, that total will be distributed to 13 catholic churches in southwest Iowa.”

Those churches benefiting in Shelby County are St. Michael’s in Harlan, St. Peter’s in Defiance, St. Joseph’s in Earling, and St. Boniface in Westphalia, St. Mary’s in Portsmouth and St. Mary’s in Panama. In Harrison County, St. Patrick’s Church in Missouri Valley, St. Anne’s Church in Logan, St. Patrick’s in Dunlap and Sacred Heart in Woodbine. In addition, St. Patrick’s in Neola, St. Rose of Lima in Denison and St. Patrick’s in Council Bluffs are also beneficiaries. Skalla didn’t come from a wealthy family and built most of his assets in investments. Skalla was never married and didn’t have any children. His living relatives are two sisters Sylvia Kepford of California, Roseann Brummer of Logan and sister in law Vi Skalla. Father John Dorton of the St. Mary’s of Portsmouth and other churches spoke highly of Skalla and called him a loyal, hard worker who loved the community and church. Dorton then read a letter written by Reverend Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines,

“The Catholic communities of Shelby and Harrison Counties as well as the Diocese of Des Moines are enormously grateful to Edwin “Bud” Skalla for his extraordinarily generous remembrance of the parishes in his will. Bud was engaged in the most noble of professions, farming. Through his dedicated work, he provided nourishment for the human body which fortified countless thousands. Now, in death, through his legacy he will enrich the human spirit through faith and spiritual development.”

When asked how he felt when he heard what the Portsmouth parish was going to receive, Dorton replied with one word:  “Wow!” Skalla spent all but thirteen years of his life on his farm southeast of Portsmouth before moving to Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan. The auction for the land will be held in Portsmouth on February 15th at St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Portsmouth.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials behind the Iowa State Fair say they’re scrapping plans to eliminate cash sales at food vendors and other attractions, following a heavy public backlash. The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa State Fair Board canceled plans for the cashless payment system at a meeting Thursday.

Fair officials announced Tuesday that they would sell 50-cent tickets online and at multiple locations at the fairgrounds for food and other rides. They said the new system would be more secure and speed up food purchases. In response, some fairgoers said the hassle of lines and other confusion would keep them at home.

Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement they were pleased with the board’s decision. Reynolds also serves on the board.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt announced today (Thursday), that the Southern District of Iowa collected more than $5.6-million in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2013. Of that amount, nearly $4.1-million was collected in criminal actions and slightly more than $1.5-million was collected in civil actions. In addition, the Southern District of Iowa worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $4.1-million in civil cases pursued jointly with those offices.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Justice Department collected approximately $8.1 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30th, 2013. The more than $8 billion in collections in FY 2013 represents nearly three times the appropriated $2.76 billion budget for the 94 U.S. Attorney’s offices and the main litigating divisions in that same period.

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in the Southern District of Iowa, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected more than $2.3-million in administrative and judicial asset forfeiture actions in FY 2013. Forfeited assets are deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund and are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. $862,737 in forfeited assets was returned to victims during FY 2013, and $543,406 was equitably shared with state and local law enforcement agencies.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Dept. reports two recent arrests. This (Thursday) morning, 35-year old Joshua Robert Saunders (No town given), was arrested for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Barred order. He was taken into custody near the intersection of Highway 34 and 195th Street at around 3-a.m.  Bond was set at $2,000.

Wednesday afternoon, 33-year old Angela Danielle Neil, of Malvern, was arrested in Glenwood, for Violation of a Protection Order. Her bond was set at $300.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Republican Secretary of State Matt Schultz is running for U.S. Rep. Tom Latham’s House seat in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. Schultz announced his campaign Thursday in Council Bluffs where he used to serve on the City Council.

Since he was elected secretary of state in 2010, Schultz has pushed for a state voter ID law and focused on combatting voter fraud. He recently came under scrutiny over whether his use of federal money for voter-fraud investigations is proper. Schultz is expected to be a formidable candidate for the seat that Latham unexpectedly decided to vacate at the end of his 10th term.

Last week, Republican David Young abandoned a U.S. Senate campaign to run for Latham’s seat. Democratic former state Sen. Staci Appel, of Ackworth, announced her candidacy last year.

In an effort to promote fishing, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Council Bluffs Parks and Recreation Department will host a youth fishing event this weekend, at Big Lake. The lake is located at 2600 North 8^th Street, in Council Bluffs, and will take place on Saturday, January 11^th, from 9am to 1pm.

A raffle drawing will be held to award prizes to young anglers 16 years of age or younger in attendance. The DNR plans to stock Big Lake with 1,000 rainbow trout on Friday at around 4-pm, to ensure the youth anglers get plenty of bites and action on the lake Saturday. Iowa DNR Fisheries Biologist Brian Hayes said, “The trout stocking Council Bluffs provides a unique opportunity for people looking for an outdoor activity.” Stocking trout in urban areas like Council Bluffs brings fishing close to home for a lot of people and provides an opportunity to involve kids in fishing.

Registration for the youth fishing event will from 9- to 10-a..m., Saturday. Kids under 16 fishing with a properly licensed adult, do not need a trout fee to fish for or possess trout, but the daily limit together is five trout. A fishing license and trout fee can be obtained at any local hunting and fishing license sales agent or your county recorders’ office.

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean your children can’t have fun at camp. The Cass County Conservation Board and Cass County Extension Service is offering kids and opportunity to do on a non-school-day, by registering them for “Penguin Day Camp.”  The Penguin Camp is for children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade and will be held on Monday, January 20th, at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic.

Youth may register for either the 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon or 1:00 PM – 4 PM Activities include: Penguin Crafts – Learn about penguins and make a fact book; Taking an outdoor adventure by going on a winter hike and coloring in the snow;  Enjoying a live bird presentation by the Blank Park Zoo, and Participation in games & activities about penguins.

The camps will be offered free of charge, with pre-registration required. A snack will be provided. Parents should remember to dress your children to go outdoors for fun and a winter hike. Registration deadline for Penguin Camp is January 15th. Call the Cass County Extension office at 243-1132 or email xcass@iastate.edu to register your children. No registrations will be accepted after the registration deadline.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will receive additional requests for Fiscal Year 2015 funding during a Special Session that begins at 8:45-a.m., Friday. The Board will first hear a recommendation from the Compensation Board with regard to compensation for elected officials, and consider FY 2015 hourly wage increases for full- and part-time employees.

Beginning at 9-a.m., the Supervisors will hear FY 2015 funding requests from: The Southern Iowa Council of Governments (or, SICOG); The Connections Area Agency on Aging; DHS; Recorder’s Dept.; the Adair County Fair Board and Historical Society, and from the MATURA Community Action Agency.

The meeting will adjourn following a Budget Work Session.

Farmers and those associated with agriculture are invited to attend a “Farmer’s Coffee” in Guthrie Center, on Thursday, January 30th. The event will be held at the Guthrie County Extension office, beginning, at 9-a.m.

You’re invited to come and network with other individuals and learn more about current ag issues, as well as catch up on the latest ag news with ISU Farm and Ag Management Field Specialist Shane Ellis, who will be talking about the future outlook for livestock, crops and also land prices.

Coffee and refreshments will be served. The event is sponsored by the Guthrie County State Bank.