A man from Montgomery County was nominated Saturday, as the Democratic candidate in a special election to fill the Iowa Senate District 12 seat vacated by Joni Ernst. District 12 includes Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold and Taylor Counties. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, resigned her office on Nov. 28, following her election Nov. 4 to the United States Senate. Steve Adams, of Red Oak, was selected during the Democratic convention at the Lied Public Library in Clarinda. The Omaha World-Herald reports Adams was chosen over Glenwood City Council member Craig Florian.

Adams is employed by the Iowa State University Extension Service in the community and economic development unit. He is involved in work to create and expand small business operations and participates in projects implemented by strategic planning and facilitation groups. If elected to the Iowa General Assembly, he said, his focus would be on economic development.

Adams has served as legislative co-chair of the Southwest Iowa Coalition for the past 16 years and has been on the group’s board for more than 20 years. In 2004 he ran unsuccessfully against Republican Cecil Dolecheck of Mount Ayr for a seat in the Iowa House.

State Rep. Mark Costello of Imogene is the Republican candidate in the Dec. 30th election. Costello was selected at the GOP convention, on Thursday. Don Brantz of Glenwood reportedly is planning to enter the race as a Libertarian candidate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Fine arts advocates in Iowa are renewing an effort to get music, drama and art included in state education standards. The Iowa Alliance for Arts Education will lobby lawmakers again next year to amend the Iowa Core to add the fine arts. Leon Kuehner, the group’s executive director, says a similar attempt failed in 2014, but he and others hope they will have more luck this time.

State law dictates that schools teach the arts, but the fine arts are not listed in the Iowa Core, which was established in schools statewide in 2008 after approval from the Legislature and the governor. Democrats who control the Iowa Senate have been supportive of this effort, but it is not clear there is interest in the Republican-dominated House.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters say no one was injured in a blaze inside a Des Moines apartment. KCCI reports fire crews quickly put out the fire that occurred Friday afternoon at the Wakonda West Apartments, just north of the Des Moines Airport. A fire department spokesman says it’s unknown yet how many people will be displaced by the fire.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Those wanting to enjoy some sledding in Dubuque this winter might soon find their options limited. The Telegraph Herald reports that the Dubuque City Council will consider Monday an ordinance restricting sledding on public property to two city parks. If adopted, sledding would only be allowed at Allison-Henderson Park and Bunker Hill Golf Course.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines officials have taken charge of more than 30 wild animals — including black bears and wolves — that had been on display at a now-closed “mall zoo.” The Des Moines Register reports that Polk County deputies evicted Pella Wildlife Company and its owner, Ron DeArmond, from Merle Hay Mall this week. The organization had operated the Academy of Wildlife at the mall until closing its doors in October.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State defensive lineman Devlyn Cousin has been suspended indefinitely from the team after being arrested and charged with simple domestic assault. The Des Moines Register says a police report shows Cousin was arrested late Friday night on charges of domestic assault and obstruction of emergency communication.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – A 45-year-old western Iowa woman has been sentenced for a crash that killed her uncle. The Sioux City Journal reports that Judith Krohn, of Mapleton, was placed on probation Friday after pleading guilty in Monona County District Court to one count of vehicular homicide. District Judge Jeffrey Poulson suspended a 10-year prison sentence and placed Krohn on probation for two years. She also must pay a $1,000 fine.

Krohn had initially pleaded not guilty to a more stringent vehicular homicide charge that carries a 25-year prison sentence. Prosecutors say Krohn was drunk on April 20, 2013, when the pickup she was driving missed a curve and rolled into a ditch. Her uncle, 59-year-old Albert Butler of Mapleton, was partially ejected from the truck and died from his injuries.