COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – An April trial has been scheduled for a Council Bluffs woman accused of conspiring to steal from a Wal-Mart store. Jeri Atilano pleaded not guilty Tuesday to theft, conspiracy and ongoing criminal conduct. Her trial is set to begin April 5th. Prosecutors say Atilano worked with a Wal-Mart cashier, Keisha Kephart, in buying items that Kephart would mark down for Atilano. Kephart also would take coupons that were for other items. The bogus transactions cost Wal-Mart more than $4,000.

The Daily Nonpareil reports that Kephart pleaded guilty Monday after making a deal with prosecutors that includes her agreement to testify against Atilano. Kephart was sentenced to two years of probation.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man accused of impersonating a police officer and enticing young girls and inappropriately touching them has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The Sioux City Journal reports that 31-year-old Joey Alberts pleaded guilty Wednesday to enticing away a minor, indecent contact with a child and three counts of impersonating a public official.

According to court documents, Alberts was arrested in March 2014 after authorities say he approached girls in 2012 and 2013, telling them he was a police officer. Alberts was accused of inappropriately touching two 13-year-old girls on separate occasions, and trying to lure a 12-year-old and 13-year-old girl into his car in separate incidents.

Alberts must register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A U.S. magistrate from Sioux City has been approved to serve as a judge on one of Iowa’s federal courts. Senator Chuck Grassley announced Thursday that the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the nomination of Leonard Strand to serve as a U.S. district judge for the Northern District of Iowa.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A southeast Iowa jury has awarded seven former nursing students of Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant $75,000 each after the nursing program lost national accreditation just prior to their graduation in the spring of 2013. The students filed a lawsuit with several allegations including breach of contract and negligence. A Henry County jury returned the verdict on Wednesday.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The owners of a private northeast Iowa zoo must remove their tigers and lemurs after a federal judge ruled that they failed to provide appropriate living conditions for the endangered animals. In a ruling issued Thursday, Chief Magistrate Judge Jon Stuart ordered the owners of the roadside Cricket Hollow Zoo, near Manchester, to transfer the tigers and lemurs to U.S. Department of Agriculture-licensed facility within 90 days.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell scored 14 points and Troy Williams added 13 and Indiana rallied to upset Number 4 Iowa 85-78 on Thursday night after blowing a big lead. Jarrod Uthoff led the Hawkeyes with 24 points, and Mike Gesell had 17. Iowa lost for the first time in four games.