Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:00 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man who thought he was meeting a 15-year-old girl at an Iowa motel for sex has been sentenced to three years in prison. The Des Moines Register reports a federal judge sentenced John Daniel Nielsen for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The 40-year-old Omaha, Nebraska, man was swept up in a law enforcement operation targeting sex-trafficking after exchanging text messages with an undercover officer posing as the teen. Nielsen arranged a Feb. 15 meeting at a Council Bluffs, Iowa, motel and agreed to pay for the sex. He was arrested when he arrived at the motel room.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — In Iowa, where nearly 17,000 residents work in the health insurance industry, candidates are facing questions about how their health care plans could affect jobs in the state. Des Moines is home to Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s health insurance headquarters. Some candidates have already faced questions about the issue on the campaign trail. This week, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg went on the offensive. Referencing Sen. Bernie Sanders’ and Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s “Medicare for All” plans, he argued that some candidates’ health care plans would “eliminate the job of every single American working at every single insurance company in the country.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The director of the Iowa Department of Transportation has announced his resignation after the governor asked him to step down. The Des Moines Register reports Mark Lowe will leave his position effective Jan. 10. Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office confirmed that she requested the resignation. The governor’s office says Reynolds appreciates his years of service and has decided to seek a change in leadership as she continues to build her administration. Reynolds appointed him director in 2017.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — One of the world’s largest banks will reap a windfall from the University of Iowa’s multi-billion-dollar plan to outsource its utility operations before students or faculty see any benefit from the deal. Wells Fargo is expected to get nearly 1% of the nearly $1.2 billion payment that the university has negotiated for leasing its utility system to a private operator. A university spokeswoman estimates Wells Fargo will receive about $10.45 million. The university hired the bank as its strategic advisor on the transaction. The Iowa Board of Regents on Tuesday awarded a 50-year contract to a private company to operate its steam, cooling, water, and electricity infrastructure.

Officials with the Joe Biden for President campaign said today (Saturday), that on Saturday, December 21 to Sunday, December 22, Joe Biden will travel to Iowa, with stops planned for Atlantic and Creston. He also will be in Ottumwa and Perry that weekend.

Biden will lay out his vision for America and listen to voters’ concerns and ideas around restoring the soul of the nation, rebuilding the middle class, and unifying the country.

His tentative schedule is as follows:

Saturday, Dec. 21st: Creston Town Hall. (Site to be determined). Doors will open at 4:45-p.m. with the event at 5:15-p.m. Members of the public can RSVP here

Sunday, Dec. 22nd: Atlantic Town Hall. (Site TBD). Doors open at 1:30-p.m., with the event starting at 2-p.m.  RSVP here.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Nebraska man who thought he was meeting a 15-year-old girl at an Iowa motel for sex has been sentenced to three years in prison. The Des Moines Register reports a federal judge sentenced John Daniel Nielsen for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The 40-year-old Omaha, Nebraska, man was swept up in a law enforcement operation targeting sex-trafficking after exchanging text messages with an undercover officer posing as the teen. Nielsen arranged a Feb. 15 meeting at a Council Bluffs, Iowa, motel and agreed to pay for the sex. He was arrested when he arrived at the motel room.