(Radio Iowa) — Two long-time Iowa political foes will face off today (Friday) in a Des Moines courtroom. Former Governor Terry Branstad has flown back from his post as U.S. Ambassador to China and will be on the witness stand today. He’ll be questioned by Roxanne Conlin, the Des Moines attorney Branstad defeated in 1984 to win his first term as governor. Conlin is representing a state administrator who accuses Branstad of pressuring him to resign because he was gay. Branstad has denied the charge.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Time’s running out for Nebraska and Iowa homeowners, renters and business owners to apply for federal help to recover from this spring’s flooding. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Wednesday’s the Nebraska deadline for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Iowa deadline is July 1.

FEMA aid can cover home repairs and renovations, rental assistance, the replacement of ruined belongings and other disaster-related costs not covered by insurance. The grants do not have to be repaid. They average between $3,000 and $5,000 per household nationally. FEMA spokeswoman Deanna Frazier says that number has been higher so far in Iowa: about $11,000 per household. Frazier also says homeowners can’t expect the aid to cover all the costs of renovating or rebuilding. She says FEMA is “not designed to make you whole again.”

More than 2,300 Iowa families have applied for assistance so far, and FEMA has approved $13.4 million in payments. At least 3,000 applications have been submitted so far in Nebraska, with $22.9 million in payments approved. Some Nebraska entities have until Thursday to apply for FEMA’s public assistance aid, which reimburses cities, counties, schools, tribal governments and some nonprofits for at least 75% of costs associated with debris removal and building and infrastructure damage.

Wednesday also is the deadline to apply for loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Those loans have to be paid back, with interest. Frazier is encouraging people to apply for help. “This is not a handout,” she said. “This is your tax dollars at work.” To apply for aid, go online at DisasterAssistance.gov, call 800-621-3362 or download the FEMA app and click on “disaster resources” then “apply for assistance online.”

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has pleaded guilty to robbing a bank in northwest Iowa. Records say 33-year-old Phillip White entered the plea Thursday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. Prosecutors say White robbed Iowa State Bank in Le Mars on Dec. 12 and was driven away in a U-Haul van by Karen Merrick, also of Sioux City. Officers managed to flatten the van’s tires and arrest the pair. Merrick’s trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 5 in Sioux City.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A man charged with first-degree murder has taken a plea deal in the shooting of an 18-year-old woman in Cedar Rapids. Linn County District Court records say 20-year-old Kyler Junkins pleaded not guilty Thursday to second-degree murder. His plea agreement calls for a sentence of 50 years in prison. He also agreed to pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate or heirs of AnnaElise Edgeton.

Junkins and three other people were arrested after the Jan. 13, 2018, break-in slaying of Edgeton at her apartment.