(Radio Iowa) — More than 15-hundred Iowans have signed a petition urging Governor Kim Reynold to sign a bill that expands the state’s medical marijuana program. Paul Nye of Ankeny was part of the group that delivered the petitions to the governor’s office Thursday.

“We want to send the message that Iowans are ready,” Nye says. “They’re a progressive state. We’re a healthy state and this is a healthy alternative to some of the painkillers out there.” Nye says he used opioids for more than a decade, but for the past six months cannabis products are helping him deal with his chronic back pain.

“I think it’s a lifesaver,” Nye says. “I think that many Iowans stand to benefit from the use of this medicine and an arbitrary cap doesn’t make a lot of sense.” The legislation changes the measurement of the chemical T-H-C that’s allowed in cannabis products sold in five state-licensed locations. Under current law, the chemical component credited with causing the “high” associated with smoking marijuana is limited to three percent in the oils, creams and pills being sold in Iowa.

The bill sets the limit in grams over a 90 day period and could let more potent products be sold in Iowa. Several lawmakers who voted for the bill have since called on Governor Reynolds to veto it because the state medical marijuana advisory board did not recommend the change.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:25 a.m. CDT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The Quad Cities River Bandits will play at home this Friday for the first time in weeks. The minor league team plays home games at Modern Woodmen Park, which is located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Davenport. But massive flooding this spring has left the home ballpark inaccessible. That’s forced the River Bandits to play 40 of their first 43 games on the road.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Days after Des Moines community leaders urged federal officials to reconsider plans for a $136.6 million federal courthouse along the downtown riverfront, an agency has released more details about the building. The U.S. General Services Administration on Thursday released a design concept for the new courthouse planned for a block in the heart of downtown. The agency says more than $10 million has been spent on the project and construction is scheduled to begin in the fall.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials at a zoo in Des Moines say one of its elderly giraffes has been euthanized after suffering deteriorating health. The Blank Park Zoo said in a news release Thursday that 21-year-old Zuri was euthanized. The female giraffe was born in captivity at Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City, Kansas, in August 1997. In May 1998, she was moved to Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 38-year old April Marie Watson was arrested Thursday. Watson was taken into custody on two active Montgomery County warrants for Violation of Probation. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

(Radio Iowa) — The U-S Ag Secretary announced another round of aid to help farmers deal with the trade and tariff issues. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says the aid will be welcome. “It will be helpful obviously for those farmers who have suffered as we go through these trade negotiations — but what I still hear from farmers in Iowa is that they would rather see trade not aid, and I believe in that too. I think we need to continue working on these trade deals,” Ernst says.

She says they can’t ease up on the push for getting the trade deals done. “While we do appreciated the federal government stepping up and finding a way to support the farmers, we have to remember that we have to continue pushing to not only open up new markets, but to resecure the markets we’ve had in the past, like China,” according to Ernst.

Ernst says they need to keep pressuring the Speaker of the House to the trade deal with Canada and Mexico passed. “It does have to go through their Ways and Means Committee first before it comes to the floor,” Ernst says. “In the Senate, I see absolutely no problem getting U-S-M-C-A done.” Ernst made her comments on a conference call with reporters.

(Radio Iowa) — Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that makes changes in how cities and counties set budgets and raise PROPERTY taxes. The bill was a priority for Republican House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake.

“Just making sure that the community has a good voice and they aren’t surprised when their taxes go up,” Upmeyer told Radio Iowa. A two-thirds majority on a city council and county board of supervisors will have to approve any increase in property tax REVENUE of more than two percent. Upmeyer says another public hearing must be held if local government officials plan to increase property taxes.

“So if, in fact, you’re raising taxes and you’re going to spend more money, if I’m a county supervisor, I should just let the public know: ‘We need more money for X, Y and Z and this is where we’re going to spend it,'” Upmeyer said. Republican lawmakers said during debate of the bill that it may make local leaders think twice about raising property taxes.

Critics like Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh, a Republican, say the “heavy hand of state government” is placing unnecessary limits on growing cities. “I’m elected by the people of my community to do a job and when somebody who doesn’t have that perspective starts to tell me how to do the job and I don’t know that they’ve got the expertise that I do, it bothers me greatly,” Walsh says. Walsh made his comments last month on Iowa Public Television.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — One of two people charged in the slaying of a Des Moines man has been convicted of murder. Jasper County court records say 25-year-old Jaycie Sheeder, of Coon Rapids, also was found guilty Tuesday of robbery and being an accessory after the fact to murder.

Prosecutors say Sheeder helped 50-year-old Jeffrey Stendrup, of Clive, find and assault 36-year-old Jeremy McDowell. McDowell was found dead June 22 in Newton in the back of a vehicle Sheeder had been driving. Authorities say Sheeder kept silent about Stendrup’s involvement in the attack and never tried to stop it.

Sheeder’s sentencing is set for July 1st. Authorities think Stendrup suspected McDowell of stealing items from him and beat McDowell with a baseball bat in an effort to get the items back. Stendrup has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other crimes. He’s scheduled to begin trial Oct. 23.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials at a zoo in Des Moines say one of its elderly giraffes has been euthanized after suffering deteriorating health. The Blank Park Zoo said in a news release Thursday that 21-year-old Zuri was euthanized. The female giraffe was born in captivity at Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City, Kansas, in August 1997. In May 1998, she was moved to Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.

Television station KCCI reports that veterinarians and keepers at the zoo had been successfully treating some of Zuri’s conditions for years with laser and stem cell therapy and a special shoe she wore. According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a female giraffe has a median life expectancy of about 19 years.

Four other giraffes remain at the zoo.