OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A report says a business conditions index for nine Midwest and Plains states slipped over the past month but still pointed to continuing improvement in regional economic conditions. The report released Thursday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped to 57.3 in January from 59.0 in December. The November figure was 57.2. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says manufacturing and other business sectors in the region are adding jobs at a solid pace.

Iowa’s overall index climbed to 58.0 from 54.3 in December. Components were new orders at 67.4, production or sales at 67.8 delivery lead time at 42.2, employment at 51.3 and inventories at 61.1. Both durable- and non-durable goods manufacturing are experiencing growth well above that of the region and the nation. Goss said he expects this growth advantage to continue for the next three to six months..

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:38 a.m. CST

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa county has agreed to pay $285,000 to an Arizona man who was arrested, transported across the country and jailed for 68 days for a crime that he didn’t commit. The payment will resolve a federal lawsuit that 23-year-old Joseph McBride filed this month against Linn County and its longtime top prosecutor, County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden. McBride was wrongly accused of participating in a 2017 home invasion in Cedar Rapids, his former hometown.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa has announced plans to remove casino mogul Steve Wynn’s name from the school’s Institute for Vision Research in light of sexual misconduct allegations against Wynn. The university announced the move Wednesday in a news release. The university named the institute for Wynn in 2013 following his $25 million donation to the school to support blindness research.

FLOYD, Iowa (AP) — Officials in northeastern Iowa have released the names of all officers and deputies at the scene of the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man, but have refused to say which officers fired their guns. Bremer County Attorney Kasey Wadding told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that he was “not ready to disclose” which officers fired their guns or which ones delivered the fatal shot. Officials say 29-year-old Jihad Merrick died after being shot Jan. 17 on Highway 218.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Preliminary data on the first three months of a new state-funded family planning program in Iowa shows it had a nearly 50 percent drop in enrollment since it switched to a system that excludes abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. The information in a 20-page state report shows an initial reduction in health care providers participating in the program and a decline in services being accessed during that time. The AP received the report as part of a records request.

A three-member panel in the state senate is delaying a decision on a bill that would do away with handwritten prescriptions on paper and require that all prescriptions be submitted to pharmacies electronically. Senator Tom Greene, a Republican from Burlington who is a retired pharmacist, says the bill would help curb the abuse of opioids and other controlled substances.  “I’ve so blatantly had people hand me a handwritten prescription the doctor wrote for 10 sleeping pills basically and they changed the one to a four,” Greene says. “Easy change.”

The Board of Pharmacy has suggested all prescriptions be made electronically by July of 2019. Lobbyists for the medical community say 17 months might not be enough time for providers, especially in rural areas, to get the proper software in place. Greene and other senators may try to advance the bill, but put in longer lag time before it takes effect.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Sioux City Construction Office reports bridge demolition work on the Interstate 29 bridge over Floyd Boulevard in Sioux City will require closing Floyd Boulevard beginning 6 p.m. Friday, February 2, until 6 a.m. Monday, February 5, weather permitting.

Work will be performed 24 hours a day to minimize the length of this closure. Floyd Boulevard traffic will be asked to follow a detour route during this project. (See map for more information about the detour routes for this project. Click on image to enlarge) The trail along Floyd Boulevard will also be closed while the bridge work is being performed.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.

Cass County Treasurer, Tracey J Marshall, Wednesday, announced that she is seeking re-election. Marshall is currently serving her fourth term as Treasurer.

In a statement, she said “I find it rewarding to serve the residents of Cass County. I want to thank all of you for your support. It is my mission to provide the citizens of Cass County with convenient local services in a professional and courteous manner. I’m asking for your vote in the upcoming June 2018 election and your continued support in the future.”

Tracey J. Marshall

Her campaign said also, Marshall “Continues to streamline operations and improve government services. [Her] pride in Cass County reflects in her service through the Iowa State County Treasurers Association, Iowa State Association of Counties, National Association of Counties, and the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers, and Finance Officers, where she is currently the President Elect of the association. Tracey believes in being involved to better serve the communities in Cass County. ”

The campaign added, “Technology is ongoing and Tracey makes sure the Treasurer’s office is up to date and continues with ongoing training for the office. We are able to pay our taxes and motor vehicle renewals on-line (www.iowatreasurers.org). We accept credit and debit cards in the office for payments. The Treasurer’s office has implemented a major tax system update and a new DOT system since Tracey has been in office.”

The Treasurer’s Office is currently working on digitizing all of the Motor Vehicle records dating back to 1954.