Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An effort to reopen the Iowa Juvenile home closed by Governor Terry Branstad in January has been rejected by the Iowa House. House Minority Leader Mark Smith, of Marshalltown on Thursday attempted to tack on a provision to the health and human services budget to reopen the facility in Toledo and revamp programming for delinquent girls. The amendment failed in a 48-to-51 vote.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A nonprofit group that supports low-income families who can’t afford to bury their children would receive state funds under a budget provision approved by the Iowa House. While debating the health and human services appropriation yesterday, lawmakers adopted an amendment to provide $100,000 to the organization Sing Me To Heaven.

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Titan Machinery says it is closing eight construction stores across the country, including two locations in Iowa. The company based in West Fargo, North Dakota on Thursday cited a slow recovery in construction sector among the reasons for the move, which will leave 128 people unemployed. The stores being closed in Iowa are located in Clear Lake and Oskaloosa.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – Officials in the southwest Iowa city of Glenwood are using buckets to catch sewage from a damaged main. The state Department of Natural Resources said in a news release yesterday that city officials recently discovered a corrosion hole in the sewer main while working on lines in the area.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal says he will sponsor a bill legalizing the sale of medical marijuana in Iowa, reviving an issue once thought dead this year. The persistent efforts of woman who have children with epilepsy changed lawmakers’ perceptions on the issue.

New policy measures cannot be raised late in the legislative session unless leaders in the House or Senate bring them up. Since Gronstal, a Democrat, will sponsor a bill its fate relies on Minority Leader Bill Dix, a Republican, to sign on too to move it forward. Dix says he will make that decision when a bill is presented to him.

Gov. Terry Branstad has talked recently with governors who have signed bills legalizing use of cannabis plant oil that isn’t smoked and doesn’t create a high.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s human resources agency has released a list of hundreds of former workers who are barred from returning to state employment.  Its release came days after its now-fired director repeatedly told lawmakers no such list existed.

A spreadsheet released by the Department of Administrative Services identifies 975 workers who’ve been disqualified from future employment because they were either fired or resigned before termination, dating to 1990. The majority are barred from any of the executive branch’s 42 agencies.

The department released the data to The Associated Press four days after its then-director Mike Carroll told lawmakers that “there is no list.” Gov. Terry Branstad fired Carroll on Tuesday. The AP reported last month that state government has continued the little-known practice of barring former workers despite questions about its legality.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill making it illegal for landowners to allow drinking by minors on their property has won the final approval of the Iowa Senate. The Senate voted 47-0 Thursday to send the legislation to Gov. Terry Branstad. The measure originally prohibited landowners from permitting anyone under 21 to drink. The Senate concurred with a House amendment that limits offenses to those who permit people younger than 18 to drink on their property. Lawmakers also agreed to pass a provision exempting landlords and other property managers who may be unaware of minors drinking.

Under the bill, first violations would carry a simple misdemeanor charge and a $200 fine.  Sen. Robert Hogg, a Cedar Rapids Democrat, says despite changes to the legislation, it makes progress in fighting underage drinking across the state.