Residents of some southwest Iowa counties will brave the bitterly cold wind and head to the polls today to participate in a special election to decide who will fill the Iowa Senate seat vacated by U-S Senator elect Joni Ernst. The polls opened today at 7-a.m. and will close at 9-p.m.  On the ballot for the District 12 seat is: Democrat Steve Adams; Libertarian Donald Brantz, and current Republican State Rep. Mark Costello. Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold and Taylor counties are included in the district.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Iowa City have arrested a man in connection to a homicide in Chicago. The Iowa City Police Department says 29-year-old Lorenzo Jones was taken to the Johnson County Jail on Monday. He will remain there pending extradition to Chicago to face an arrest warrant on a homicide charge.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Someone has stolen a baby Jesus figurine from a Dubuque church, but members of the congregation are hopeful images from a security camera will help them track down the thief. The Rev. Joseph Hauer says the figurine was stolen Friday night from a manger scene outside the Church of the Resurrection. Members of the congregation noticed it missing before Mass on Saturday afternoon. Hauer says the figurine cost about $250.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad says the governor’s outpatient treatment for a minor leg issue went as planned. A tweet posted from the governor’s official Twitter page says the routine procedure to treat varicose veins in his legs was successful. Spokesman Jimmy Centers says the governor is expected to need a week of rest and reduced time on his feet. Branstad will be available for calls and meetings and will return to his regular schedule on Jan. 6.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — A county courthouse in central Iowa was briefly evacuated after authorities say a bomb threat was called in. The Jasper County Courthouse in Newton was evacuated Monday. Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty says the county treasurer’s office received a threat by phone that a bomb would detonate inside the building at 10 a.m. A similar threat was left on an office voicemail earlier in the morning. Authorities checked the courthouse but found no suspicious devices. It was later reopened.

A woman from southern Iowa was injured when her SUV crashed Monday afternoon in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 30-year old Kendra Schultz, of Blakesburg, was transported to Alegent Hospital by Missouri Valley Rescue, after her 1999 Toyota 4 Runner slid-off the curve as it was merging from Interstate 29 southbound to I-680. The vehicle hit a light pole on the north side of the road and came to rest in the north ditch. The accident happened just after 2-p.m. Officials say Schultz was wearing her seat belt.

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a man suspected in a car jacking incident late Monday morning. Authorities says at around 11:30-a.m., officers were dispatched to Wal-Mart 3201 Manawa Center Drive in reference to a Car Jacking at that location. As the suspect, a transient identified as 31-year old Joey D. Guillory, fled the area in the stolen vehicle (a blue 2007 Pontiac G-6), he struck another vehicle in traffic in the 3800 Block of Metro Drive. At the intersection of Highway 92 & East Manawa Drive, the stolen car hit the back of a vehicle driven by Robert Shoemaker.

As Guillory continued Southbound on East Manawa Drive, he was followed by Shoemaker. Near the intersection of East Manawa Drive and Navajo Street Guillory lost control of the car, which spun out. Guillory then used the stolen car to intentionally ram into the front of Shoemaker’s vehicle. When the Pontiac became disabled, Guillory was taken into custody by officers, as the arrived on the scene.

During the investigation it was determined that Guillory was initially confronted by Wal-Mart Security who witnessed him attempting to steal a shopping cart full of merchandise from the business. When  confronted the man brandished a knife at the Security Officers and took off running through the parking lot, where he stole the car from his victim, at knife point.

Joey D. Guillory was arrested for 2 counts of Robbery 1st Degree and Aggravated Assault. The merchandise was recovered at the business and is valued at $830.