Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) — A woman from Atlantic who tricked people into thinking her daughter had cancer is avoiding jail time. A judge has sentenced Leatha Slauson to five years of probation and ordered her to continue mental health treatment. Donations for Slauson’s five-year-old daughter poured in after she pulled the hoax on Facebook.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a previously convicted child sex offender has been arrested for violating his sex offender registry regulations. Police records say 45-year-old Kenneth F. Orr was arrested Monday at Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville for being within 300 feet of the mall’s ice rink and the Iowa Children’s Museum. Iowa law prohibits sex offenders from being within 300 feet of any place intended primarily for the use of minors.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Freshman Republican Sen. Joni Ernst says the newly empowered GOP-led Congress heard the voters’ message in November and will work to change the direction in Washington. Ernst delivered the GOP response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday. In excerpts released in advance, the Iowa senator says Republicans will make Washington focus on Americans’ concerns. She is criticizing Obama’s health care law as a failed policy.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill has been introduced in the Iowa Legislature that would force casinos to comply with the state’s smoking ban. Casino floors in Iowa are now exempt from following a 2008 law that prohibits smoking in public places. A bill sponsored by Sen. Herman Quirmbach, of Ames, would eliminate that exemption. The bill could face strong opposition from the casino industry. A spokesman for Republican Gov. Terry Branstad says the governor favors such a measure and would sign it into law.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A north-central Iowa man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug use and illegal firearm possession charges. Officials say 32-year-old Mark Harken, of Aplington, received the prison term. The sentence comes after his August 2014 guilty plea to one count of being a felon and illegally using methamphetamine while in possession of firearms and ammunition. Harken said he had five firearms, including one semi-automatic rifle.

Cass County Attorney David L. Wiederstein, late Tuesday afternoon, issued a statement to the press about the sentencing earlier in the day of 30-year old Leatha Kaye Slauson to a term of 5-years probation, in association with a child cancer hoax. Wiederstein said “The Court clearly set forth the rationale for the sentence and I am not going to comment any further on the Judge’s ruling. The biggest form of punishment levied against Leatha this morning is further removing her from her status as a mother.”

“Atlantic and Cass County should not be ashamed with the overwhelming giving spirit it showed when the child was purportedly sick, and even more so the community-wide show of support to Riley since her mother’s criminal scheme was revealed. The longer that Leatha is not able to stand in the shoes of a parent, the more justice will be served.”

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Council Bluffs historical structure that’s stood vacant for years will soon undergo renovation. City parks director Larry Foster tells the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil of plans to create an open-air pavilion at a local building formerly used as a trolley equipment repair shop. The project will be funded by both public and private grants.

Foster says the Council Bluffs Public School District initially developed the idea for the space as the district’s summer lunch program needed a shelter in order to continue. Renovation includes removing three brick panels on two sides of the structure to open the building up and installing windows and the other two sides. Foster says the pavilion will be open to the public.

Foster says he’s unsure when construction will begin.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City teacher has been arrested on charges he had sex with a 16-year-old student. Court records say 29-year-old Erick DeLeon, a Sioux City Community School District teacher and coach, was charged Monday with felony exploitation by a school employee. He was released on bail Tuesday. The Sioux City Journal reports DeLeon is accused of sending sexually related text messages and engaging in sexual acts with the one of his female students at least twice from September through December.

DeLeon is set to appear in court Jan. 30.