DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Congressman Steve King says he will not run for the U.S. Senate, opening the race to lesser-known Republican aspirants in the race to succeed Democrat Tom Harkin. King, a six-term House member from western Iowa, says in a press statement issued Friday, “I will not be a candidate for the United States Senate in 2014.” King’s decision follows the same decision Thursday by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds last week and Congressman Tom Latham in February.

Republicans need six seats to gain control of the Senate. Harkin, elected in 1984, announced Jan. 26 that he would retire after five terms. Congressman Bruce Braley is the only Democrat to declare his candidacy. The Waterloo House member raised $1.1 million since declaring his candidacy in February.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Congressman Steve King says he will not run for the U.S. Senate. That opens the race to lesser-known Republican aspirants in the race to succeed Democrat Tom Harkin. Republicans need six seats to gain control of the Senate. Harkin announced his retirement in January.

CLARION, Iowa (AP) — The father of a boy accused of fatally shooting his mother says he thought his son was joking about the death. Noah Crooks faces charges of first-degree murder and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. William Crooks said his son had a loving but sometimes stormy relationship with his mother.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A funeral is scheduled this weekend for one of two cousins abducted in Evansdale and later found dead. The service for Elizabeth Collins is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery. The cousins went missing in July after riding their bikes in Evansdale. Hunters found their bodies in a wooded area in December.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A former manager at a kosher slaughterhouse in Iowa has appeared in a U.S. courtroom on charges that he harbored immigrants in the country illegally. Hasam Amara pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with 25 counts related to harboring people in the U.S. illegally and two counts related to document fraud.

A Pottawattamie County Park will be the site for a 5K run/walk benefit this weekend. The Arrowhead Park in Neola will host the benefit for Jeff Stokes, who is dealing with cancer treatments. The cost is $10 per person or $20 per family. A band called “Peanut Butter and Jam” feature Jeff and his musician friends will be playing music along the 5K route.

Breakfast Burritos will be at the end of the route for a free will donation. The 5K run/walk benefit at Arrowhead Park starts at 9am on Saturday morning. For more information, contact Marian Greer at 712-579-5626. All proceeds from the benefit will go the Jeff Stokes Donation Account for assistance with his treatment of cancer including stem cell transplant.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Three people, including a 3-year old old, were injured during a rollover accident Thursday morning, west of Audubon. According to the Audubon County Sheriff’s Department, a 1995 Chevy Blazer driven by 22-year old Christopher Allan Campeau, of Audubon, was traveling west on 200th Street near Heron Avenue at around 10-a.m., when the SUV went out of control on the soft gravel road created by recent heavy rains and slushy snow.

The vehicle entered the north ditch and rolled once before coming to rest on its wheels. Campeau, along with his passengers, 21-year old Tabitha Rena Bartlett, and 3-year old Nathan Campeau, were transported by Audubon Fire and Rescue to the Audubon County Hospital.

Officials say Christopher Campeau was faces Driving While Suspended and having No Insurance, charges. The SUV sustained $8,000 damage during the crash.

Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County are asking for the public’s help in locating a stolen ATV. The four-wheeler was taken from the 1300 block of 240th Avenue in Fremont County, sometime during the overnight hours of April 28th. The machine is a black, Yamaha 660 Raptor.

Yamaha 660 raptor (similar to what was stolen from Fremont County)

Anyone with information about the theft or the location of the ATV, should call Fremont County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-9240. You may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,500. You do not have to give your name when you call with any information you might have.

A fugitive from justice, wanted in Illinois, was arrested Thursday, in Mills County. Sheriff’s officials say 68-year old Gregory Sam Kouris, from Marengo, IL, was taken into custody at around 5:30-p.m., in Glenwood. Additional information concerning the warrant for his arrest is not currently available.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says also, a Glenwood resident reported a burglary and theft, Thursday. The incident occurred at a location off of 221st Street, in Glenwood. No other details are available.

The Harlan Police Department has released a lengthy report on arrests and accidents which took place over the past two-and a half weeks. In recent activity, officials say 21-year old Jesse Seyler, of Harlan, was arrested April 29th, on an enhanced Possession of a Controlled Substance charge, along with consuming alcohol in a public place, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On April 28th, Harlan Police officers arrested 33-year old Jose Rivera, of Harlan, for domestic abuse assault, following an investigation into an alleged altercation in the parking lot of Myrtue Medical Center. The day before, 29-year old Gabriel Brown, of Harlan, was arrested on charges of Ongoing Criminal Conduct and on two-counts of Forgery, following an investigation into several checks that were stolen, forged and cashed. Brown allegedly asked two persons to assist him in cashing the checks. Additional charges are currently pending.