DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved a measure calling for new restrictions on the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions. The House backed the measure last night on a 57-37 vote. It would ban public funding of abortions except in cases where the procedure is needed to save the life of the mother.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $2 million contract for levee repair work along the Missouri River in southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri. The project includes placing large boulders, known as rip rap, on the river side of new setback levees built near Hamburg, Iowa, and Watson, Missouri following last summer’s historic flooding.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Polk County judge has delayed the trial of a Bettendorf accountant charged in Iowa’s film tax credit case after prosecutors disclosed possible new evidence. Opening statements were expected yesterday in the trial of Chad Witter. He’s charged with fraud, theft and ongoing criminal conduct in an alleged scheme to misuse tax credits aimed in building Iowa’s film industry. The film program was shut down in 2009.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Drake assistant coach Mike Gibson has resigned to pursue opportunities outside of basketball. The 29-year-old Gibson has been an assistant with the Bulldogs for four seasons. But Gibson says his priorities have shifted and he’s decided to pursue a job in the business world.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved a measure calling for new restrictions on the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions. The House backed the measure Wednesday night on a 57-37 vote. It would ban public funding of abortions except in cases where the procedure is needed to save the life of the mother. Current law allows taxpayer-funded abortions in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. The vote came as the House debated a larger measure paying for human services programs. Critics say the measure is unfair to low-income women but supporters say public money shouldn’t pay for a procedure that many people oppose. The spending measure will go to the Senate, where opposition to the abortion change is expected.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has unanimously approved a measure prohibiting judges from sending sexually violent predators to nursing homes. The Senate approved the measure today and returned it to the House, which has approved a different version. The Senate version prohibits judges from transferring inmates to nursing homes.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The city council in Iowa City has decided against a resolution related to Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager who was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida. Councilman Jim Throgmorton asked the council to weigh in this week on the teenager’s death. But at a work session yesterday, the majority of the council said it felt its focus should be on local issues.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved a measure creating a state agency that would enforce open records and meetings laws and mediate disputes. The House approved the measure yesterday on a 92 to 7 vote and the proposal now goes to the Senate.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University says the finalists for its Number Two job include one of its own deans and academic administrators from Nebraska and Ohio. The school announced today that finalists for its senior vice president and provost position are College of Engineering Dean Jonathan Wickert; University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Manderscheid; and University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science Dean Carlo Montemagno. Each will visit campus later this month.