WADENA, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that tracks and fecal matter left near some northeast Iowa beehives came from a black bear. A beekeeper south of Wadena, near the Clayton-Fayette county line, reported that his beehives had been torn up. The fecal matter, or scat, was found within 25 feet of the hives. A neighboring landowner reported tracks and reported seeing a female with two cubs.

The department is trying to confirm the sighting of the cubs, because they would be the first wild cubs documented in Iowa in more than 140 years. The department says black bears have not lived wild in the state since the 1800s.

Police in Red Oak, Thursday night,  arrested a man wanted on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, charge. 24-year old Kiley Brian Caron, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11-p.m. and held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 cash bond.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party and officials in Red Oak, Iowa, each say the other should pay to tear down an abandoned and deteriorating church in the southwestern Iowa community. The Omaha World-Herald reports that a company headed by Nebraska GOP Chairman J.L. Spray purchased a tax lien for the 124-year-old church near downtown Red Oak in 2012 and now owns the building.

The city says the building is dangerous and wants Spray to pay to have it demolished. But Spray, a Lincoln attorney, says information provided during the tax sale made it appear that the building was in better shape than it was. He says after failed attempts to work out a compromise that it’s now the city’s responsibility to cover the cost of demolition.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

MARION, Iowa (AP) — New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is in Iowa for a series of fundraisers and campaign stops in a state with the first presidential caucuses. Christie was greeted yesterday by Iowa voters at MJ’s restaurant in Marion, Iowa. He visited the restaurant with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. Patrons in the restaurant thanked Christie for coming to Iowa to support their governor and many urged him to run for president.

BLOOMFIELD, Iowa (AP) — Nine men from southern Iowa have been accused of sex crimes involving children. The Ottumwa Courier reports search and arrest warrants were issued Wednesday for the men. They were later sent to the Davis County Jail. Bloomfield police say they received allegations of sexual exploitation about a month ago and started an investigation.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport plans to launch a news-based website aimed at more transparency. Officials say the website will cover Davenport news and possibly local weather and sports. It is expected to launch in 60 to 90 days.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — A judicial commission has asked the Iowa Supreme Court to suspend a judge accused of being intoxicated while on the job. The Iowa Commission on Judicial Qualifications asked the high court this week to suspend District Associate Judge Emily Dean, who presides over the North Lee County District Associate Court in Fort Madison. Dean is accused of being intoxicated while on the bench and in the courthouse between late 2011 and 2012.