Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State and local economic development officials in central Iowa have come up with a brand name and logo for the region in an effort to create an identity similar to that of Silicon Valley in California. The “Cultivation Corridor” area within a 60-mile radius of Des Moines will focus on the marketing of agribusiness, biotechnology and renewable fuel products.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State officials say 16 Iowa towns that received loans for water quality projects will end up saving money because of interest rate cuts. The Iowa Finance Authority and the Department of Natural Resources says those towns will see a combined savings of $1.5 million over the life of their loans. They have been paying 3 percent interest on the loans, but rates are being lowered 1.75 percent.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lucey, an 18-month old pooch from Waukee, Iowa, has beaten out 49 drooling competitors to take this year’s “Beautiful Bulldog” pageant. Monday’s tongue-in-cheek event is designed to kick off the weeklong Drake Relays, an internationally-renowned track and field event in Des Moines. Lucey was certainly a hit with the crowd at Drake’s Knapp Center, besting a pair of boys named Lord Nelson and Zuul to capture top honors.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Auditor Mary Mosiman says she’s reviewing the secret settlement payments with former state workers and will issue a public report when the investigation is finished. Democratic candidate for governor Jack Hatch wants a review of the settlements and a broader audit from a firm outside state government. Governor Terry Branstad appointed Mosiman last year.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Saturday of a Council Bluffs woman on drug charges. 53-year old Julie Ann Vore was arrested at the E-Stop in Emerson, at around 11:10-p.m., Saturday. She faces charges that include Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Methamphetamine, Possession of Controlled Substance/Marijuana, a Drug Tax Stamp violation, and on a warrant for Violation of her Probation.Vore was being held in the Mills County Jail on $111,000 bond.

And early Saturday morning, 41-year old Patricia Margeret Zastera, of Glenwood, was arrested in Mills County for Serious Assault, Interference with Official Acts And Falsely Reporting an Emergency by 9-1-1.  There was no word on her disposition or bond.

And just before 1-a.m. Sunday, 33-year old Joseph William Anderson, of Malvern, was arrested in Mills County on a charge of Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $300.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Griswold man was arrested on drug charges, Sunday. 26-year old Nick Aaron Rush was taken into custody on charges that include OWI 1st Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Rush was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

And on Saturday, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 52-year old Martin William Glover, of Griswold, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Glover was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

Governor Terry Branstad says private schools should be included in any anti-bullying measure the legislature passes this year. Branstad’s fellow Republicans in the House have expressed concerns about the bill, hoping to make it apply just to public schools. “I don’t see any conflict or any problem of working both public and private schools,” Branstad says. “We want all of our kids to be safe, regardless of where they go to school.”

Some Republicans say the bill goes too far and students could be labeled bullies for expressing their personal religious beliefs. Others say there’s no need for the legislation, as current Iowa law already gives school officials ample authority to address bullies. “This is a more effective law that will give schools the tools they need to protect all our kids and to make sure we don’t have more of these tragedies,” Branstad says.

Branstad has been asking legislators for the past two years to pass anti-bullying legislation that would give school administrators more authority to police bullying outside of school, especially on social media. “We should not wait ’til there’s another tragedy or suicide,” Branstad says. “We ought to take action now to protect Iowa children so they’ll be safe in our schools and give our educators the tools they need to deal with that issue.” Democrats in the Iowa Senate have passed an anti-bullying bill, but it has not yet been debated by the Republican-led Iowa House.

(Radio Iowa)