Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials estimate it could cost $2.1 million to repair the exterior of the nearly century-old Woodbury County courthouse. County supervisor Mark Monson tells the Sioux City Journal that the damaged exterior condition of the historic building is so dire that entire bricks can be pulled out of the foundation in some places. County supervisors say they want the building renovated for its 100th anniversary celebration in 2018.

BELLEVUE, Iowa (AP) — Police are asking the public for help investigating the homicide of a 59-year-old man in northeastern Iowa. The Division of Criminal Investigation said Wednesday that the death of James Remakel has been ruled a homicide. An autopsy found that the Bellevue man’s death was caused by “multiple sharp edged entries” into his body.

TITONKA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man has died following a house fire in northern Iowa. The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office says 59-year-old Daniel William Planz died after the Tuesday night fire in Titonka. The fire is under investigation.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has convicted a Sioux City man in the stabbing death of a woman. Judge Steven Andreasen announced Wednesday that Isack Abdinur was guilty of first-degree murder. Prosecutors say Abdinur stabbed Cornelia Stead 23 times in her Sioux City apartment on June 23, 2015. Police say the two were romantic partners.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a two vehicle property damage accident occurred on Wednesday morning in Red Oak. The accident involved a teen driver that was practicing to receive his license striking a legally parked car and no one was injured.

At 10:50am a 1999 Mercury Marauder driven by 19-year-old Colton Jon Goldsmith of Red Oak left the courthouse and drove about a half block on East Reed Street and then turned right on North 1st Street. A pickup was coming into the intersection as Goldsmith made the turn and he panicked to get over and swerved towards the curb and struck a legally parked car. The collision occurred with a 2006 Ford Five Hundred mirror first and then the vehicle sliding down the driver’s side and eventually ripping off the front bumper. Both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene.

The Mercury sustained $2,000 estimated damage while the Ford sustained approximately $3,500 damage.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge has convicted a Sioux City man in the stabbing death of a 43-year-old woman. Judge Steven Andreasen announced Wednesday that Isack Abdinur was guilty of first-degree murder. The judge had presided over a three-day nonjury trial that ended Nov. 21.

Prosecutors say Abdinur stabbed Cornelia Stead 23 times in her Sioux City apartment on June 23, 2015. Police say the two were romantic partners. Two psychologists testified that Abdinur is a violent schizophrenic. The defense expert said Abdinur didn’t know what he was doing when he attacked Stead. The prosecution expert said Abdinur knew he’d done something wrong and understood his actions.

Abdinur’s sentencing date hasn’t been set yet.

An overloaded electrical cord is believed to have been the cause of a house fire last Thursday morning, in Walnut. Walnut Fire Chief Justen Tooley told KJAN News the call about a fire at 408 Pearl Street came in a little after 5-a.m. Thursday (Dec. 22nd).

Tooley said when they got on scene, they found flames coming out of the windows of the home. Two people who were renting the home had escaped safely.  The flames had spread to the corner of another house that was only about 5 feet away, according to Tooley. He said also that the fire was knocked down quickly, but the house was a total loss.