ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa day care provider charged with murder in the death of a 3-year-old girl has been released from jail after posting bond. Rochelle Sapp of Orange City walked out of the Sioux County jail on Thursday after a judge allowed her to post 10 percent of her $250,000 bond. Her attorney, Edward Bjornstad, says Sapp is “happy to be home.”

Sapp pleaded not guilty Thursday to first-degree murder and child endangerment in the death of Autumn Elgersma. Investigators say Sapp threw Autumn to the floor after becoming angry with her while watching her on October 29th. They say Sapp falsely told Autumn’s mother that the child was injured after falling down a flight of stairs. An autopsy ruled that the girl died of blunt force head injury.

KINGSLEY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they had to free a person trapped inside a car wreck in northwest Iowa that injured multiple people. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says the single-vehicle crash early Thursday on a county road near Kingsley injured five people. One of the injured people was trapped inside the wreck.

The Sioux City Journal says the five people were transported to a local hospital. Authorities say the injuries are not life-threatening. The names of the people have not been released. Authorities have not released additional information about the wreck.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — More than 400 people shared ham, potatoes, corn, pie and other tempting offerings at the annual Christmas Day Community Dinner in Mason City. The event rotates between various Mason City churches each year. The Globe Gazette reports this year’s meal was held at Trinity Lutheran Church.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A youth services shelter in Des Moines has added a scruffy new staff member that’s aimed at helping children. The Youth Emergency Services and Shelter in Des Moines says Tango the dog will help children facing a variety of difficult situations. Officials at the shelter tell Des Moines television station KCCI that they’re expanding the facility. They hope to add another dog to the staff soon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has again delayed the trial of a former Newton doctor accused of prescribing addictive painkillers. The Des Moines Register reports Lafayette Twyner’s trial is now set for March 3rd instead of January 27th. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose made a ruling on the date change last week. Twyner has been charged with 114 counts of health care fraud and unlawfully disseminating controlled substances. His lawyer has said his client denies wrongdoing.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hawkeyes women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder has agreed to a one-year contract extension. University of Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta’s announcement yesterday means Bluder will be head coach of the women’s basketball program through the 2019 season.

Greenfield artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II and officials with the Iowa Lottery are set to announce a new project to raise money for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund (IVTF). Sorensen and the lottery will unveil the “Ride to Riches” lottery game 11-a.m. Mon., January 6th, in the Capital Square Atrium (400 Locust St.) in downtown Des Moines.

The first 200 people attending the event will receive a personally autographed poster featuring new artwork from Sorensen, who is well known for his “Freedom Rock” paintings in Adair and many other counties. The Lottery will also provide many IVTF-related items available for give-away.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant in eastern Nebraska is back in operation after nearly three years of being shut down under the heavy scrutiny of federal regulators.  Omaha Public Power District spokesman Jeff Hanson said Thursday that the 478-megawatt plant reached 98 percent power on Christmas Day and was expected to hit 100 percent later Thursday.

Hanson says nothing out of the ordinary arose during restart, which began last week. On Dec. 17th, OPPD received permission from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to restart the plant across the river from Iowa.

Fort Calhoun initially shut down for routine maintenance in April 2011, but significant flooding that summer, a small fire and a series of safety violations forced it to remain closed. With NRC oversight, OPPD addressed more than 450 concerns at the plant.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The details might seem familiar when a prosecutor reviews an Iowa trooper’s decision to shoot a suspect.  Pottawattamie County Attorney Matthew Wilber is expected to decide in coming weeks whether Trooper Tim Sieleman was justified in the Dec. 1 shooting of 28-year-old Michael B. Lee of Carter Lake.  Five years ago, Wilber concluded that Sieleman’s shooting of Matthew Loth was a reasonable use of force.

In both cases, Sieleman opened fire at a suspect who was driving a stolen car at him during a pursuit. Both suspects were wounded and transported to the Nebraska Medical Center for treatment. And both occurred in similar locations in Council Bluffs.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is expected to give its investigative report on the shooting of Lee to Wilber in January.

Authorities in Mills County report three accidents occurred over the past week, only one of which resulted in injuries. Officials say Cindy Hunt, of Glenwood, was transported by Glenwood Rescue to the Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs Monday evening, after the 2008 Pontiac she was driving left 221st Street for unknown reasons, and struck a tree in a ditch.

The other accidents occurred Tuesday evening in Glenwood, and last Friday afternoon in Malvern. Drivers involved in those collisions included Susanne Plummer and Jenee Zeski, both of Glenwood, and John Benton and Grace Hatfield, both of Malvern.