JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad is urging the Legislature to require lawmakers and other elected officials to pay more for their health care coverage.

Speaking Friday on the public television program, "Iowa Press," Branstad suggested that elected officials pay 20 percent of their health care costs. He says that would set an example for other state workers.

Earlier this week, Republicans proposed that all state workers pay $200 a month toward their health insurance.

The governor noted that union contracts wouldn't allow the state to force workers to pay the $200 a month, but lawmakers could set an example. He says the state needs to gradually collect more from state workers because 84 percent pay nothing for health insurance.

The system was set as part of negotiations over wages and other matters.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Air Force is recommending pulling F-16 fighter jets from an Air National Guard base in Des Moines.

The Des Moines Register says Friday an Air Force memo it obtained shows the 21 jets flown by the 132nd Guard fighter wing would be removed in fiscal 2013.

The memo says the recommended cuts would be part of a plan to trim $8.7 billion from the Air Force budget, and would affect more than 60 installations.

Iowa Guard spokesman Col. Greg Hapgood says the budget proposal focuses more on equipment than people.

Sen. Tom Harkin says Friday he has requested a meeting with the secretary of the Air Force about the Des Moines unit. The Iowa Democrat says the proposal is "not a final decision."

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court says religious rights of a Mennonite teenager prevail over a county's concern about protecting its roads.

The court on Friday reversed a Mitchell County citation against Matthew Zimmerman, who was cited for driving a steel-wheel tractor on a county road in 2010. He was found guilty of violating an ordinance banning steel wheels on hard-surfaced roads.

A district court judge upheld the citation, but the Supreme Court ordered the case dismissed. The court says the ordinance as applied to church members violates the First Amendment rights to free exercise of religion.

The county has argued the ordinance is neutral and doesn't interfere with anyone's religion. The ordinance was aimed at alleviating damage caused by the wheels

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE WILL BE DEBATING THE ISSUE OF TRUCK WEIGHT LIMITS ON THE NATIONS FEDERAL HIGHWAYS TODAY. CONGRESSMAN LEONARD BOSWELL IS THE ONLY RANKING COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO HOLDS A C-D-L IN HIS HOME DISTRICT...HE SAYS THERE ARE REASONS TO CONSIDER INCREASING THE WEIGHT LIMITS FOR TRUCKS FROM 80,000 TO 97,000 POUNDS.

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BOSWEL SAYS HE BELIEVES WEIGHT LIMITS COULD BE INCREASED SAFELY AND FEELS IT'S IMPORTANT TO AN AGRICULTURE STATE LIKE IOWA.

THE IOWA STATE TROOPERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT IS IN WASHINGTON TODAY SPEAKING OUT AGAINST TRUCK WEIGHT INCREASES.

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AUTHORITIES ARE STILL TRYING TO LOCATE A MAN THEY SAY ATTEMPTED TO ROB A WOMAN OF HER PHONE AT KNIFEPOINT.

THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ISSUED A HAWK ALERT ADVISORY AT 2:13 P.M. TODAY, SAYING THAT A WHITE MAN, 5-FEET-9-INCHES TALL, AGE 35-40, HAD DISPLAYED A KNIFE TO A WOMAN AND ASKED FOR HER PHONE. THE SUSPECT WAS LAST SEEN HEADING EAST ON WASHINGTON STREET TOWARD DOWNTOWN IOWA CITY. THE SUSPECT WAS WEARING A RED SWEATSHIRT, PLAID SHIRT, GLASSES, AND HAD GRAY FACIAL HAIR.

UI REPORTED IN A NEWS RELEASE ABOUT 4:40 P.M. THAT THE VICTIM WAS UNHARMED AND THAT POLICE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THE SUSPECT.

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A VACANT HOUSE AT 1707 WASHINGTON AVENUE SE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE THIS MORNING. SEVERAL NEIGHBORS CALLED 911 TO REPORT HEAVY SMOKE POURING FROM THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM JOHNSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. FIREFIGHTERS WERE DISPATCHED AT 3:23 A.M. AND ARRIVED ON SCENE TO FIND THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE TWO-STORY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE ROOF OF THE DWELLING HAD ALREADY COLLAPSED INTO THE STRUCTURE AND THE FIRE WAS EXTENDING TO TWO ADJACENT HOMES.

FIRE CREWS IMMEDIATELY STARTED EXTINGUISHING THE ADJACENT HOUSE TO THE WEST AT 1701 WASHINGTON AVENUE AS THE CEDAR SHAKE WOOD SIDING WAS ON FIRE. CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE OFFICERS ASSISTED IN GETTING ONE ADULT AND THREE CHILDREN, AGES 6 THROUGH 10, OUT OF THE HOUSE. FIREFIGHTERS MADE ENTRY INTO 1701 WASHINGTON AVENUE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE FIRE HAD NOT SPREAD INTO THE HOUSE. THE HOME ENDED UP HAVING FIRE DAMAGE TO THE SIDING AND SEVERAL BROKEN WINDOWS ON THE EAST SIDE. THE HOUSE WAS STILL HABITABLE, HOWEVER.

THE ADJACENT HOUSE TO THE EAST AT 1711 WASHINGTON AVENUE SE WAS ALSO CONTINUALLY SPRAYED WITH WATER. THE VINYL SIDING WAS MELTED ON THE WEST SIDE OF THIS TWO-STORY HOUSE, WHICH WAS VACANT.

FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUED A DEFENSIVE FIRE ATTACK ON THE PRIMARY BURNING HOUSE AT 1707 WASHINGTON AVENUE SE. THE HOUSE HAD SEVERAL WINDOWS BOARDED UP AND WAS VACANT ACCORDING TO NEIGHBORS. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S LADDER TRUCK ARRIVED ON SCENE, THE 100-FOOT LADDER WAS EXTENDED AND FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO APPLY WATER FROM AN AERIAL VANTAGE POINT, WHICH IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF EXTINGUISHMENT AFTER THE HOME’S ROOF HAD ALREADY COLLAPSED.

THERE ARE NO KNOWN INJURIES. THE HOUSE AT 1707 WASHINGTON AVENUE SE IS OWNED BY MICHAEL SABA OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

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THE ADJACENT TWO-STORY HOME AT 1701 WASHINGTON AVENUE SE IS OWNED BY TIMOTHY TERRY OF CEDAR RAPIDS. THE ADJACENT HOME AT 1711 WASHINGTON AVENUE SE IS OWNED BY EDWARD NEFF OF CEDAR RAPIDS.

THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ASSISTED BY THE SALVATION ARMY.

AUTHORITIES SAY A 47-YEAR-OLD CEDAR RAPIDS WOMAN SAID IN AN IOU NOTE THAT SHE WOULD PAY BACK THE MORE THAN $1,200 SHE STOLE FROM HER EMPLOYER. SHE WAS ARRESTED ANYWAY.

BERNICE CADWALLADER WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY TUESDAY MORNING AT THE WENDY'S RESTAURANT WHERE SHE WORKED. CADWALLADER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THEFT OF THE MONEY FROM BANK DEPOSITS THAT WEREN'T MADE.

POLICE SPOKESWOMAN CRISTY HAMBLIN SAYS CADWALLADER LEFT A NOTE IN THE BANK DEPOSIT BAG THAT SAID SHE'D TAKEN THE MONEY AND WOULD REPAY IT.

A PUBLIC PHONE LISTING FOR CADWALLADER COULD NOT BE FOUND. ONLINE COURT RECORDS DON'T LIST HER ATTORNEY'S NAME.

(COPYRIGHT 2012 BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

A REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER HAS INTRODUCED A PROPOSED STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD OUTLAW TRAFFIC CAMERAS USED TO CATCH SPEEDERS AND RED-LIGHT RUNNERS, BUT THE PROPOSAL COULD RUN INTO TROUBLE IN THE SENATE.

REP. DAVID TJEPKES OF GOWRIE INTRODUCED THE MEASURE A YEAR AFTER THE HOUSE APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT LIMITED FINES BASED ON THE CAMERAS. THE SENATE DIDN'T TAKE ACTION ON THAT BILL, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE DOESN'T SEEM EAGER TO ACT QUICKLY ON THE ISSUE THIS SESSION.

DEMOCRATIC SEN. TOM RIELLY, OF OSKALOOSA SAYS HE WANTS TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE HOUSE BUT FAVORS A SLOWER, INFORMATION-GATHERING APPROACH.

A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS A MULTI-YEAR PROCESS THAT REQUIRES APPROVAL BY TWO GENERAL ASSEMBLIES AND A STATEWIDE VOTE.

(COPYRIGHT 2012 BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

A LAWYER LONG FAMILIAR WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA'S HANDLING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ATHLETES SAYS THE SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE ACTED SOONER AFTER LEARNING RUNNING BACK MARCUS COKER WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

ATTORNEY ROXANNE CONLIN SAID THURSDAY THE SCHOOL HAD AN OBLIGATION TO TAKE SWIFT ACTION AFTER LEARNING A WOMAN CLAIMED COKER HAD ASSAULTED HER ON OCT. 28. PROSECUTORS LATER DECLINED TO BRING CHARGES AT THE VICTIM'S REQUEST.

COKER PLAYED THE FINAL FIVE GAMES OF THE REGULAR SEASON BEFORE BEING SUSPENDED DEC. 20 BEFORE THE INSIGHT BOWL. HE LEFT THE PROGRAM TUESDAY.

CONLIN SAYS UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS HAVE TO EXPLAIN THEIR RESPONSE PUBLICLY GIVEN A HISTORY OF MISSTEPS IN SUCH CASES. SHE'S REPRESENTED WOMEN WHO CLAIMED THEY WERE RAPED BY ATHLETES, AND MEDIATED A SETTLEMENT INVOLVING FORMER BASKETBALL PLAYER PIERRE PIERCE.

(COPYRIGHT 2012 BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

THE IOWA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION HAS NAMED A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

64-YEAR-OLD JACK KETTERER, WHO HAS SERVED AS THE STATE'S TOP GAMBLING REGULATOR SINCE 1993, ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT ON THURSDAY, EFFECTIVE MARCH 30.

THE STATE PANEL IMMEDIATELY NAMED ONE OF HIS DEPUTIES, BRIAN OHORILKO, AS HIS SUCCESSOR. HIS APPOINTMENT IS SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION BY THE IOWA SENATE FOR THE REMAINDER OF KETTERER'S FOUR YEAR TERM, WHICH ENDS IN 2014.

KETTERER OVERSAW THE GROWTH OF IOWA'S CASINO INDUSTRY. HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED WITH THE COMMISSION FROM 1983 TO 1988, WHEN HE HELPED LAUNCH THE STATE' RACING INDUSTRY.

THE 31-YEAR-OLD OHORILKO HAS BEEN THE COMMISSION'S DIRECTOR OF GAMING SINCE 2004.

(COPYRIGHT 2012 BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)