Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Senator Ted Cruz is continuing his call for cutting off funding for President Barack Obama’s health care law, telling conservative Christians in Iowa that congressional lawmakers can’t be counted on to do it. The Texas Republican drew a standing ovation yesterday at the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, with his denouncement of what he and other Republicans call “Obamacare”.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa House Democrats have elected Representative Mark Smith as their new leader. The Marshalltown man was elected to serve as leader during a meeting in Des Moines yesterday. He is serving his 7th term in office. The Democrats are currently the minority party in the state House of Representatives.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Messiah Food Pantry is Charles City is bare. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that dozens of people and families have been turned away this week from the food bank run by the Jordan River church. Debra Lincoln, the church’s pastor, says the pantry ran out of food last week. She says the next delivery from the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo won’t arrive until Friday.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 35-year-old has been charged with first-degree theft, accused of robbing a paraplegic man of $60. The Quad-City Times reports that Crystal Greer was arrested Friday. Police say Greer was also arrested on one aggravated misdemeanor count of prostitution after offering to perform a sex act for money with an undercover police officer Wednesday night.