Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Bruce Braley is focusing on policy in his bid to win Iowa’s U.S. Senate contest and his recent television ads have featured others talking about the four-term congressman’s record. Braley’s Republican opponent Joni Ernst has built her campaign around telling voters her story as a down-home farm girl and military veteran. A poll of likely Iowa voters released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University showed Ernst leading Braley 50 percent to 44 percent. The poll — which had a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points — was the first recent survey to show Ernst with such a lead.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad issued a disaster emergency proclamation yesterday regarding four Iowa counties in response to recent severe weather. The proclamation covers Adair, Guthrie, Ringgold, and Warren counties following severe weather and heavy rains on September 9th.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport alderman has defended his right to carry a concealed weapon into City Hall. Alderman Bill Edmond told the Quad-City Times on Tuesday that he carries his weapon for personal protection.

OELWEIN, Iowa (AP) — The former mayor of a northeast Iowa city pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges alleging he sexually abused two girls. Court records show 36-year-old Jason Manus entered the plea to five counts of second-degree sexual abuse. The former mayor of Oelwein was scheduled to go on trial October 8th.