Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential hopefuls have emphasized their opposition to gay marriage and abortion before a crowd of Christian conservatives who hold significant sway in Iowa’s leadoff presidential caucuses. Nine declared and prospective 2016 candidates appeared at a weekend forum sponsored by the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition and attended by more than 1,000 people in suburban Des Moines.

MARION, Iowa (AP) — Police arrested the 32-year-old man suspected of killing a woman in a grocery store parking lot in eastern Iowa. Marion Police said Sunday that Nicholas Luerkens of Cedar Rapids was arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder after he was released from the hospital. Luerkens was treated for self-inflicted stab wounds after Tuesday’s stabbing death of 29-year-old Lynnsey Donald of Marion.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With farmers markets set to begin in dozens of cities across Iowa, vendors and market managers alike are pulling out all the stops to keep consumers coming back for more. National data suggest the tremendous growth in farmers markets has begun to ebb, with a slight decline in sales adjusted for inflation. But officials say customer and vendor retention efforts in Iowa have helped the state’s markets.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The future of the Des Moines agency that handles civil rights issues is unclear after losing two of its three employees. The Register reports city officials are considering closing the office and asking other departments or a state agency to handle the concerns.