Kentucky Senator Rand Paul says he’s doesn’t have a “definite plan” to run for president in 2016, but his border-to-border, barnstorming tour of Iowa this week is a big hint. Paul has hired an Iowa-based consultant. Two Iowans who worked on his dad’s 2012 Iowa Caucus campaign are working for Rand Paul’s political action committee. And as Nebraska Congressman Lee Terry introduced Paul to a crowd in Council Bluffs Monday afternoon, Terry made it clear that Paul’s sights are set on a race for the White House.

“A great principled conservative with great ideas and maybe a future outside of the Senate, in ophthalmology,” Terry said. Paul, who is an eye doctor, is helping two of Iowa’s Republican congressional candidates raise money this week, plus he’s appearing at half a dozen county offices around the state where local party activists are running phone banks, handing out yard signs and staging neighborhood canvassing. Paul says there’s “pent up enthusiasm” in the country, but he cautioned Republicans not to be over-confident.

“They out-hustled us last time,” Paul said, reminding the crowd in Council Bluffs that Obama won Iowa in both 2008 and 2012. “So I hope you’re motivated because you believe strongly in our country, you want to see a recovery again and I’m going to do everything I can to help.”

Paul describes himself as a “cheerleader” for expanding the Republican tent. He says, in Iowa, the party’s 2016 nominee has to be able to appeal beyond the “business class” and sell the party’s economic growth message to those who work for an hourly wage. “Some people think of Iowa, ‘Oh, it’s a great place to come to talk about presidential primaries,’ but really the problem is not so much the primary, it’s the General Election,” Paul said during an interview with Radio Iowa. “You know we need to think about not only how we win a primary, but you’ve got to think how you win General Elections in Iowa, because Iowa is one of those 10 or 15 states that are sort of purplish states.” Mark Hansen of Council Bluffs was a Ron Paul supporter in 2012 who is ready to back Rand Paul in 2016.

“His biggest path to success is going after the independent voters,” Hansen says. “…It’s all about winning the General Election.” Steve Meidlinger of Council Bluffs, was among those who crowded into the G-O-P headquarters in Pottawattamie County on Monday afternoon to hear Paul speak.  “I like him because he’s a conservative and he’s got some of the same ideas that I think are important in a candidate,” Meidlinger says. Paul was asked during a stop in Sioux City if he is going to run for president and he replied: “Maybe.”

Rand Paul is one of half a dozen potential 2016 presidential candidates who are making trips to Iowa this week. The parade of possibles includes Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, who are past Iowa Caucus victors, as well as Governors Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who was in Iowa last weekend, will return this weekend.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two boys have been killed in an all-terrain vehicle crash in eastern Iowa. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says several area agencies responded to a report Monday afternoon about an ATV that crashed into a creek. It’s unclear where the crash occurred. The boys’ names have not been released.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A woman who claims she was beaten by a Davenport police officer is suing the city. Thirty-five-year-old Brandie Redell filed the lawsuit that names the city along with two police officers. Redell says she was punched by an officer during a visit to a clothing store in February 2013. She was stopped on suspicion of shoplifting.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City police say they’ve arrested a Minnesota man after he allegedly admitted he broke an apartment’s window to distract authorities from underage drinking at a party. Police also say 20-year-old Aaron Tyler, of Lakeville, Minnesota, took an officer’s vehicle for a short drive.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has been sentenced to about a month in jail after pleading guilty to selling 195 pigs that didn’t belong to him. Forty-four-year-old Monty Grote pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree theft. He received a 30-day jail sentence and was placed on two years of probation. Grote also has to pay about $14,600 in restitution.

A 19-year old man from Nebraska was injured after the motorcycle he was driving crashed Monday, as he was being pursued by the Iowa State Patrol, in Pottawattamie County. Officials say Joshua Holmes, of Omaha, was transported by Crescent Rescue to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Officials say Holmes’ 2005 Honda zipped past two semi’s on the inside shoulder of southbound Interstate 29 during the pursuit. At mile post 67, the cycle entered the median, went out of control and rolled several times times before coming to rest in the median.

The crash happened at around 5:47-p.m.

Members of the Adair-Casey Board of Education were the guests Monday evening at the CAM High School in Anita, during a joint meeting of the A-C and CAM School Boards. The cordial discussion lasted for about 50 minutes after introductions were made, but nothing was decided on at this stage of exploration. A-C/Guthrie Center shared Superintendent Steve Smith thanked the CAM Board for sitting down to talk with them about the direction A-C might take in determining the next course of action.

Members of the Adair-Casey School Board (far left) holds talks with CAM Board members (near side).

He said “We obviously looking for things that maybe could help us, and hopefully help other district or districts.” Smith said A-C “Took a hit last year in some enrollment [numbers], so if that happens again. obviously we may have different thoughts about what we may or may not do. So right now, to be a little proactive, we’re trying to reach out to all that districts that are contiguous so that we can see who is able to offer the best fit on the needs.

Adair-Casey has already held talks with West Central Valley, Nodaway Valley and now CAM. They have yet to sit down with the Guthrie Center School Board, but intend to do so in the near future. A-C Board President Megan Kading said they decided to explore their options because last year their district lost between 30-and 40-students, for a number of reasons, including the fact some families with three or more children who moved from the area, and less students came in after the graduating class.

CAM had a certified enrollment last year of 441 students. Adair-Casey had 328. CAM School Board President Gary Dinkla said he understands the process of change districts such as A-C are looking to explore.

One of the questions A-C Board member Mark Williams had for the CAM Board essentially boiled down to “How did they know when the process of sharing services needed to start,” and what are the challenges associated with going down the road toward possible consolidation? Gary Dinkla said “Probably the best time to start is when the communities are ready to accept it, or when you can convince communities it’s a process to go towards.”

The Cumberland-Massena and Anita School Districts had Whole Grade Sharing for eight-years before they consolidated into CAM. Megan Kading asked if declining enrollment was a financial factor in consolidation. Dinkla said it was “To better utilize the resources,” both districts had. CAM Board Member Todd McKee said the time to hold these types of discussions and make the tough decisions “Is not black and white…you never know,” but it’s important to start talking and make changes before it’s too late.

McKee said he was still trying to catch his breathe after going through the process of trying to find a Superintendent the district could share after former CAM Superintendent Steve Pelzer announced his retirement. CAM opted to share the services of Nodaway Valley Superintendent Casey Berlau. McKee said he personally, didn’t want to open the door to another change too soon, but CAM Board Member Chuck Kinzie said “Sometimes the situation is the boss,” and districts have to be open and proactive in serving the needs of their students.

He said “If the time is right for further discussions…we need further discussions…if it’s right.”