Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was in his adopted hometown of Mount Pleasant this weekend, just as speculation is rising about the possibility Hillary Clinton might choose him as her running mate. “I can’t comment on any of this,” Vilsack said. “I would say that this is an incredibly important time for the country and I’m confident that whoever Hillary chooses, that that person will compliment her and I think we’re going to have a very interesting time in the next couple of months.”

Vilsack and his wife, Christie, have a long relationship with Clinton. Tom Bell — Christie Vilsack’s late brother — worked with Clinton in the 1970s. The Vilsacks endorsed Clinton in the spring of 2007 after the governor governor ended his own presidential campaign. Vilsack endorsed Barack Obama in the summer of 2008 and has been Obama’s first and only Secretary of Agriculture.

On Saturday, Vilsack spoke to a huge crowd in Mount Pleasant for the re dedication of a monument. The memorial fountain is named for former Mount Pleasant Mayor Edd King. King was shot to death by an angry resident during a city council meeting in 1986. King’s father recruited Vilsack to be the town’s next mayor.

(Radio Iowa)

The theme for the first evening at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland is “Make America Safe Again” and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, the former commander of an Iowa National Guard battalion, will be speaking in “prime time.” Ernst is scheduled to step on stage at 9:36 p.m. Iowa time. She’ll speak for about 10 minutes. Ernst describes it as a “big deal” — even bigger than delivering the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union speech.

“I think this will probably be more intimidating,” Ernst said, “because we will be in a convention center with people out there and then also knowing that a lot of people across the United States are going to be watching.” Ernst says her FAMILY will be watching from southwest Iowa. “My mother said she would make sure to go down to my house in Red Oak and watch it with my husband and my daughter. Her TV has been cutting a little in and out lately, so she wanted to know what time, so she could be sure to watch it,” Ernst said, laughing.

Ernst is the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate. The Iowa National Guard battalion Ernst once lead in Kuwait and iraq has been on active duty in Afghanistan for about a month. “I think about those people when I’m putting together talks or discussions like this,” Ernst said, “so I’ll come out swinging.” Ernst may have given a little preview last (Sunday) night when she spoke briefly to the Iowa delegates in Cleveland. “Our world is virtually imploding if we look around us,” Ernst said. “And why is it doing that? It’s because we have a lack of leadership coming out of the White House right now.”

Ernst said Republicans across the country “are counting on” Republicans “to do the right thing…pull together” and nominate a “strong leader”  “We’re going to make those Democrats squeal, that’s for certain,” Ernst said, laughing. That, as you may know, is a clear reference to Ernst’s 2014 campaign ad. She talked about castrating pigs on the farm and promised to cut pork in Washington. Ernst said last night that she’s looking forward to her big speech.

“I’m not so nervous,” Ernst told reporters Sunday evening. “I am really excited about it.” Ernst has been practicing the speech and will be in the convention hall for a run-through later this (Monday) morning. Ernst has never been to a national political convention. “This is my first one and I get to speak,” Ernst said, with a laugh. “It’s ‘go big or go home.'” Ernst will be wearing a borrowed jacket and her footwear might be familiar.

“I might be wearing some camo shoes,” Ernst said. Ernst wore that pair of dress shoes with a camoflage pattern when she delivered the Republican response to the State of the Union message in 2015. Ernst noticed as she was making some stops in southeast Iowa on Saturday that she was getting a head cold. Ernst flew to Cleveland Sunday and a few hours later Ernst still couldn’t hear out of one ear. She intends to “drink a lot of hot fluids” today (Monday), plus spend the day “getting in the groove” by practicing her remarks.

(Radio Iowa)

Two Iowans were among the 112 Republicans from around the country who’ve drafted the G-O-P’s national platform. Ben Barringer, of Northwood, spent last week in Cleveland as a member of the G-O-P’s national platform committee. “I’ve been told by multiple people they think it’s the most conservative platform in recent history,” Barringer says. The platform calls for “better negotiated trade deals that put America first.” Those are words presumptive nominee Donald Trump’s words uses. But Barringer says Trump’s campaign did not “strong arm” the platform-writing group.

Tamara Scott of Ankeny, the Republican National Committeewoman from Iowa, also served on the national platform committee. “I think it’s a very positive, strong statement for America,” Scott says. The proposed document encourages teaching the Bible in public schools, to help develop “an educated citizenry.” It also calls for repealing a federal law that prevents churches from endorsing political candidates or engaging in political activities.

Scott is a lobbyist for The Family Leader, a Christian conservative group, and she credits Trump for championing that move earlier this year. “He’s taking steps that are stronger than many of what we called our ‘conservative’ candidates ever have because we’re at a time and a place where we have to. We now see the left is relentless,” Scott says. “It’s not just that they want to silence you. They want to remove you from the debate, period.” Scott and Barringer expect the platform to be ratified by convention delegates later today (Monday).

As for whether Republican candidates, including Trump, support all the items in the document, Barringer says there is no legal consequence for candidates who fail to do so. And He says it’s up to voters to hold the candidates accountable.  “I’d rather just call them whenever they do something that’s not in it,” Barringer says. “…If every one of my neighbors would do that, we wouldn’t have to worry about pledges.” Democrats have criticized the proposed G-O-P platform, arguing that by failing to embrace same-sex marriage and gay rights, the Republican Party is going backwards on social issues.

(Radio Iowa)

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Police in Creston arrested a local man in drug and other charges, Friday. Authorities say 35-year old Joey Gene Baxter, of Creston, was arrested in the 200 block of N. Oak Street, on charges of Solicitation, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Baxter was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Police in Red Oak say a man was arrested early this (Monday) morning, for Public Intoxication. 23-year old Timothy John Jennings, of Glenwood, was arrested in the 2300 block of N. Eastern Avenue, at around 4:15-a.m.  Jennings was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue personnel have been called (5:40-a.m.) to a reported accident this morning on I-80 eastbound at mile marker 60. A motorist reported a vehicle had entered the ditch at that location. No injuries were reported (Update 5:51-a.m.) .

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

A traffic stop in Fremont County late Sunday night resulted in a pursuit and arrest. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope says a deputy tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. The vehicle, driven by 33-year old Brandon Buckner, of Hamburg, was reportedly involved in an previous incident Sunday evening. Buckner refused to stop for the deputies, and led them on a chase through the city limits of Hamburg.

He was arrested when the pursuit ended in the 500 block of Main Street, in Hamburg. Buckner was brought to the Fremont County Jail, where he faces multiple traffic violations, and was awaiting an appearance before a magistrate.

Buckner

Authorities say alcohol was believed to be a factor in the chase, but their investigation was on-going.No damage or injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cass County man was arrested Friday afternoon at the Adair County Jail on two felony warrants for a controlled substance violation stemming from an undercover sale that took place in Dec. 2015. 47-year old Bradley Leo Ranney, of Massena, was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $150,000 cash only bond. Between Dec, 1^st and 31^st, 2015, Ranney is alleged to have possessed and delivered more than 5-grams of a methamphetamine to an undercover officer, in Bridgewater.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 49-year old James Alana Klemish, of Adair, was arrested Thursday morning for Serious Domestic Abuse Assault, in connection with an incident during which he allegedly struck his wife in the mouth at his residence, causing visible marks and injury. Klemish was released from custody later that day on a $1,000 cash bond or surety.

Other arrests in Adair County include: 42-year old Mark Alan Emgarten, of Adair, on July 16th, for OWI/1st Offense; and, 36-year old James Robert Sims, of Fontanelle, on July 15th, for Driving While Barred. Emgarten was later released on $1,000 bond, while Sims was released on $2,000 bond.