Iowa delegates at the Republican National Convention are leaving Cleveland today (Friday) in a mostly unified front, touting Donald Trump. Iowa delegate Jake Chapman, a state senator from Adel, says you “cannot discredit” what Trump has been able to do in his business life — and during in this campaign. “As the convention has gone along, as we’ve heard more speeches, there is definitely a unity coalescing,” Chapman says. Iowa delegate Robert Cramer, a businessman from Grimes, is on the board of directors for The Family Leader, a Christian conservative group. Cramer says picking Indiana Governor Mike Pence as the V-P nominee shows Trump not only wants to win, he wants to govern.

“He’s just a really solid, Christian guy who is humble leader and wants to do the right thing,” Cramer says, “and so I think he will be really good for Trump.” Bill Anderson, a state senator from Pierson, says Pence will “definitely” appeal to the party’s evangelical voters. “We’re building a positive message for November and that’s what I came here to do, that’s what I’ve been talking to my constituents about,” Anderson says. “Obviously, I didn’t support Mr. Trump during the Caucuses, but at the end of the day we have a process and this is the fulfillment of that process.”

Gregg Cummings of Lamoni, an alternate delegate at the convention, says Trump’s pick of Pence shows he’ll surround himself with good people. “Hopefully he’ll open the bag further and spill the beans on the rest of his cabinet,” Cummings says. “…If he does that, I think we will see a stronger, unified party.” Greg Heartsill, a state representative from Columbia, says the stakes are high in other races, too, as Republicans hope to keep a majority of seats in the U.S. House and Senate — and win statehouse races around the country.

“We can’t afford for folks to stay home because their candidate didn’t make it,” Heartsill says. First-time national delegate Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa says the convention experience does “motivate and inspirate” the delegates to dig in back home. “I think there’s a lot of enthusiasm and support for getting Donald Trump and Mike Pence elected as president and vice president this coming fall,” Miller-Meeks says. Cheryl Kramer of Dubuque was among the Iowa G-O-P’s guests in Cleveland, attending her eighth national convention. She has volunteered to work on the Trump campaign.

“I was with him nearly from the beginning,” Kramer says. “I’m very motivated anyway. Politics has been a part of my life. I first worked for Ronald Reagan’s campaign in 1966 in California. That’s what first got me going, so it’s 50 years this year.” Iowa delegate Amy Christen of Davenport supported Jeb Bush in the Iowa Caucuses and “cannot stand” Hillary Clinton. She’s offering this advice to Iowans who’ve told her they are upset with both Clinton and Trump:

“Don’t do the stay-home protest. Go and vote. Vote for the least worst alternative or, if you need to, vote Libertarian,” Christen says, “or write in — as long as it’s not Daffy Duck.” Christen says that will show party leaders that voters won’t “just stay home” because they’re faced with two unlikeable candidates. Democrats will gather next week in Philadelphia for their party’s national convention.

(Radio Iowa)

Republican Congressman Steve King has a “long history” with Tom Vilsack. And, as speculation grows that Vilsack might be Hillary Clinton’s choice as a running mate, King is praising the ag secretary’s “work ethic.” “He’s administered a huge department in our government, so I think he would be an asset to their ticket,” King says, “although you know I’d be working against him.” King first met Vilsack when the two were state senators. King says when he was first elected in 1996, some of the “seasoned” members of the state senate warned King not to debate Vilsack.

“He’s a very intelligent man. He has a good work ethic. He is well-prepared,” King says. “When I look at the preparation of his colleagues from back in those days, I think Tom Vilsack’s matched anybody’s and exceeded most.” Vilsack’s wife, Christie, ran against King in 2012. When Vilsack was governor, King successfully sued over Vilsack’s executive order that barred discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender state employees.

“We have a long history. We’ve been to court against each other and a number of other things,” King says. “They weren’t all pleasant and agreeable circumstances, but he has the capability.” And King says a Clinton-Vilsack ticket might make a difference in a swing state like Iowa. “I don’t know whether it’d be a dramatic thing in Iowa, but surely there’s always that piece of state pride,” King says.

If Vilsack is picked, though, King says he’ll make the case Vilsack hasn’t been a “stronger advocate” for ag policy during the past seven and half years, especially since the Obama Administration hasn’t increased required ethanol production levels. King also plans to bring up Vilsack’s approval of the state law which required all state documents to be written in English, something King championed as a state senator. King suggests Vilsack’s position on “English Only” laws may have changed.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — MidAmerican Energy had issued a peak alert, Thursday,  asking its customers to conserve energy from 2 until 7 p.m., as a way to hold down costs. MidAmerican says it has enough generating capacity to meet the demand, plus a reserve.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A transgender prison worker has filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission saying the Department of Corrections violated his constitutional rights by refusing to allow him to use the men’s bathroom and showers at work. Jesse Vroegh has worked for the state since 2009 and is a nurse at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville. He’s also challenging denial of some medical treatment and procedures by his state-provided insurer.

DURANGO, Iowa (AP) — A Durango, Iowa, woman has been charged with theft and elder abuse, accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from an aunt who had Alzheimer’s. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that 44-year-old Molly Bodish made an initial court appearance Wednesday and posted $5,000 bond. Police say a search of the woman’s bank records show Bodish wrote checks to herself or for her personal use from her aunt’s account totaling more than $365,000 over several years

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of Iowa’s Republican Party says his delegation expressed anger and disappointment at U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for delivering a speech at the GOP national convention that didn’t endorse Donald Trump for president.

The 2016 Cass County Fair Little Ms and Mr Contest along with the King and Queen contest were held on Thursday night at the Atlantic High School Auditorium.  The contests were moved to the High School due to the oppressive heat and humidity.

15 different candidates participated in the first annual Little Ms. and Mr. contest.  Names were drawn to determine who would win those titles and Reilly Becker was named Little Mister and Faithlynn Scholl was named Little Miss.

In the King and Queen contest 20 young women competed for the Queen title and 6 young men vied for the title of King.  Preliminary judging narrowed the queen candidates down to 6 finalists.  The finalists were asked a few questions in front of the crowd as final judging took place.

Some 4-H awards and honorees were announced as the judges made their final selections. Miss and Mister Congeniality, Prince and Princess, and King and Queen were then announced.

For the boys Adison Erickson was named Prince while Nate Moen was named Mr. Congeniality and King. Moen is a member of the Washington GEM 4-H club and Atlantic FFA and is the son of Clint and Laura Freund.

On the ladies side Emma Dorsey was named Princess. Megan Behrends was named Miss Congeniality and Queen.  Behrends is a member of the Benton Franklin 4-H Club and Atlantic FFA. She is the daughter of Curt and Michelle Behrends.

The 2016 Cass County Fair King Nate Moen and Queen Megan Behrends will now fulfill duties of handing out awards throughout the Cass County Fair and Behrends will get the chance to participate in the State Fair Queen Contest.