Indiana Governor Mike Pence — the Republican Party’s VICE presidential nominee — spent a couple of hours Saturday strolling through the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Pence first stopped by a private event with Iowa G-O-P heavy-hitters like Governor Branstad and agri-businessman Bruce Rastetter. Pence then walked into the public part of the fairgrounds, stopping by the Iowa G-O-P’s booth, stepping up on a platform and speaking for about a minute.

“Iowa always plays such an important role in the choice that America makes, but I know this fall Iowa will lead the way when we elect Donald Trump as the next president of the United States of America,” Pence said. Pence ended his brief pep talk with Donald Trump’s trademark campaign slogan. “Let’s all work our hearts out. It’s a little more than 80 days, but I know in my heart of hearts if all of us do all we can, we will elect leadership in America that will make America great again,” Pence said, to cheers. “Let’s go get it done.”

Pence bought a hot beef sundae at the Iowa Cattleman’s Quarters on the fairgrounds, took a selfie with Governor Branstad in front of the butter cow and flipped chops on the Iowa Pork Producers’ grill. A person dressed as a duck trailed Pence to the pork tent, followed by others holding signs saying “Donald Ducks Releasing His Taxes.” People nearby holding Trump-Pence signs chanted “Lock Her Up” — the same refrain heard when speakers at the Republican National Convention mentioned Hillary Clinton.

Pence was greeted by chants of his first name when he entered the fair’s Varied Industries Building. Later, as Pcnce visited with pork producers a few people on a nearby sidewalk booed and one yelled: “Hillary Clinton for President.” That prompted another round of the “Lock Her Up” chant. Earlier Saturday afternoon, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack held a news conference to call on Trump to “follow 40 years of precedent” and release his tax returns.

(Radio Iowa)

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Fewer drivers are receiving the tough penalties Iowa lawmakers approved for illegally passing school buses when they are stopped. The Des Moines Register reports that the number of people charged with violating the school bus law has declined, and the law’s tough penalties may make prosecutors more willing to accept lesser charges.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa law prohibits texting and driving, but few people in Sioux City are receiving tickets for the offense. Police say the law is difficult to enforce because it is a secondary offense and because the law still allows some use of electronic devices while driving.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa family pays $500 for a new home that has to be moved to a new site before a highway project is completed. Moving the home will cost roughly $75,000 more, but the family still figures they got a bargain on the home.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A year ago, Mark Fedders stared at the empty chicken barns on his farm after his flock was wiped out by the bird flu and pondered an uncertain future. A year later, the barns at his Orange City farm remain empty, but Fedders’ future may never have been more certain. The Sioux City Journal reports that within months after losing his 170,000 chickens, Fedders turned to making and marketing leather gun holsters and other products.

One person was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital following a two-vehicle collision Sunday evening at 7th and Pine Streets, in Atlantic. Atlantic Police Officer Tim Olsen said the driver of an SUV was traveling west on 7th Street and had pulled over for a fire truck heading eastbound, when the SUV was rear ended by a Ford Ranger pickup. The accident happened at around 7:40-p.m.

The driver of the SUV was injured and transported by Medivac Ambulance to the hospital. A citation was issued to the driver of the pickup. No names were released Sunday evening.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources and Fremont County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday evening, a search was underway in the Missouri River near Hamburg for man who is missing after being swept under a barge Sunday afternoon.

The man, whose name is being withheld pending notification to family members, was a passenger in a boat that stalled shortly after launching from a Hamburg Mitchell boat ramp access landing, at approximately 2 p.m. The boat drifted a short distance downstream where it was swept under a barge that was moored to the bank. The missing man and boat had not been located by late Sunday afternoon.

The operator of the boat, 47-year old Johnnie Fields, of Shenandoah, was able to swim under the barge and was rescued downstream by people on shore. Neither of the men were wearing life jackets.

The incident remains under investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The Southwest Iowa Dive Team was still on location Sunday evening. Hamburg Fire and Rescue, Riverton Fire and Rescue and LifeNet from Clarinda assisted the DNR at the scene.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state agency overseeing Iowa’s transition to a privatized Medicaid program waived any possible sanctions against three insurance companies during the first two months of the new system and it didn’t inform health advocates or lawmakers of its plans. Information obtained through a public records request show the Iowa Department of Human Services issued no written warnings or corrective action plans in April and May to the insurance companies that now run the state’s Medicaid program. Fees for any purported violations were also waived.

A DHS spokeswoman says the agency had discretion on when to sanction the companies and wanted to take a “collaborative approach.” The spokeswoman says no data is available yet on any possible problems recorded during that period. Some Medicaid patients and health care providers have reported delays in payments and care. DHS says the issues are not systemic.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa law prohibits texting and driving, but few people in Sioux City are receiving tickets for the offense. The Sioux City Journal reports that over the past years Sioux City police have issued 18 texting while driving tickets and the Woodbury County Sheriff’s office has issued nine.

Sioux City Police Sgt. Todd Sassman says the texting law has been difficult to enforce because it’s a secondary violation that’s only enforced after a driver is pulled over for something else. And the law still allows some electronic device use even though it bans text messages or using Twitter or Facebook.

Gov. Terry Branstad has said he’s looking at the possibility of proposing a complete cellphone ban next year. He appointed a group to study ways to reduce distracted driving.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Few drivers are receiving the tough penalties Iowa lawmakers approved in 2012 for illegally passing school buses when they are stopped.
The Des Moines Register reports that the number of people charged with violating the school bus law has declined, and the law’s tough penalties may make prosecutors more willing to accept lesser charges.

The law calls for a 30-day license suspension for a first offense, costly fines and expensive high-risk insurance. The measure was prompted by the 2011 death of 7-year-old Kadyn Halverson.

The number of drivers charged with illegally passing a bus fell to 895 in 2015 from 1,030 in 2012. Authorities say part of the problem is that the bus driver or another driver is often the only witness, so it can be difficult to prove.