More than 250 Democrats from Iowa’s largest county gathered Sunday night, commiserating about recent losses, but urging one another to “lean forward” to 2018 and beyond. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar was the event’s keynote speaker. She told Radio Iowa Democrats “can’t forget the middle of the country.” “We need people who are speaking out nationally from the middle of the country,” Klobuchar said. “That means from the middle of the political spectrum and everything else.”

Klobuchar spoke for about 40 minutes at the Polk County Democrats’ Spring Fundraiser. She criticized President Trump of being too focused on tweeting. She described the U.S. Senate as the “emergency brake” to some of Trump’s agenda. “I had to make a decision at the end of last year and Trump had won and I had an opportunity to run for governor and you know what I decided?” Klobuchar asked the crowd. “I decided I wasn’t going to leave my duty station because the United States Senate is the place to be.”

But Klobuchar spent most of her time laying out a “four corners…competitiveness agenda.” Her speech stoked speculation she may run for president herself in 2020. “Let’s not think of this as a moment in time just to overcome. Right?” Klobuchar told the crowd in closing. “Let’s think of this as an opportunity, a moment to shine, to show the world what America really stands for and to show the world what we’re made of.” Klobuchar stood to speak in front of the huge American flag that was used on Election Night 2012 in Des Moines at President Obama’s final campaign rally.

“We wanted it to be here tonight to show that we’ve had good days in the past. We have a good day today and we’re going to have good days in the future.” That’s Polk County Democratic Party chairman Sean Bagniewski. Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids told his fellow Democrats to quit moping around and complaining about one another on social media. Hogg urged Democrats to have a “summer of citizenship in 2017” and as his cadence escalated, Hogg seemed to be losing his voice.

“With your help, we’re going to take back the Iowa House…the Iowa Senate…the governorship,” Hogg said. “And with your help we’re going to take back congress and, with your help, in 2020 we’re going to take back the presidency before that man destroys our country, our democracy and our future.” AFSCME Council 61 president Danny Homan blasted Republican lawmakers at the state level for rolling back union bargaining rights and he promised political payback’s ahead.

“The pledge I am making to the Iowa Democratic Party and to every Democrat in the state: I am going to educate my members,” Homan said. “…They are going to know who the hell did this to ’em and it wasn’t Democrats.” Klobuchar, who took the stage a few minutes later, praised other speakers and the crowd for exhibiting “incredible energy.” “As I’ve told many of you before: ‘I can see Iowa from my porch,'” Klobuchar said and last night’s Des Moines crowd laughed. “It is good to be back with friends and I thought I was going to come down here to cheer you guys up, but you’ve cheered me up.”

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:10 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some legislators are voicing skepticism about a state agency’s new foster care rules. Lawmakers are saying they’re not sure they can trust the Department of Human Services and question why it’s focusing on seemingly small matters but not addressing bigger issues about child safety. Although the agency’s proposals address many foster care issues, like bedroom requirements, they don’t address factors behind high-profile child abuse cases. That includes the death of a teenage girl last year.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The western Iowa sheriff’s deputy who was fatally wounded in a jail escape last week will be laid to rest on Monday. The funeral for Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Burbridge will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It will be open to the public.

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (AP) — A Mount Vernon native and Cornell College alumnus has given $1 million to the Iowa college for a science facilities expansion. Jerry Ringer, a retired ophthalmologist in Bloomington, Illinois, and his wife, Carole, donated the money for the college’s $35 million science facilities project. The project will more than double the college’s STEM space with the construction, already under way, of the four-story Russell Science Center and renovations of West Science and portions of Law Hall.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque County has installed a camera to livestream footage of a pair of peregrine falcons that have returned to nest on a sixth-floor ledge of the courthouse. Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife diversity program technician Pat Schlarbaum tells the Telegraph Herald the birds of prey are one of nearly 20 nesting pairs in Iowa. They were once listed as an endangered species. Dubuque County staff are streaming footage of the nest on YouTube, which contains three red, potato-like eggs.

Another in a series of meetings for the Griswold Community School District’s Facilities Committee will be held on Wednesday of this week. The meeting takes place at 5:00 p.m. May 10th at the Griswold Community School District’s Middle School / High School Library, and is for the purpose of assessing current educational facilities.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The western Iowa sheriff’s deputy who was fatally wounded in a jail escape last week will be laid to rest on Monday. The funeral for Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Burbridge will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It will be open to the public.

Afterward, more than 1,000 law enforcement vehicles are expected to escort Burbridge’s body back to the funeral home. Some mourners are expected to line up along the procession route to pay their respects to Burbridge.

Police say Wesley Correa-Carmenaty was being transported to the Council Bluffs jail after sentencing last Monday when he attacked Burbridge and another deputy, grabbed one of their guns and shot them before fleeing in a jail van. He was recaptured in neighboring Omaha, Nebraska.

Procession Route

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Human Services is facing scrutiny from legislators as it tries to implement rules for the state foster care system that it says will better protect children.

As the agency strives to make changes it says are necessary, lawmakers are pushing back against the efforts and criticizing the agency for focusing on small fixes. The criticism follows high-profile child abuse cases last year, which led some lawmakers to say the agency is no longer credible.

The newly proposed foster care rules change guidelines for child placement agencies and alter rules for hazard protections, bedrooms and such details as pet waste disposal.

The process for those rules to be enacted requires a public notice period until May 16, during which lawmakers and citizens can voice opinions.

(Update 12:45-p.m. 5/7: Harris has been apprehended, per Shenandoah Police)

Officials with the Shenandoah Police Department are asking for your help in locating 43-year old Joseph Edward Harris, of Shenandoah. Harris is wanted in connection with a domestic violence incident that took place early this (Sunday) morning.

Harris is described being six-feet tall. He weighs about 235 pounds and was wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans when he was last seen. Harris is considered to be armed and dangerous. If anyone sees him, do not confront him. Call 9-1-1 immediately.

(His picture is posted below)

Joseph Harris

Police in Shenandoah report a woman was arrested on assault charges Saturday night. 62-year old Barbara Andrews, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody at around 11:30-p.m., after Shenandoah Police received a 911 call about a physical confrontation at McDonald’s at 504 South Fremont Street in Shenandoah.

Upon investigating the circumstances of the incident, officers arrested Barbara Andrews was charged with two counts of Simple Assault – both simple misdemeanors. She was transported to Page County Jail and held without bond pending an initial court appearance and no contact order.

Police in Red Oak arrested a man for Disorderly Conduct, Saturday afternoon. 34-year old Nick Joseph Jandreau, of Red Oak, was arrested just before 2-p.m. in the 2300 block of Eastern Avenue and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set a $300.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:40 a.m. CDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Donald Trump’s order to ease limits on political activity by religious organizations is being met with both enthusiasm and dread from religious leaders. Some rejoice in the new freedom to preach their views. Others fear the change will erode the integrity of houses of worship. Trump signed the order Thursday. He says it will give churches their “voices back.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents is considering tuition hikes at the state’s three public universities next school year to help offset millions in budget cuts. The Press-Citizen reports the proposal would increase in-state base tuition for undergraduates by $216 for the 2017-18 academic year at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. UI officials have asked for additional tuition creases for out-of-state and graduate students.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s deputy and a motorist injured in shootings authorities say was carried out by an escaped jail inmate have been discharged from the hospital. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 59-year-old Deputy Pat Morgan has been discharged from the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was being treated. A 30-year-old Council Bluffs man shot in the neck in a carjacking attempted police say was related to the escape has also been released.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — Residents of a Bettendorf neighborhood are frustrated by a growing deer population and the city’s inability to reduce the herd size. The Quad-City Times reports that neighbors have documented the deer population growing out of control and destroying vegetation despite being on the bow hunters list since 2009. The police chief says the city has contacted the Iowa Natural Resources Department numerous times but has been told its ability to do anything is limited outside of the hunting season.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City man charged with sexually assaulting numerous students and employees on the University of Iowa campus plans to use an insanity defense. The Press-Citizen reports court records show an attorney for 34-year-old Adam Weinstein filed notice that Weinstein will claim insanity, diminished responsibility and intoxication when his case goes to trial later this year.

Weinstein is charged with third-degree sexual abuse, four counts of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and three counts of harassment. Police say Weinstein sexually assaulted, groped and harassed at least eight women on the UI campus during a 15-hour period on Nov. 10, 2015. Police say the incidents took place at the university hospital, near residence halls and the law school.