Iowa Senator Joni Ernst — the first female combat veteran to serve in the United States Senate — will deliver a prime-time speech about national security at next week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland.  “This is a great opportunity for me to be on the national stage and talk about something that is so vitally important to our country,” Ernst says.

The Trump campaign has not yet released the speaking schedule for next week’s convention, but sources say Ernst will be speaking Monday night. Ernst is hinting her remarks will be a partial indictment of the Obama Administration’s policies for military engagement. “If you look at the global front where we’re trying to combat ISIS as best as we can, but without a very enthusiastic administration,” Ernst says. “And Hillary Clinton will just continue on with these lackluster policies.”

Seven months ago, Ernst was deputy chief of staff at the Iowa National Guard’s headquarters when she retired after a 23-year military career. In 2003, Ernst was the commander of a battalion of Iowa National Guard soldiers who ran supply convoys from Kuwait into Iraq. She emphasized her military experience during her successful 2014 campaign for the U.S. Senate. It’s one reason she was rumored to be on Trump’s list of potential running mates.

(Radio Iowa)

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Corn and soybean crops in Iowa and Nebraska continue to make good progress and plant development remains ahead of the five-year average. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop update says corn in Iowa and Nebraska is rated at nearly 80 percent good to excellent while soybeans are around 78 percent good to excellent.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents is dismissing questions about a land deal between its president’s private business and Iowa State University President Steven Leath. Board spokesman Josh Lehman says the deal uncovered by the Des Moines Register is a private transaction that the board will not investigate. The deal involves Leath’s purchase of 145 acres of land from Summit Agricultural Group, which is owned by Board President Bruce Rastetter, for $623,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 33 Iowa small businesses and farms have been awarded grants to reduce energy costs by improving lighting and installing solar energy systems. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says more than $670,000 is approved for the projects including funding a wind energy project and improvements to grain dryer systems on two farms.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has shortened the application form for a person with a criminal conviction who wants to request a pardon from the governor or have his or her firearm rights restored. A new form released online Monday reduces the number of pages from five to two and the number of questions from 43 to 29.

Police in Stuart late Monday night issued an alert on their social media page about a search underway for two suspects. Since their initial post was made, authorities said they were looking for Joshua Ervin Subbert. Subbert fled from police on foot in the 500 block of W. Front St. He’s wanted on six burglary and theft related warrants, out of three different counties. (A current photo of Subbert is unavailable at this time.)

A Guthrie County Sheriffs Office dog was used to assist in the search however due to the weather, the search was suspended. If you see a subject matching Subbert’s description, or know where he is, please contact the Guthrie County Sheriffs Office at 641-747-2214 or dial 911. Subbert is not considered dangerous and officials say they do not believe the public is in any danger.

Stuart Police are looking for two suspects who fled on foot in the area of the 500 block of W. Front St. A police K9 is being used in the search. Please stay inside and report any suspicious people. One suspect may be in a white shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley today (Monday), asked the head of Tyson Foods, Inc., to work with community leaders to restore jobs at the now-defunct Tyson meat processing plant in Cherokee. “I’m aware of the desire of city and county officials to see the facility occupied and operating, so that it can continue to serve the economic and employment needs of the area,” Grassley wrote to Donnie Smith, chief executive officer of Tyson Foods, Inc.

“It is my hope that Tyson Foods would work with the owner of the facility and local leaders in Cherokee to ensure that the facility can be occupied and productive again. It seems there would be mutual interest in seeing the facility occupied to restore economic vitality and livelihoods in their community.”

Grassley noted that when Tyson closed its Cherokee plant in 2014, it eliminated 450 jobs. This was a blow to the local economy, as Tyson was one of the largest employers. According to media reports, the company is locked in a lease with the property owner, and community leaders are frustrated with their inability to seek other employers to lease the facility while the building sits vacant.

“I appreciate your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you,” Grassley wrote.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Corn and soybean crops in Iowa and Nebraska continue to make good progress and plant development remains ahead of the five-year average for this point in the growing season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop update says corn in Iowa and Nebraska is rated at nearly 80 percent good to excellent while soybeans are around 78 percent good to excellent.

Storms last week brought rain to both states missing south-central and southeast Iowa and leaving western and southwestern Nebraska without much new moisture. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says some Iowa farmers have reported isolated crop damage from high wind.

Nebraska farmers reported high wind knocked some corn plants over and snapped off some stalks in a number of eastern counties.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa students will have the opportunity to include their preferred names and gender pronouns on their school record this fall. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the university became one of the first institutions in the country to allow students to identify as transgender on their admissions application three years ago.

Assistant professor Jodi Lindley said in a video released last week that the change allows students to tell university officials, faculty and staff what name and pronouns they’d like to be used in communication and interactions.

The video includes students, faculty and staff members saying which gender pronouns they preferred for themselves. The majority use either he/him/his or she/her/hers, but others who don’t fit squarely into a male-female binary prefer they/their/theirs or ze/zem/zir.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests took place over the weekend. On Saturday, 23-year old Joseph Andrew Riesberg, of Elliott, was arrested for OWI 2nd Offense and Driving While Barred. Riesberg was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2,000 bond.

On Sunday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 43-year old Todd Edward Kimpson, of Corning, on a charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Kimpson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the today (Monday), on $300 bond.

The Atlantic Police Department says numerous arrests to place over the past week. On Saturday, 21-year old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Friday, 28-year old Robert Mayfield, of Okmulgee, OK., was arrested in Atlantic on a Jasper County warrant for Lottery Ticket Fraud. On July 7th, 27-year old Damion Selders, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Burglary in the 3rd degree. Selders was arrested the day before as well, of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On July 4th, three people were arrested on Cass County warrants. 46-year old Dwane Bolton and 19-year old Lucas Stone, both of Atlantic, were arrested for Failure to Appear. And, 38-year old Rose Peters, of Emerson, was arrested on a warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

On July 1st, 50-year old Thomas Jackson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Atlantic after he turned himself-in on a warrant for Parole Violation. All of the subjects mentioned were booked into the Cass County Jail. Jackson later posted bond, and was released.

The Atlantic Police Department has released information on four recent accidents, two of which took place Sunday. In an update to our earlier reports, officials say Devin Register, of Atlantic, was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device, following an accident that happened just before 5-p.m., Sunday. Register was traveling eastbound on Highway 6 in a Buick, when he failed to yield at the stop light and collided with a southbound Chevy Suburban driven by Cynthia Koch, of Atlantic. Register complained of pain and was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Neither Koch nor a child in her vehicle were hurt. Damage from the crash amounted to $12,100.

A few minutes later, an accident happened at 7th and Elm Streets, when Aubrey Ewing, of Atlantic, failed to stop at the controlled intersection. Her vehicle struck a vehicle driven by Denise Lauritsen, of Exira, as she was traveling east on 7th Street. Ewing was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,700.

Last Tuesday evening, vehicles driven by Mandy Parks and Robyn Sullivan, both of Atlantic, collided at 7th and Olive Streets, when Parks failed to obey the stop light as she was traveling west on 7th. Her vehicle struck Sullivan’s vehicle, which was southbound on Olive. Minor injuries were reported by both parties, but no one was transported to the hospital. Damage from the collision amounted to $18,000.

And, on July 5th, a vehicle driven by Debra Williams, of Atlantic, was backing out of a private drive, when it hit a parked car registered to Blain Nolte, of Atlantic. The accident, which happened in the 200 block of Ridge Road, caused $4,000 damage. No citations were issued.