Arizona Senator John McCain campaigned with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst, Wednesday. “Iowans are concerned about out national security, about the treatment of our veterans and the need to fix that,” McCain says. “I think they realize that Joni is exactly the kind of person with her experience and background, also in the legislature, that will make her hit the ground running when she gets to the United States Senate.”

McCain, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, is among a dwindling number of senators with a military background. Ernst, a battalion commander in the Iowa National Guard, is one of a handful of 2014 candidates for the U.S. Senate who have run campaign ads featuring photos of themselves in their military uniforms. McCain says military experience isn’t required, but it’s an “enormous asset” for a member of the senate.

“Joni Ernst has served in a position of command. She understand what morale, efficiency, the capabilities of the men and women who are serving and, most of all, the hardships that men and women undergo as they are serving the country,” McCain says. McCain and Ernst met with veterans at an American Legion Post in Coralville Wednesday, where McCain referred to President Obama’s foreign policy as “feckless” and he called the present state of the Veterans Administration “unacceptable.”

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SHENANDOAH, Iowa (AP) — A southwest Iowa man has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2009 death of his girlfriend. The state Department of Public Safety says 34-year-old Brian Davis of Shenandoah, Iowa was arrested Wednesday. He is being held at the Fremont County Jail on $1 million cash bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Three men have been arrested on suspicion of robbing a liquor store in Cedar Rapids. Police say two men entered Big Discount Liquor on Tuesday night with guns and demanded money. No injuries were reported and the men left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Architects and engineers have unveiled proposals to improve downtown Iowa City that could cost more than $10 million. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the plans were shown Tuesday inside of a hotel ballroom. During the open house, Iowa City residents and business community members studied the designs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials in two eastern Iowa counties are considering trail expansions that could one day be part of a trail stretching from the Waterloo area to Burlington. The Iowa City Press-Citizen says that Johnson County officials want to expand six miles of eastern Iowa’s Hoover Trail by 2016. The project is expected to cost at least $3 million.

Officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation today (Wednesday) report 34-year old Brian Davis, of Shenandoah, was arrested and charged with 1st Degree Murder for the death of his girlfriend Holly Durben on July 18th, 2009.  Based on interviews of witnesses and crime scene evidence, investigators believe that Davis is responsible for Durben’s death.  Davis is currently being held at the Fremont County Jail on a 1-million dollar cash bond.

Brian Davis

Sheriff’s deputies in Fremont County responded to a 9-1-1 call on July 18 2009 at 9:36-a.m. The Call came from Brian Davis at 2492 Highway 59, south of Shenandoah.  When Deputy’s arrived they located 29 year old Holly Durben deceased in the bedroom of her residence, which she shared with her Davis.  The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance in the investigation from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

An autopsy was performed on Ms. Durben’s body at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny, Iowa.  It was determined that Ms. Durben suffered a fatal gunshot to the head as well as other injuries.