(Radio Iowa) – The butter cow at the Iowa State Fair usually has a lot of people waiting in line to get a look — but this year one of the companion sculptures is also getting plenty of interest. University of Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark is one of three athletes sculpted in butter. Sydney Greeney is a member of the North Scott F-F-A club, and says she doesn’t watch a lot of sports, but knows Caitlin Clark, and says “it’s really cool” see her in butter.

Butter Cow & Caitlin Clark in butter (RI Photo)

A group of four women from Colorado also were in line to see Clark and say they like the sculpture. They says they have heard a lot about her. The other two in butter along with Clark are from U-N-I and N-F-L quarterback Kurt Warner, and former I-S-U football player Jack Trice.

(Radio Iowa) – Today’s (Friday) date is August 11th or 8-11, the day you are reminded about the three-digit phone number you’re required by law to call before doing any digging on your property. Ben Booth is spokesman for Iowa One Call which is marking what it calls 8-1-1 Day in advance of the fall planting season. Booth says call 8-1-1 at least 48 hours before digging and Iowa One Call will have all underground utilities marked so you’ll know where -not- to dig.

The state law was enacted in 1993, mandating that Iowans use the service before taking a shovel to dirt, and especially before using anything larger to dig. Learn more about digging on your property at Iowa One Call-dot-com.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart says Democrats have not yet decided whether to hold their Caucuses on the same night as Iowa Republicans. The Iowa G-O-P announced in July their first-in-the-nation Caucuses will be held on January 15th. Hart says she’s not going to commit to that date until the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee reaches a consensus.

“We’ve said from the very beginning that we would have the Caucuses on the same day as the Republicans,” Hart says. “I certainly would like to see that we are able to do that.”

The two major parties have typically held their Caucuses on the same night as the first voting event in presidential campaign seasons. National Democrats have decided South Carolina will vote first in 2024, followed by four other states. Iowa Republicans have secured the opening spot in their party’s 2024 nominating process. Hart says Democrats were not consulted when Republicans announced their Caucuses would be held on January 15th — the Martin Luther King, Junior holiday.

“I think in the past Republicans and Democrats have worked together on determining that date,” Hart says, “so it was disappointing that we did not have any input.”

Hart says she’s speaking with black leaders around the state to see if they are concerned the Democratic Party’s Caucuses would conflict with events to mark the Martin Luther King, Junior holiday. In 2004, Iowa Democrats and Republicans held their Caucuses on M-L-K Day. Hart made her comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.

(Radio Iowa) – Former Vice President Mike Pence says he’s looking forward to a vigorous discussion as the 2024 Republican presidential candidates debate on August 23rd. Eight candidates have qualified for the debate in Milwaukee, but former President Trump has not yet announced whether he’ll be there. Pence says the debate will give voters a fresh look at him and the other candidates.

“Everyone that is standing for the Republican nomination, from my former running mate on down, ought to be on that stage, ought to be making their case,” Pence said, “and we’ll let the American people decide.” Pence spoke at the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair Thursday, and briefly debated a man in the crowd. Pence was asked why he committed treason on January 6th, a reference to Pence’s role in certifying Joe Biden’s Electoral College win. A couple of other people in the crowd booed and Pence intervened.

“It’s a fair question. Look, come on people. That’s why I came…There’s almost no idea more un-American than the notion that one person could pick the American president. The American presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone,” Pence said, to applause and cheers from many in the crowd. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum — also campaigning at the State Fair — told reporters he doesn’t need a break through moment in the debate.

“Debate prep looks like this: being at the Fair, talking to real American citizens,” Burgum said. “We’re not going in some closet and trying to memorize lines. We’re talking to real people and what they’re concerned about. They’re concerned about inflation.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was at the fair Thursday to offer the Democratic Party’s rebuttal to the G-O-P candidates. “Democrats are going to vote and they’re going to vote for President Biden,” Walz said. “They know what the alternative is.”

Four G-O-P presidential candidates will be at the State Fair today (Friday) and each will appear with Governor Reynolds for one of her Fair Side Chats.