WASHINGTON (AP) — Mitt Romney’s plan for victory on Tuesday boils down to this: Convince independent voters he’ll change Washington, stoke Republican enthusiasm and avoid unforced errors. The Republican nominee’s path to reaching the necessary 270 electoral votes cuts straight through Iowa, which has leaned Democratic for years, and Wisconsin, where no Republican presidential candidate has won since 1984.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has named an associate juvenile court judge to the district court bench in the 2nd Judicial District, which covers central and northern Iowa. Branstad appointed James McGlynn yesterday to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Joel Swanson of Carroll. McGlynn is from Webster City.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former Forest City police officer charged in a fire at the police station and in the theft of a rifle from a police car has been convicted of arson and burglary charges. A judge on Friday found Thaddeus Ellenbecker guilty of second-degree arson and second-degree burglary.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Police have released the names of an officer and two jailed suspects in a credit union robbery in Marshalltown that led to an exchange of gunfire between an officer and one of the suspects. Ben Crisantos is charged with attempted murder after allegedly firing at Officer Vern Jefferson, hitting him in the leg. Jefferson returned fire, hitting Crisantos in the lower extremities. Both were taken to hospitals and released. The second suspect, Abel Ramirez, is charged with first-degree robbery.