Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for 13 Iowa counties affected by recent severe weather. Branstad’s proclamation Friday allows state resources to be used for response and recovery efforts. The affected counties are Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Franklin, Hancock, Ida, Kossuth, Osceola, Palo Alto, Sac, Woodbury and Wright counties.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republicans are gathering today to pick a candidate to run in November for the seat of retiring Representative Tom Latham in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. More than 500 delegates will meet at Des Moines Christian School in Urbandale to choose from the six candidates who ran in the June 3rd primary but failed to reach the required 35-percent threshold.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say they have taken custody of a newborn baby under the state’s safe haven law. The state Department of Human Services said in a news release Friday that the baby boy was born at a hospital on June 14th. The child’s mother immediately asked that the child be declared a safe haven baby. A court hearing to terminate parental rights will be held soon.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A young sea turtle found injured in Georgia last year has made a long trip to its new home in eastern Iowa. The Telegraph Herald reports the rescued creature arrived Thursday at Dubuque’s National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium after three flights and nearly 1,200 miles of travel.