US police say a newborn baby missing from a southern Wisconsin home has been found alive at an eastern Iowa gas station.

The flood-ravaged communities of the Midwest became a new battleground in the US presidential election as Democrat Barack Obama criticised Republican John McCain for opposing federal spending on flood prevention programmes, attacks Mr McCain’s campaign called typical partisan politics.

Building materials group CRH has announced four separate acquisitions by its Americas materials division for a total combined cash consideration, including debt assumed, of $350m (€258m).

Severe storms have ripped through part of the midwestern US state Iowa, spawning tornadoes that crushed homes and car and killed one person.