CLEVELAND – The Latest on the Republican National Convention in Cleveland (all time local):
5 p.m.
The Republican Party has adopted what Christian conservatives are cheering as the most conservative statement of party policy principles in recent memory.
The GOP national convention has approved language reaffirming the party's opposition to gay marriage and bathroom choice for transgender people.
And there's new language condemning same-sex parenting.
Here's what it says: "Children raised in a traditional two-parent household tend to be physically and emotionally healthier, less likely to sue drugs and alcohol, engage in crime or become pregnant outside of marriage."
The party's platform represents the GOP's formal policy positions for the next four years. The document serves as guidance for Republican leaders across the nation, but is not binding.
___
4:45 p.m.
It took two votes, but delegates at the Republican National Convention were able to approve the rules that'll govern the convention.
It was some scene.
The rules won approval in an initial voice vote, and then anti-Donald Trump delegates became raucous and started chanting, "Call the roll!"
Others drowned them out with chants of "USA!"
There was a brief break before Steve Womack — the Arkansas congressman who was chairing the proceedings — returned to the podium and called for a second voice vote.
He said for a second time that the rules had passed.
The anti-Trump delegates wanted a state-by-state roll call vote on the rules. That would have been a drawn-out process and could have exposed party divisions.
These delegates collected enough signatures on petitions to force a roll-call vote, but Trump supporters persuaded some delegates to remove their names.
Ending the dust-up was important to show at least a veneer of party unity behind Trump.
___
4:40 p.m.
A spokesman for Chris Christie says the New Jersey governor was mistaken when he referred to a donation made by Donald Trump to Superstorm Sandy relief efforts.
Christie spokesman Brian Murray says Christie "misspoke" about the Sandy donation. The spokesman says Trump has given to other New Jersey charities, including a foundation dedicated to the governor's mansion.
Earlier Monday, Christie told the Michigan delegation at the GOP convention that his wife, Mary Pat Christie, once asked Trump for a Sandy donation and that Trump responded by saying: "How much does the check need to be? Just tell me, and I'll send it."
But Trump isn't listed in a final report thanking the more than 150 people and companies that donated at least $25,000 to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.
___
4:35 p.m.
House Speaker Paul Ryan has been officially elected chairman of the Republican National Convention.
The Wisconsin lawmaker was elected on a quick voice vote with no opposition.
Ryan will now preside over the convention to nominate Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for president.
Ryan has had an uneasy relationship with Trump. He endorsed the billionaire businessman but has criticized some of Trump's rhetoric.
___
4:30 p.m.
Donald Trump's supporters have succeeded in heading off a state-by-state roll call vote on the rules that will govern the GOP's national convention.
Anti-Trump delegates collected signatures on petitions calling for the vote.
They had support from a majority of the delegates in nine states — two more than needed.
But Rep. Steve Womack — who was chairing the proceedings — said from the podium that delegates from three states withdrew their signatures. He then declared that the effort had fallen short.
Womack took the unusual step of calling for two separate voice votes. He declared the pro-Trump delegates victorious both times.
___
4:20 p.m.
Republican leaders have hastily approved rules that will govern the Republican National Convention — but approval came over the loud objections from anti-Donald Trump delegates.
The dissident delegates are pressing to hold a state-by-state roll call vote on the rules.
Instead, Rep. Steve Womack, who was chairing the proceedings, called a quick voice vote.
___
4:15 p.m.
The Republican National Convention has started considering reports by the convention committees.
The convention is starting with the report by the credentials committee. Delegates also will consider and vote on the rules of the convention.
___
4 p.m.
A Republican Party official says nine states have submitted petitions to force a full state-by-state roll call vote on the rules of the convention. That's two more states than necessary.
The official says the party has verified that the petitions and signatures are legitimate.
The official wasn't authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The vote is sought by anti-Donald Trump delegates who want the ability to vote for someone other than Trump.
He's amassed far more delegates than he needs to win the GOP presidential nomination.
The drawn-out vote probably won't change the outcome of the convention, but it could expose party divisions.
The Trump campaign is fighting back by circulating a form allowing people to remove their names from the roll-call vote petition
___
3:20 p.m.
There is no shortage of action inside the convention hall as anti-Trump delegates work to cause mischief behind the scenes.
A steady stream of speakers has already been featured at the podium. They include several state and country Republican officials, with a special welcome from one Democrat: Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. He got a warm reception from the hundreds of Republican delegates seated in the main convention hall.
In between speakers, loud music is pumping throughout the basketball arena. A band set off to the side of the stage played a cover of the popular Canadian band, Rush, among others.
At other times, Republican governors from across the nation are featured on video screens throughout the arena — including some governors who are not participating in the formal convention program. They include Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Susana Martinez, who are in Cleveland this week, but boycotting Trump's' convention.
The higher profile-speakers, such as actors Scott Baio and Duck Dynasty star Will Robertson will take the stage later tonight.
___
3:15 p.m.
The Trump campaign is fighting back against an attempt to force a state-by-state roll call to approve the rules of the convention.
Anti-Trump delegates have submitted petitions from delegates in at least nine states calling for the roll call vote. Such a vote probably won't change the outcome of the convention, but it could disrupt the first day of an event designed to show GOP unity behind Donald Trump.
However, Utah delegate Aimee Winder Newton says the Trump campaign is passing around a form allowing people to remove their names from the petition. Basically, it's a second petition to un-sign the first. She says no one appears to be taking them up on it.
___
2:49 p.m.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie describes presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as generous, citing as proof his quick offer to donate money to Superstorm Sandy relief efforts.
But Trump isn't listed in a final report thanking the more than 150 people and companies that donated at least $25,000 to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund effort run by Christie's wife, Mary Pat, after the devastating 2012 storm.
Christie told Michigan's Republican delegation in Ohio Monday that the billionaire businessman asked Mary Pat "How much does the check need to be?" and said "just tell me, and I'll send it."
Spokespeople for Trump, Christie and a board member of the fund didn't immediately return requests for comment.
___
2:46 p.m.
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson says that Donald Trump made the right choice when he selected Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate, describing the ticket as "anti-establishment, but not crazy."
Carson tells The Associated Press in an interview Monday that he believes Pence adds crucial experience to the ticket — along with fundraising prowess.
He also expects a Trump presidency would be very different from the unconventional campaign that he's been running.
Carson says that, "we're more the WWE Raw society right now" and says candidates need to understand that when they're running for office.
"You have to give to people the raw meat that they seek," he says.
But he expects Trump would mellow if he won the White House. "I don't think he would be the WWE president," he says.
___
2:40 p.m.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is on his way to Cleveland to be confirmed as Donald Trump's running mate.
Pence boarded a private jet Monday afternoon at Indianapolis International Airport with his wife, Karen, and one of his daughters for the trip to the Republican National Convention.
The Republican governor had returned to Indiana on Saturday following his formal debut that morning as Donald Trump's running mate in Manhattan.
Pence didn't make any remarks or take any questions before his Monday departure, which wasn't open to the public. Pence is expected to speak Wednesday during the GOP convention.
___
2:25 p.m.
Members of the GOP convention's rules committee say there will be no changes that could deny the Republican nomination to Donald Trump.
There are still efforts to force a state-by-state roll call on the rules for the convention. Such a maneuver could draw out the process and disrupt the flow of the convention. But it won't change the outcome.
"The war is over, Donald Trump will be the nominee," said Bruce Ash, an Arizona delegate who sits on the rules committee.
Dissident delegates want to change the rules to allow them to vote their conscience. Under current rules, they must vote for the candidate who won them.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
