AMES – Another statewide poll ahead of the Iowa Caucuses show former President Donald Trump has a commanding lead over the field as the state’s nominee for the White House. The latest Iowa State University/Civiqs data shows 54% of GOP voters in Iowa would make Trump their No. 1 pick on January 15th. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is at 17% and Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is at 15% for first choice selections. These numbers are similar to the Iowa Poll conducted by the Des Moines Register in November. In the ISU survey, 75% of Republican caucus goers have made up their minds about their nominee for president.

AMES – More than two dozen cats were rescued from an apartment in Ames this week. KCCI-TV reports the 27 felines were taken to the Ames Animal Shelter as animal control found them in a home filled with feces and urine. Many of the cats suffered from a variety of illnesses. Ames Police have yet to file charges in the case.

IOWA – Iowa Senate Democrats are pushing an oversight investigation into Iowa’s nursing homes. KCRG-TV reports the minority party in the chamber are citing an increase in concerns over the living status of vulnerable seniors in understaffed and under-inspected facilities. Senate Majority Leader Amy Sinclair has declined the request so far, countering that there has been an increase in funding and in efforts from Governor Kim Reynolds to better protect residents of those facilities and increase staffing.

IOWA CITY – Two Iowa Hawkeyes earned unanimous All-American football honors in 2023. Cooper DeJean and Troy Taylor swept the circuit of awards placing them among the best players in the country. They are the 14th and 15th Hawkeyes to be selected to all available All-American squads, according to WHO-13.