ODEBOLT – Republican Wendy Larson won a special election on Tuesday that maintains the supermajority held by the Iowa House. The Des Moines Register reports Larson fills the seat vacated by former Representative Mike Sexton, who has moved to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Larson won the seat by nearly 40 points over Democrat Rachel Burns.

ZEARING – The final defendant in a kidnapping case in Zearing has pled guilty. KCCI-TV reports Danielle Graham is guilty of second-degree kidnapping, two counts of willful injury, and dependent adult abuse, and subsequently sentenced to 55 years in prison late last week. Gary Graham was sentenced to life in prison, and family member Aaron Williams awaits sentencing. They were all arrested after another family member was found with life-threatening injuries in severe malnourishment in 2023.

GUTTENBERG – The Iowa Department of Education accuses leadership with the Iowa Virtual Academy of discrepancies in records. KCRG-TV reports three of the Clayton Ridge Community School District’s administrators, who operate the academy, face accusations of violated state law. Superintendent Shane Wahls, Dean Wade Marlow, and Principal Terri Thompson are alleged to have had issues with mandatory reporter obligations and in regards to false information.

DES MOINES — Des Moines has been selected as a stop on the U.S. Navy Blue Angels’ 2027 national schedule, marking the return of a major air show to Central Iowa for the first time since 1991. The Iowa Air Show: Fields of Thunder will take place May 8 and 9, 2027, at the Iowa Air National Guard base at the Des Moines International Airport.