DES MOINES – The temperature has climbed above 60 degrees at Des Moines yet again on Wednesday, marking the fifth day in a row, and sixth day this month to hit 60+. Forecasters with the National Weather Service anticipate it will happen again, which will be the seventh day this month (February 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18). That has happened in only four other years in the month of February: 1930, 1981, and 2024 (7 days each) and 2017 (8 days). The only other years in which there were six or more consecutive days of 60+ in February were 1930 and 2017. With the warm air, strong winds, and low humidity expected today, an elevated burning risk is a cause for concern.

DES MOINES – State Auditor Rob Sand claims that delays from Governor Kim Reynolds administration prevented a full audit of education savings accounts. The Des Moines Register reports Sand held a news conference Tuesday to say the Iowa Department of Education delayed information related to the program before releasing the information in late November. The audit came up with no issues, but Sand was concerned something was potentially missed because of the six month delay. Governor Reynolds claimed there were no issues to find, and that Sand was politically motivated.

MITCHELVILLE – Voters filled three at-large vacancies on the Mitchellville City Council in a special election on Tuesday. ABC-5 reports Morgan Lunn won a four-year term and Steve Zook and Dean Brand won two year seats. Mitchellville has not had a city council meeting for several weeks because previous members of the council resigned and there was no quorum. The community also remains without police after its entire force resigned in late 2025.