CEDAR RAPIDS – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand outraised his Republican challengers in 2025. KCRG-TV reports the state auditor raised over $9.5 million last year, with the closest Republican at $4.3 million — that’s current U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra. While the GOP overwhelming voted for President Donald Trump in 2024, Sand remains the only statewide elected Democrat in the state. Both primaries will be held in June.

AMES – Legislation is in the Iowa Statehouse that would bring back a long standing celebration with a history of issues at Iowa State University. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports House Study Bill 545 would require the Iowa Board of Regents to conduct a study into the practicality of reviving the VEISHEA event at Iowa State. The celebration had run for nearly a century in Ames, led by students. Student violence marred the event off-campus, including riots in 2014 that ultimately led to its cancelation.

ALTOONA – An Altoona Couple accused of stealing nearly $58,000 in Amazon packages they were supposed to deliver have plead guilty to theft charges. WHO-13 reports Brandon and Madison Kelderman were arrested last October. The Ankeny Police Department claims the two were working as Flex drivers when they kept several items they were suppose to get to customers in the metro. Both were charged with first degree theft.