IOWA – A powerful blizzard swept through Iowa on Sunday into this morning, halting travel for many. The Iowa DOT shut down nearly all of Interstate 80 overnight for powerful winds of up to 65 MPH. The Iowa State Patrol responded to dozens of crashes before the worst of the gusts started to impact a wide range of the state. It came after severe thunderstorms were reported in eastern Iowa before the onset of snow. Travel conditions are expected to remain difficult to nearly impossible in some parts of the state, as bitter cold has settled in. Wind chill values as low as 30 below zero are possible in the northern part of the state through Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

ANKENY – Ankeny Police released more details about an apparent homicide that occurred on Saturday. WHO-13 reports that officers arrived early Saturday morning after dispatch received information about a dispute involving a possible murder-suicide. An adult victim was found with a stab wound and a second individual believed to be the suspect, who was injured in an apparent suicide attempt. Criminal charges are pending the medical recovery and investigation, according to the Polk County Attorney’s Office.

IOWA – Several basketball programs officially learned they are dancing into March Madness and the NCAA Men’s and Women’s tournaments later this week. KCCI-TV reports the Iowa Hawkeyes men are the No. 8 seed and take on Clemson this Friday at 5:50 p.m. The Iowa State Cyclones are the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, and take on No. 15 Tennessee State on Friday at 1:50 p.m. The University of Northern Iowa men are the No. 12 seed in the East Region, and take on No. 5 St. John’s Friday at 6:10 p.m. The Iowa Hawkeyes women are the No. 2 seed and host 15th seeded Fairleigh Dickinson, and the No. 8 seeded Iowa State Cyclones open against Syracuse.