AMES – Iowa State University will return to classes Monday after a fire knocked out electricity used to cool the campus. KCCI-TV reports a Thursday fire at the Iowa State Power Plant had the campus switch to virtual classes Friday. The system was restored in under 24 hours. DES MOINES – A Des Moines man faces three decades in prison for a street race that killed a toddler. WHO-13 reports Robert Miller the III was found guilty in June of vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and operating while intoxicated. Miller lost control of his car while racing and collided with a van head-on, killing four-year-old Marcos Faguada. Miller was sentenced on Thursday to 30 years in prison. BUTLER COUNTY (IRN) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a request from Governor Kim Reynolds for disaster assistance related to flooding this past spring. Seven Iowa counties were approved for the resources, including Allamakee, Clayton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Jackson, Lee and Scott. The program helps state and local governments, along with certain private nonprofit organizations, repair and replace disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure. ALTOONA (IRN) – The Altoona City Council approved plans to conduct a special census in June 2025 at its August 21 meeting. The United States conducts a census every 10 years, with the most recent census occurring in 2020. Between the 2010 and 2020 census, Altoona recorded a population growth of 34.5% from 14,541 in 2010 to 19,565 in 2020. The Federal Government allows cities to opt to complete one special federal census per decade to possibly record an increase in their population growth. They join at least three other Des Moines area Metro communities in having its council approve a special census, including Grimes, Pleasant Hill and Waukee.

AMES (IRN) – Iowa State University has moved classes online today after a fire at a power plant has halted the campus cooling system. The Des Moines Register reports the Ames Fire Department extinguished a blaze at the main source of electricity for the university in Ames Thursday morning. As of 8:15 this morning, repairs have been made, but classes will remain virtual. TAMA (IRN) – A man killed in an eastern Iowa explosion has been identified. KCCI-TV reports 70 year old Roger Dehrkoop died in an explosion at a house in Tama County on August 14th. Investigators are still working to determine a cause. DES MOINES (IRN) – The mayor of Des Moines is formally asking a councilmember if they have abandoned their post. WHO-13 reports Frank Cownie is sending a formal request to Indira Sheumaker to return to duty. Sheumaker has not been at a council meeting since March 6th.

DES MOINES – A record for heat was broken in Des Moines and several Iowa communities Wednesday. The National Weather Service recorded a temperature of 100 degrees at the Des Moines Airport. Many communities recorded heat index values above 120 degrees in the afternoon. One more day of extreme heat continues, although football Friday will be uncomfortably warm across most of the state. MONTICELLO – An Iowa teacher is accused of a relationship with a student. WHO-13 reports Jessica Rubin on Monticello was charged with sexual exploitation after administration notified the school resource officer of a possible relationship. According to court records, Rubin was a cheerleading coach in the district. Rubin now lives in Ankeny and was arrested this week. IOWA CITY – Iowa Hawkeyes football player Noah Shannon was suspended for the upcoming season, the program announced Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports the school intends to appeal. Shannon was not charged in the state’s probe into Cyclones and Hawkeyes allegedly wagering on their own games and cooperated with the NCAA in August.

IOWA (IRN) – A proposed carbon capture pipeline planned to cut through Iowa had a public hearing begin Tuesday with the Iowa Utilities Board as residents express concern about the project. Reuters reports the hearing is a major test for a $5.5 billion pipeline proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions. The proposed project would transport up to 18 million tons of captured carbon from 35 Midwest ethnoal plants to a storage site in North Dakota. The Iowa Utilities Board is holding hearings to determine a permit application, which would likely require eminent domain to complete. MARSHALL COUNTY (IRN) – Two people were killed when a vehicle collided with two parked cars in Marshall County. KCCI-TV reports a vehicle was stopped on Highway 330 when a second stopped to try and help. A third car collided with the other two, killing 61 year old Tony Roberts of Marshalltown and Samuel Luciano of Irving, Texas. CEDAR RAPIDS (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man has been found guilty for several charges related to sexual contact with children. According to KCRG, Dustin Burns was found guilty of three counts of second degree sexual abuse and other charges. He will be sentenced in November and faces up to 100 years in prison. DES MOINES (IRN) – A famous baseball team known for their antics are set to come to Iowa for the first time. The Des Moines Register reports the Savannah Bananas and their unique show mixing performance and athletics is coming to Principal Park on Friday and Saturday. Both shows were almost immediately sold out when tickets were made available for each evening earlier this year.

DES MOINES (IRN) – The crowds at the Iowa State Fair were the 2nd biggest ever in 2023. KCII-TV Reports 1.134 million people attended the fairgrounds over the 11 day fair. One daily record was set on August 12th for the first Sunday with nearly 115,000 showing up. IOWA (IRN) – More than half of Iowa’s soil remains short in terms of moisture. The USDA’s latest weekly report shows 53% of Iowa’s topsoil and 63% of subsoil is drier than needed. Crop progress remains ahead of the 2022 pace for corn, hay, and soybeans. IOWA (IRN) – A Des Moines Register poll shows 42% of likely Republican Iowa caucus participants remain in support former President Donald Trump for the nomination for president as their first choice. Another question showed a similar number — 41%, believe Trump should still lead the Republican party. The Iowa Poll reports 19% of voters would choose Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and 9% support South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. The poll was conducted with 406 likely Republican voters in mid-August.