IOWA (IRN) – Emergency SNAP benefits for Iowa households will expire next month, which means these families will go back to normal pre-pandemic benefits. Food banks across Iowa are now preparing for what they say will be a noticeable increase in demand. Experts say families across the state are going to lose $27 million in benefits starting in April so that means they have to replace that food somehow. MILWAUKEE, WI (IRN) – Freshman Tyrese Hunter, who grew up just outside of Milwaukee, poured in 23 points for Iowa State as the Cyclones upset LSU 59-54 at the Fiserv Forum Friday night. Iowa State advances to Round Two, where they will meet the winner of Wisconsin and Colgate. AMES, IA (IRN) – Ashley Joens scored a season-high 36 points and third-seeded Iowa State rallied to beat No. 14 seed UT Arlington 78-71 in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament. The Mavericks were bidding to be the first 14-seed to ever win a game in the tournament and led by 12 in the first half before the Cyclones (27-6) came back. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team crushed the Illinois State Redbirds in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, winning 98-58 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An Ottumwa woman is facing serious charges and police said she was unable to care for her kids. Marissa Frederick, 34, is accused of drinking and driving with children in the car. Officers who went to her home Monday to investigate said Frederick appeared drunk and refused a breath test.She is now charged with child neglect or abandonment of dependent persons. The children were left in the care of a relative. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – According to the Polk County Health Department, sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise. Cases of chlamydia, syphilis and HIV are up. The Syphilis cases are particularly concerning because babies are being born with that STD, and it can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage and birth defects. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A federal judge has struck down an Iowa law that seeks to stop animal welfare groups from secretly filming livestock abuse, the latest in a decade of legislative measures and judicial rejections. BUFFALO, N.Y (IRN) – The Iowa Hawkeye men’s basketball team’s offense sputtered against the Richmond Spiders Thursday, losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament, 67-63. Cold shooting was the problem for the Hawkeyes, but many fans blamed the refs. DETROIT, MI (IRN) – Entering Friday, the usual suspects sit atop the leaderboard of the NCAA Wrestling Tournament. Penn State is in first, with 27.5 team points. Arizona State is second with 22, followed by North Carolina State (21.5), Michigan (21), then Iowa (20.5). The Hawkeyes, despite some tough losses, still have all 10 wrestlers alive in the tournament, including 6 who reached the quarterfinals.

CLINTON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A two-vehicle crash in eastern Iowa near the town of Sixmile Wednesday left four people dead and one person seriously injured. A car was traveling eastbound on Highway 136 and a minivan was traveling westbound on the same road when they collided head-on. The driver of the car died at the scene along with the driver and two passengers in the minivan. A fourth passenger in the minivan was transported to the hospital in serious condition. PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – A 16-year-old is facing burglary charges after a string of car break-ins in Pleasant Hill. Ring camera footage captured the teen rummaging through unlocked cars on March 15. Pleasant Hill police say this crime is part of a bigger trend among teens that originated on social media called “car hopping.” Teens attempt to get into as many unlocked cars as possible to steal money, electronics and weapons. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds on Wednesday blamed the state’s educational system for playing a partial role in the fatal shooting of one teenager and serious injury of two others last week at East High School in Des Moines. Authorities say most of those involved were not enrolled in school, and the drive-by shooting happened outside of the building. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – In a committee meeting on Wednesday, Iowa lawmakers introduced an amendment that would block carbon pipeline companies from using eminent domain until March 1st, 2023. Wednesday’s amendment to Senate File 2022 would block carbon pipelines from using eminent domain as a threat when negotiating with landowners. Senate File 2022 was originally about cosmetology. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Wednesday announced that $100 million worth of funding would be invested in Iowa’s commercial airports. The funding comes from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which gave federal dollars to states to use how they see fit.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police say a shooting over the weekend started with an argument over a pair of shoes. Two people were seriously injured because of it. Investigators say the two victims and another person showed up to a home to confront John Alcorn over a stolen pair of Air Jordan sneakers. Alcorn, along with Robert and Rebecca Lyons, is accused of shooting through an open window at the group with several firearms, including an AR-15 rifle. All three suspects are facing three counts of attempted murder. They claim self-defense. WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Capitol insurrection suspect Doug Jensen of Des Moines is asking the court to move his trial to Iowa, suppress statements he made to police before his arrest and dismiss a charge that he obstructed law enforcement. Jensen became one of the most prominent defendants accused of taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack after video of him threatening police inside the U.S. Capitol was widely circulated. His trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 19 in Washington, D.C. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are looking for the gunman who shot a woman in the face while she was stopped at a traffic light. The shot was fired from another vehicle. She drove herself to the hospital with a minor injury to the face. IOWA (IRN) – Extremely dry conditions across the state have led to many grass fires in rural areas. A minimum of ten burn bans are in place, mostly in western counties. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – For the past decade, there’s been a Republican governor of Iowa. First, Terry Branstad, then Kim Reynolds. One woman is hoping to change that next fall. Democrat Deidre DeJear filed her nominating petitions Tuesday at the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office, making her an official candidate. If elected, she would be the first Black Iowan to serve as governor. It’s the first time two women have faced off for the job.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The head of Des Moines Public Schools will receive a $400,000 payout after announcing his resignation. Superintendent Tom Ahart’s contract goes through June 2023, but he’ll only work until the end of this school year. Ahart is ending a 15-year career with the Des Moines school system. He says he is stepping down because of stress these past two years. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man is dead after he crashed a pickup truck into a parking lot near the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines Monday. The 24-year-old driver, who was the only one in the truck, hit several utility poles and multiple unoccupied vehicles before coming to a stop. ORIENT, IA (IRN) – The storm which left an EF-4 tornado near Winterset on March 5 also caused major disruptions in the town of Orient. A hailstorm dropped baseball sized hail on homes, cars and the Orient-Macksburg School. The school suffered roof and water damage, as well as hail damage to school vehicles. The school remains closed ten days after the storm. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Over the past weekend, Davenport police officers responded to calls involving kids shooting water-based gel beads at unsuspecting motorists. It’s a TikTok trend that may distract a driver and cause a crash. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa lawmakers want to make Daylight Saving Time in Iowa permanent. Federal law says states can exempt themselves from Daylight Saving Time and use standard time year-round, but it’s illegal to do it the other way. If this bill passes and Congress allows it to take effect the sun will rise after 8 am in January, 8:45 am at its latest point. Critics say there’s a reason Congress only allows states to opt out of daylight saving time by sticking with standard time year round.