DES MOINES – State Auditor Rob Sand and Governor Kim Reynolds traded public comments criticizing each other on Tuesday, with the state’s only elected Democrat in a state administrative role claiming his attempts to audit Education Savings Accounts have been blocked. Sand made the claims on Tuesday, according to the Des Moines Register, that he’s been blocked by state officials in trying to obtain details about the program expected to cost $314 million next fiscal year. Governor Reynolds criticized Sand as politically motivated and biased against the program. DES MOINES – Civil lawsuits may be brought directly against school districts and superintendents under a proposal in the Iowa Senate. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Senate File 178 would allow county attorneys to bring lawsuits against public schools for not complying with state laws. There is an existing appeals process through the Iowa Department of Education, but Republicans argue it hasn’t been effective in preventing schools from violating the law. The Iowa Association of School Boards counters that schools are complying and that the current appeals process allows for remediation without costing schools thousands of dollars in legal fees. IOWA – Dangerous wind chills are expected to continue into Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Values as cold as 30 below zero are expected in northern Iowa after some records were broken around the state earlier this week. A dramatic shift into mild territory starts this weekend, as some Iowa communities will reach temperatures into the 50s above zero by next Monday.

DES MOINES – A Republican announced a run for Iowa governor in the 2026 election — but it’s not current incumbent Kim Reynolds. KCCI-TV reports former State Representative Brad Sherman served one term in the Iowa Statehouse and would be a primary challenger for Reynolds if she choses to run for another term. Sherman believes that there could be improvements upon the current administration. HARPERS FERRY – An Iowa resident was among several National Park Services employees and thousands of federal government probationary workers terminated by the Trump administration on Valentine’s Day. The Des Moines Register reports Brian Gibbs had a post on Facebook that has been shared 180,000 times sharing his story as a park ranger, describing the role as a “Dream Job.” Gibbs is concerned with the widespread cuts to government services, and that the Effigy Mounds National Monument was already running on short staff prior to the cuts. JOHNSON COUNTY – A man convicted of raping two women in Black Hawk County has pled guilty to a different charge in Johnson County. KCRG-TV reports Asante Walker Garcia Adams was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Iowa City just a few months prior to an incident that he was sentenced to 100 years in prison for. Adams sexually assaulted two women in 2023 in Black Hawk County.

IOWA – A prolonged streak of below zero wind chills is expected to last into Friday. The wind chill values will reach extreme cold at times, with the most dangerous conditions settling in Monday night and Tuesday morning and again Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Air cold feel as cold as 40 below zero in northern Iowa, according to the National Weather Service — frostbite can occur in as little as five minutes without proper precautions. IOWA – The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that residents applying to fill a vacant elected seat do not have an expectation of privacy. The Des Moines Register reports Friday’s action followed Scott County’s move to fill a mid-term opening on its board in 2022. A total of 27 people applied for the role, 13 of whom requested to stay anonymous. One of those individuals, Rita Rawson, was chosen through the process. A former supervisor requested all of the applicants names be released. The decision was split 4-3, with dissenting opinion citing recent precedent to keep those names protected. JOHNSTON – A teenager charged with the death of a youth residential facility employee has reached a deal with the prosecution. KCCI-TV reports Jovahn Mathis was 15 at the time he was accused of shoving Kathleen Galloway-Menke in an apparent attempt to leave Ellipsis in May of 2024, the latter of whom died from her injuries. Mathis was charged with murder, and as part of a deal to move the case to adult court, he will plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter and other charges. He won’t be formally sentenced until he turns 18.

WAUKEE – A Waukee man was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison for fraud, money laundering, and fentanyl distribution. According to court documents, 36-year-old Stephan Rashad Haley, also known as “Ace” and “Bosh,” acquired large quantities of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl from multiple drug sources and distributed 12 kilograms of fentanyl-laced pills. Haley also recruited at least three other individuals to open fraudulent bank accounts and deposit stolen checks. Ten of Haley’s co-defendants in the fraud and money laundering case remain set for trial, currently scheduled to begin on June 23rd. Eight co‑defendants have pleaded guilty.IOWA – The statewide storm system that impacted Iowa on Wednesday resulted in a total of 15 snowplow hits, setting a one-day record for equipment strikes during a winter season, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. The previous single-day record of snowplow hits was nine in 2024. Prior to this week’s storms, the 2025 winter season total count for snowplow hits was also nine. Since the official Iowa DOT winter season started on October 15, a total of 25 DOT snowplows have been hit by vehicles.

DES MOINES – House Republicans are moving forward with a 2.25% state aid increase for schools and other funding measures with a bill that passed on Thursday. The Des Moines Register reports five Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing the measure, asking for a much higher increase. The House bill included operational sharing increases, as well as money for transportation and per pupil equity among districts. School leaders and Democrats argue the increase still falls behind inflationary costs. The Iowa Senate passed a two percent increase without the additional provisions offered by the House version. IOWA – More snow is on the way for much of Iowa with two periods of concern. The first will arrive today with amounts from a dusting southwest to as high as an inch or two northeast. The snow will be accompanied by shallow blowing and drifting snow driven by south winds gusting 30-40 mph and produce slick travel conditions. A narrow band of snow may also occur Saturday from central into northeast Iowa where there is some potential for amounts of four inches or more. Several days of arctic cold will follow the two systems, according to the National Weather Service. BUENA VISTA COUNTY – The highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected again in Buena Vista County, according to Iowa Capital Dispatch. Governor Kim Reynolds issued a new proclamation for the disease on Thursday for a flock of commercial turkeys. This is the second major outbreak in the county as the disease has impacted multiple operations in Iowa over the past three years. IOWA -An Iowan has traveled to all 99 counties in search of the best tenderloin served at restaurants. WHO-13 reports JayJay Godvin completed his circuit around the state and told WHO-13 his favorite was located at The Landmark Bistro in Grundy Center. His next project will focus on special menu items at top restaurants in all 99 counties.