WASHINGTON D.C. – Iowa will have a new senator after the 2026 election. CBS News reports Joni Ernst will not seek a third term in Washington D.C. Ernst faced criticism for initial opposition to President Donald Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and for saying “we are all going to die” in response to a constituent critical of her support of cuts to Medicaid. Current U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson appears to have interest in running in the primary; four Democrats are competing to potentially oppose her. DAVENPORT– A Waterloo man was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activities. According to court documents, in October 2023, 47-year-old Gabriel Keith Usher began messaging over the internet with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old minor. Within days, Usher professed his love for the minor and suggested sexual acts they could engage in. In October 2024, Usher was sentenced in Black Hawk County, Iowa to five years in state prison on unrelated state charges of enticing a minor under age 16 and sexual exploitation of a minor. DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man and reported member of the Black P Stones criminal street gang was sentenced on this week to 262 months in federal prison for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. According to public court documents, in the spring of 2024, law enforcement learned that 44-year-old Kevin Stanley Harris, Jr., was a high-level fentanyl dealer operating in Des Moines. Following a seven-month investigation, law enforcement confirmed that Harris traveled to and from Chicago to obtain large quantities of fentanyl for redistribution in Des Moines. Harris was arrested on December 18, 2024, the same day thirteen federal search warrants were executed, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 610 grams of heroin/fentanyl mixture.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff immediately until sunset on August 31st to remember the victims of the Annunciation Catholic Church and School shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two children were killed and 17 people were injured as a shooter attacked while children were attending mass at Annunciation Catholic Church to celebrate the first week of the school year. Gov. Reynolds’ order is issued in conjunction with President Trump’s proclamation to lower the United States’ flag for the same amount of time. SPENCER – A South Dakota man has been charged with murder in connection to the death of an Atlantic man. KTIV reports 44-year-old Wade St. John, Sr., faces one count in the first degree following an arrest on Wednesday. He was taken into custody for a fight that resulted in the death of Djay Loudner of Spencer. BOONE – The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced expanded coverage of its championships starting in 2025-26 alongside new television tournament partners. In addition to free streaming through the IHSAA’s website, dozens of tournament event dates will appear across multiple platforms through arrangements with Gray Media, Marquee Sports Network, Mediacom, and Nexstar. Through IHSAA-contracted video productions, the selected networks, channels, and apps of each tournament partner will feature events across seven sports and nine sites in the 2025-26 athletic year.

SIOUX CITY – An Iowa Democrat has broken a Republican supermajority in the Iowa Senate following a special election held on Tuesday. The Des Moines Register reports Catelin Drey won in Iowa District 1 with 55% of the vote, as reported by the Woodbury County Auditor’s Office. Drey fills the seat held previously by the late Senator Rocky De Witt, who died from cancer in June. Democrats now hold 17 seats in the Iowa Senate, which breaks some of the party majority opportunities held by Republicans when it comes to nominations. WINTERSET – A new county auditor has been elected in Madison County. KCCI-TV reports Independent Candidate Michele Brant won with 70% of the votes, defeating Republican Matthew T. Schwarz. he had been serving as the interim auditor after the resignation of Teri Kaczinski. This marks the end of the electoral conflict that included alleged misconduct against Kaczinski. DES MOINES – In July, a water utility was notified of nearly $10 million coming its way following the conclusion of a court case. WHO-13 reports Des Moines Water Works is receiving $9.7 million from 3M and DuPont. The multi-district case comes from a 2023 lawsuit, where several public water systems sued the companies over what are called “forever chemicals.” Nearly $12.5 billion is in the settlement fund provided by the four companies accused of leaking the PFAs into drinking water sources.

AMES – Reports of an active shooter at Iowa State University on the first day of fall classes were false, according to Iowa State University police. WHO-13 reports officers responded to multiple calls in what appeared to be an attempt at “swatting.” The move has scammers call in a false report to prompt the response of police tactical teams. INDIANOLAPOLIS – Nike’s newest signature athlete shouldn’t come as a surprise to Iowans. WNBA Superstar Caitlin Clark is expanding her athletic apparel partnership, according to KCCI-TV, with a new logo revealed for a clothing line set to launch on October 1st. The former Iowa Hawkeye has struggled to see the floor for the Indiana Fever due to injury in the 2025 season. DALLAS COUNTY – An online sportsbook told a court it was within its rights to void a $14 million payout to a Dallas County resident due to possible errors. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Nicholas Bavas is suing DraftKings after he claims the sports gambling website voided bets he placed last year as weather threatened to cut the AT&T Pro-Am Golf Tournament short. DraftKings was still accepting bets for the event, which they claim was an error, and that Bavas agreed to the book’s house rules. A trial in the case is scheduled in fall of 2026.

BREMER COUNTY – An Urbandale woman died and five other people were injured in a crash in Bremer County over the weekend. The Iowa State Patrol reports the collision occurred when one vehicle ran a stop sign and slammed into another Saturday afternoon. Forty-one year old Lungawia Chalthleng was a passenger and was pronounced dead on scene. Five others were transported to area hospitals with injuries, including one by helicopter. TAMA – The family of a Tama man killed by his wife is formally requesting she return a large insurance payout made before the investigation into the death began. KCCI-TV reports the estate of Ryan Cooper is suing following the conviction of Karina Cooper for first degree murder. Karina was accused of killing Ryan in 2021. She received a $500,000 insurance payout prior to the investigation concluding. DUBLIN, IRELAND – Rocco Becht passed for two touchdowns and ran for another score, helping No. 22 Iowa State beat No. 17 Kansas State 24-21 in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Saturday in Ireland. The win marked head coach Matt Campbell’s 100th career coaching victory. Iowa State has beat Kansas State in five of the past six seasons.