DES MOINES – The Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference released its annual December update to revenue projections for state government on Thursday. According to the Des Moines Register, the state will have a nearly $1 billion shortfall between money coming in and what’s going out, with the three-member panel showing the state will take in $8.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2027. It’s the number legislators will use to craft the next budget in the upcoming session, which starts in January. Governor Kim Reynolds says state reserves will be used to cover the difference. DES MOINES – A ceremony was held on Thursday to honor former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad with the Iowa Award. Governor Kim Reynolds hosted the event at the Iowa Capitol. It’s considered the state’s highest citizen honor, with the Des Moines Register reporting the award has gone to former President Herbert Hoover, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Norman Borlaug, and Artist Grant Wood, among others. IOWA – After one clipper storm impacted many in the state on Thursday with 1-3″ of quick-hitting snow, another similar blitz is set up on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Following that precipitation, extreme cold will settle across Iowa this weekend with coldest temperatures on Sunday morning. Wind chill values of -20 to -30 are in the forecast. AMES – A 13-point first-half deficit was overcome by the No. 4 Iowa State men’s basketball team, as the Cyclones used a 19-0 run between the end of the first half and start of the second to rally past rival Iowa to win, 66-62. Though the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series was secured with the women’s basketball team winning, Iowa State secured its first-ever single-season sweep across volleyball, football, wrestling, and men’s/women’s basketball against the Hawkeyes.

IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.7 percent in September — the most recent data available due to the federal government shutdown. The state’s jobless rate was 3.3 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in September. An update for the following months will come in January. ADAIR COUNTY – A ribbon cutting was held for a new EMS station for Adair County on Wednesday. WHO-13 reports county first responders believe the move is a symbolic way to mark Greenfield’s rebuilding since the 2024 tornado that devastated the community. The new facility has room for three ambulances, and includes bedrooms and a training room for staff. IOWA – The ACLU of Iowa released a report this week that indicates several concerns with the use of license plate readers in the state. KCCI-TV reports the research done by the University of Iowa’s Technology Law Clinic shows there are more than 500 devices in Iowa, with more than $200,000 spent monthly on their use. The ACLU is calling for more state regulations on the use of automated license readers, citing issues with privacy. AMES – A clash of unbeaten women’s basketball teams went the way of the Iowa State Cyclones, as the No. 10 team in the nation defeated No. 11 Iowa by a 74-69 victory on Wednesday. The victory clinches the overall title for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, as ISU has won in football and wrestling. The No. in the nation Cyclones and Hawkeyes men clash in Ames at Hilton Coliseum tonight at 7 p.m., with the matchup featuring new Iowa Head Coach Ben McCollum.

ODEBOLT – Republican Wendy Larson won a special election on Tuesday that maintains the supermajority held by the Iowa House. The Des Moines Register reports Larson fills the seat vacated by former Representative Mike Sexton, who has moved to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Larson won the seat by nearly 40 points over Democrat Rachel Burns. ZEARING – The final defendant in a kidnapping case in Zearing has pled guilty. KCCI-TV reports Danielle Graham is guilty of second-degree kidnapping, two counts of willful injury, and dependent adult abuse, and subsequently sentenced to 55 years in prison late last week. Gary Graham was sentenced to life in prison, and family member Aaron Williams awaits sentencing. They were all arrested after another family member was found with life-threatening injuries in severe malnourishment in 2023. GUTTENBERG – The Iowa Department of Education accuses leadership with the Iowa Virtual Academy of discrepancies in records. KCRG-TV reports three of the Clayton Ridge Community School District’s administrators, who operate the academy, face accusations of violated state law. Superintendent Shane Wahls, Dean Wade Marlow, and Principal Terri Thompson are alleged to have had issues with mandatory reporter obligations and in regards to false information. DES MOINES — Des Moines has been selected as a stop on the U.S. Navy Blue Angels’ 2027 national schedule, marking the return of a major air show to Central Iowa for the first time since 1991. The Iowa Air Show: Fields of Thunder will take place May 8 and 9, 2027, at the Iowa Air National Guard base at the Des Moines International Airport.

IOWA – The northern half of Iowa is bracing for the impacts of strong wind gusts that could cause blizzard conditions tonight into early Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service, wind gusts up to 60 MPH are possible, and most communities along and north of U.S. Highway 30 received 6-8 inches of snow over the weekend. While there won’t be any new precipitation, that snow blowing around could cause whiteout conditions. Gusty winds will also impact the southern half of the state, although it will be without the snow totals causing visibility concerns. IOWA – The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that Auditor Rob Sand’s office can represent itself legally in a dispute with Davenport City Officials. The Des Moines Register reports Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird argued her lawyers should be representing the state agency. Sand has accused Davenport leaders of violating open records laws in 2023 and called the city attorney a walking audit risk. While Bird’s office initially backed Sand’s legal requests, it eventually backed off, prompting the auditor to seek his own legal counsel. MOULTON – An Iowa school district cancelled classes this week due to a high rate of illness. KCCI-TV reports the Moulton-Udell District in Appanoose County had nearly 30% of students and staff out with influenza A. All athletic events and activities were also cancelled through Wednesday. State Medical Director Dr. Robert Kruse urged Iowans to get the flu shot and to keep kids sick with flu-like symptoms home and away from others.

ROCKWELL CITY – Two candidates are running a special election to fill a vacancy in the Iowa House. State Representative Mike Sexton resigned earlier this year for a federal job at the USDA. Republic Wendy Larson ran against Sexton in the primary and lost by 53 votes. She’s running against Democrat Rachel Burns. Democrats were able to win the last special election, breaking a Republican Supermajority in the Iowa Senate. IOWA – A clipper storm dropped 6-8 inches of snow for many communities over the weekend, especially between the Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 20 corridors. It’s the second major winter storm to impact Iowa in as many weekends in the 2025-26 winter season. According to the National Weather Service, strong winds return to most of Iowa on Tuesday night, with gusts up to 50 MPH possible. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – No. 10 Iowa State handed top-ranked Purdue its first home, non-conference men’s basketball loss since 2019 as it blasted the Boilermakers by 23 points, winning 81-58 ISU’s 23-point win is tied for the largest margin of victory on the road against the top-ranked team in NCAA History. It is also tied for the largest margin of victory over the No. 1 team on the road ever.