Category: State News

DES MOINES – Iowa legislators are gathering for a special session today to consider tax incentives for a proposed steel plant in southeast Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports those credits could total $1.36 billion over the next decade for the $15 billion project. Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham presented those numbers to lawmakers this week, which include an investment tax credit worth 10% of the project, as well as $154 million in sales tax refunds.

IOWA – The official National Weather Service precipitation site at the Des Moines airport recorded 14.50″ of rain in September. That is the wettest month in 112 years and 3rd-wettest on record, only behind 15.79″ in Jun 1881 and 14.81″ in Sep 1914. Also, if no more precipitation fell in the next three months, this would still rank as the 7th-wettest year on record in Des Moines.

AMES – Iowa State University officially installed its next president on Thursday, as David Cook outlined his plans during a ceremony. Cook started in March after Wendy Wintersteen’s retirement, according to Iowa Capital Dispatch, and says his goal is to place Iowa State in the top 20 public land grant universities in the country by 2032.

IOWA – The first phase of study aiming to show why Iowa has one of the highest cancer rates in the country claims that 76 percent of the state’s cases are related to behavioral and demographic factors. The Des Moines Register reports this only accounts for 921 excess cases — there are another 1304 that were not explained or couldn’t be by the factors considered in the research. Phase two of the project is expected to take over a year, and could focus more on the impact agriculture is having on cancer in Iowa.

IOWA – Several flash flood warnings were issued Wednesday as heavy rain once again impacted the state. Multiple records for rainfall were approached in September, according to the National Weather Service, as a system dumped 2 to 4 inches of precipitation across most of the state. In addition to flash flood warnings, several rivers in the southern half of the state have reached and topped flood stage as well. Several dry days are ahead in the forecast after today.

IOWA CITY – Nike is releasing the first signature shoe of one of the most famous basketball players in the country today. KCCI-TV reports Caitlin 1s are now available for purchase to celebrate former Iowa Hawkeye and current WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark. The release includes an apparel collection of jackets, hoodies, and t-shirts.

DES MOINES— Governor Reynolds will convene the General Assembly of Iowa on Friday, October 2nd at 8:30 a.m., for a special session with purpose of enacting amendments to the state’s Major Economic Growth Attraction program. Governor Kim Reynolds and Mesabi Metallics Chairman Rewant Ruia joined President Donald Trump this week at the White House to announce that Iowa will be the future home for a multi-billion-dollar integrated steel complex. The state of Iowa and Mesabi Metallics have executed a memorandum of understanding outlining the terms of the partnership.

IOWA CITY – Two Delaware men were sentenced to a combined 189 months in federal prison for their roles in an international cyber intrusion scheme. According to court documents, for nearly two years 25-year-old Chijioke Timothy Odimegwu and 26-year-old Harafat Mogaji both of whom were members of the United States Air Force at the time, attacked business victims across the United States with email “spamming” and phishing campaigns to steal usernames and passwords for victims’ employee email accounts. The pair fraudulently diverted a more than $1.68 million wire sent by a victim in Iowa City to a bank account in Chicago, in addition to several attempts to divert wire transfers made by businesses in Iowa.

DES MOINES – Two people were arrested by the Des Moines Police Department in connection to the death of a man found dead in a Minneapolis home in July. WHo-13 reports that 22-year-old Tyrus Bassette and 25-year-old Tavon Campbell were each charged with second-degree murder, with an additional warrant issued for 24-year-old Tyrice Bassette. Up to five people attacked Dimitri Craig-Lee English while he was defenseless on the ground.

DES MOINES – Nearly 30 years after a Des Moines man was killed in a hit-and-run crash, police have made an arrest. KCCI-TV reports Gerardo Garcia-Michel was 28 years old on September 29th, 1997, when he’s accused of killing 64-year-old Leslie Ruby. Garcia-Michel had fled the state before he could be arrested. “America’s Most Wanted” did a profile on the case with an arrest warrant active for nearly three decades.

IOWA – Governor Kim Reynolds and Mesabi Metallics Chairman Rewant Ruia joined President Donald Trump Monday at the White House for an announcement about a multi-billion-dollar economic development project in Iowa. Mesabi Metallics plans to make Iowa the home for its new fully integrated steel complex along the Mississippi River. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Representatives Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Zach Nunn and Randy Feenstra were also at the announcement.

FORT DODGE – A man faces several felony charges in connection to a shooting that left one person dead and others injured on Saturday in Fort Dodge. KCCI-TV reports 20-year-old Jamarcus Gilly was arrested and accused of first-degree murder, attempted murder of a police officer, and two other counts of attempted murder. Responding officers claim that at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Gully was firing at multiple people near a bar, including at police.

IOWA – Multiple rounds of heavy rain begin tonight. Widespread rainfall amounts between 2 and 4 inches are likely by Thursday evening across most of the state. This will lead to water impacts, including areal and river flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

AMES – One of the best basketball players in Iowa State Cyclones history is set to return this winter. WHO-13 reports Tamin Lipsey rejoined the roster on Monday after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft and playing with the NBA Summer League. A temporary injunction was issued in a federal court case against the NCAA, allowing 90 athletes across the country to earn a fifth year of eligibility.

DAVENPORT – A St. Louis, Missouri man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor and possessing child pornography in Iowa City. According to public court documents , Bryan Nicholas Williams, began messaging an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old female about sex acts and requesting photos in August of 2025. Williams arranged to meet in Iowa City less than a week later and he was arrested. Williams’s phone was seized and a forensic search revealed Williams used the device to receive, view, and possess images and videos containing child sexual abuse material.

DES MOINES— Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered flags flown at half-staff effective immediately until sunset today in honor and remembrance of Norman Borlaug Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Hannah Jorgensen and student Ahmed Osman, who died September 22nd during a field trip at Lake Macbride. Flags will be flown at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state.

IOWA – Additional rounds of heavy rain are in the forecast this week, according to the National Weather Service. An additional 1-3 inches of rain is possible late Tuesday through Thursday morning. Already saturated grounds may heighten the flood risk across the state.

IOWA CITY – ESPN’s college gameday returns to Iowa City for the first time in 20 years as No. 14 Iowa hosts No. 5 Ohio State this weekend. KCCI-TV reports the live broadcast will air this Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. ahead of the top 15 showdown at Kinnick Stadium at 2:30 p.m.. The Hawkeyes defeated Michigan on the final play of this past Saturday’s game 20-19.