IOWA – A candidate for U.S. Senate has dropped out of the race. Former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director and Democrat Nathan Sage announced he has suspended his campaign as of Sunday, citing a lack of necessary resources to continue competing. He was the first Democrat to announce his intention to run for the seat Joni Ernst is leaving at the end of her current term. The Gazette reports State Representatives Zach Wahls and Josh Turek are the two remaining candidates in the field to challenge Republicans U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson or Former State Legislator Jim Carlin. CEDAR FALLS – The University of Northern Iowa and the Iowa City High School community are mourning the loss of a Panthers freshman football player. WHO-13 reports 18-year-old Parker Sutherland died on Saturday. The cause of death was not immediately released. Sutherland was a tight end on the UNI Panthers football team this past fall after graduating from Iowa City High School in 2025. His death came just days after 19-year-old Carter Johnson of the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team died in a crash that injured dozens of his teammates. IOWA – Well above average temperatures will continue in a spring-like surge past mid-February. According to the National Weather Service, afternoon highs will remain 20 to 25 degrees above the normal for this time of year, when highs in the mid-to-upper 30s are typical. Some records may also be broken, as previous high marks for many Iowa communities are in the low-to-mid 60s. The extra warm stretch is expected to last through Wednesday evening, before a slight cool down arrives by Thursday morning.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Court of Appeals overturned the murder conviction of an Iowa man this week. KCRG-TV reports the three-judge panel overturned a first-degree murder verdict against Duval Walker, Jr., ruling that one of the jurors was biased and should have been removed from the case. The appeals court has ordered a new trial, saying one of the jurors saw a new headline about Walker pleading guilty to one of the charges related to the same incident. DES MOINES – A bill proposed in the Iowa House would require everyone riding in a vehicle to wear a seatbelt, including those in the backseat. WHO-13 reports House File 2179 has been proposed by Representative Megan Jones. The legislation would mandate seatbelts for everyone, as the current law only requires front seat drivers and passengers to do so. DES MOINES – The Iowa Supreme Court overturned a jury verdict of $2.8 million that was awarded to the family of the man who was crushed to death at an Iowa quarry. The Des Moines Register reports that Wendling Quarries and its employees could not be held liable for the death of Michael Griffith in January 2020. His family and estate sued several employees, accusing them of failing to properly train Griffith before sending him onto a machine lacking key safety equipment. The court ruled that the actions of the company fell short of gross negligence.

CALHOUN COUNTY – A college baseball player was identified as the person killed in a crash that injured several members of the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team on Wednesday. The Des Moines Register reports that 19-year-old Carter Johnson has been identified as the individual who lost his life in the bus crash. All 32 of the other occupants were taken to nearby hospitals for evaluation. Johnson was pronounced dead on scene. The single-vehicle crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.ATLANTIC – The Atlantic Community School Board approved the termination of an employee on Wednesday. WHO-13 reports the matter remains under investigation by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and the Atlantic Police Department. A special school board meeting had been scheduled on February 4th to accept the resignation of the same employee, but was cancelled last minute. That session was scheduled one day after Atlantic Police announced an active investigation of an incident involving a school staff member and students. DES MOINES – A bill increasing year-to-year school funding passed the Iowa Senate earlier this week. WHO-13 reports Senate File 2201 increases per pupil spending by the state by 1.75%. It’s below the 2% passed last year and proposed by Governor Kim Reynolds. The 28-20 vote saw three Republicans join Democrats in opposition, who argue the percent falls well below what is needed to match increasing costs in public schools.

CALHOUN COUNTY – The Iowa State Patrol and several nearby agencies responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 4 near Twin Lakes in Calhoun County. The crash involved an Iowa Lakes Community College bus that went off the roadway and overturned in the ditch. Thirty-three occupants were reported to be on board and all have been accounted for. Those injured were transported either by air ambulance or ground ambulance to various hospitals in the area. There is one confirmed fatality. The crash remains under investigation. DES MOINES – A settlement was reached in a lawsuit challenging an order by Secretary of State Paul Pate to identify over 2,000 voters as potential noncitizens in 2024. The suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union challenged Pate’s guidance to county auditors, which challenged voters who may not have citizenship. The settlement includes a provision that prevents the list from 2024 from being used in upcoming elections and to not only rely on Iowa DOT data. DES MOINES – House Study Bill 682 was proposed in the Iowa Legislature this week, and would revoke or deny a license for educators that publicly celebrate political violence. KCCI-TV reports the bill specifically refers to examples following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The Iowa State Education Association believes the bill is unconstitutional and violates First Amendment protections.

DES MOINES – Iowans are set to welcome Iowa National Guard Soldiers home this week. Today, 145 service members are returning from serving nine months in Operation Inherent Resolve in the Middle East. The public is invited to welcome back those individuals at the Des Moines International Airport. WATERLOO – As several employees return to work this month after being previously let go at John Deere, more employees will be called back. WHO-13 reports that 146 laid off workers will return to operations in Waterloo in March. Ninety-nine employees are about to begin work again in Davenport. in 2025, John Deere reduced its workforce by nearly 600 workers. NEWTON – The cause of a house fire in Newton Monday night that claimed the life of at least one dog remains under investigation. Newton Fire Marshall Jacob Halferty says neighbors reported the fire at the two-story house Monday evening. Two dogs that were in the home were killed in the blaze that took several hours to fight. DES MOINES – Iowa lawmakers are making a pitch to host a pro football team. The Des Moines Register reports a group of Republican senators have filed a bill that would provide financial incentives for an NFL team to build in Iowa. Senate File 2252 comes as a proposal as the Chicago Bears negotiate a stadium project to move from downtown Chicago and Soldier Field. The legislation aims to expand Iowa’s MEGA program to include an NFL stadium.