Iowa State Daily • 16th February 2026

Transparency concerns grow over Iowa’s $314 million private school program

As Iowa’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program continues to expand, questions remain about how the state oversees the program and what information about its spending is publicly available.
Created in 2023 by House File 68, the ESA program allows eligible families to use state funds to cover private school tuition costs, non-traditional education and other fees. Participation in the program has grown in recent years, costing taxpayers more than $314 million for the 2025-26 school year, up from...

Iowa Capital Dispatch • 29th May 2026

Iowa communities look to fill gaps in statewide mental health care • Iowa Capital Dispatch

One of the most prominent issues in Iowa mental health care is the lack of available psychiatrists and behavioral health providers, especially in rural communities.
According to Mental Health Stats, an organization that publishes U.S. mental health data, Iowa on average has 25 available psychiatrists per 100,000 residents, which is 37.5% below the national average of 40 psychiatrists per 100,000 residents as of 2025.
Iowa also has a significant shortage of mental health providers, with one provi...

Iowa State Daily • 5th April 2026

Iranian students react to the U.S. war with Iran

As the U.S. war with Iran enters its sixth week, a group of Iranian students at Iowa State University expressed their support for the U.S. and Israel’s military action against their country’s government.
Earlier this year, Iranian security forces carried out mass killings of protesters demonstrating after the nation’s currency collapsed and inflation reached more than 40%. State-sponsored media in Iran reported that 3,177 people were killed during demonstrations, while exiled media outlet Iran I...

Iowa Capital Dispatch • 23rd May 2026

GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Steen addresses death threat against campaign • Iowa Capital Dispatch

AMES – Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Steen, speaking Friday during a campaign stop at Wallaby’s restaurant in Ames, addressed an earlier death threat against his campaign .
Steen also discussed his proposals for education, reproductive health care and eminent domain, as well as the current value of an endorsement from President Donald Trump
The event, part of Steen’s “Full Steen Ahead Tour,” came four days after Steen’s campaign reported receiving a death threat prior to a campaign eve...

Iowa Capital Dispatch • 20th May 2026

Bee season starts 17 days early, potentially damaging hives, experts say • Iowa Capital Dispatch

On World Bee Day, experts say an unusually early North American bee swarm season, which began 17 days earlier than last year following record heatwaves in 2026, could reshape bee populations, pollination patterns, honey production and the timing of seasonal ecosystems. 
While bee swarming is a natural reproductive process in which bee colonies split and form new groups, researchers and beekeepers say that early activity may be connected to broad environmental changes linked to warmer temperature...

Iowa State Daily • 3rd February 2026

‘A crime against humanity’: ISU students speak out against deadly violence in Iran

Iowa State University students have gathered in front of Parks Library in recent weeks to express support for protesters in Iran and to speak out against the country’s Islamic Republic.
Three student-led demonstrations have occurred on campus since reports of widespread violence against Iranian protesters surfaced in early January. 
State-sponsored media in Iran reported that 3,117 people have died as a result of protests in the country, while exiled media outlet Iran International reported a de...

Iowa State Daily • 17th November 2025

ISU Parking makes $5 million: Here’s where the money goes

Parking costs at Iowa State have steadily climbed in recent years, and so has the department’s revenue.
The ISU Parking Division reported a revenue of nearly $5.1 million in fiscal year 2024, an increase from nearly $4.8 million in 2023. 
During the same period, permit fees increased by nearly 3.1% on average, while the parking division’s revenue increased by 6.7%. The increase in revenue outperformed rising fees, in part because the price of violations rose by an average of more than 5.4% durin...

Iowa State Daily • 4th May 2025

Moving forward: How The Pride Alliance adjusted after Iowa prohibited DEI

The Pride Alliance at Iowa State has undergone some changes after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 2435 (SF 2435) into law on May 9, 2024. The bill prohibits public universities in Iowa from funding, maintaining and creating DEI offices. 
Before SF 2435, employees at The Center, a space in the Memorial Union formerly known as The Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success, planned for Lavender Graduation, an event where graduating students are recognized for their academic and personal achievements...

Iowa State Daily • 6th May 2026

Meet the gubernatorial candidate: State Auditor Rob Sand

State Auditor Rob Sand is running as the lone Democratic candidate in the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election.
Sand said that Iowa’s “broken” political system and one-party leadership has allowed political “insiders” to make themselves and special interests a priority over their constituents.
“Our political system is broken, and a small group of powerful insiders have spent the last decade putting special interests and themselves ahead of Iowans,” Sand said. “The last decade of failed leadership an...

Iowa State Daily • 7th May 2026

Meet the gubernatorial candidate: Adam Steen

Adam Steen, a businessman and former director of Iowa Administrative Services under Gov. Kim Reynolds, is one of five Republicans hoping to win his party’s nomination for the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election.
Steen said that Reynolds’ decision not to seek reelection and his desire to create prosperous opportunities for young families motivated him to run for governor.
“My wife and I and many others looked at the landscape of the political scene and said, ‘We want to jump into this race to preser...

Iowa State Daily • 6th May 2026

Meet the gubernatorial candidate: U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra is one of five Republican candidates hoping to represent his party in the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election.
Feenstra, who grew up in the small town of Hull, said he is running as a fourth-generation Iowan to take the state to “new heights,” adding that he worked with President Donald Trump on a tax cut he describes as the “largest” in American history.
“I’m in my third term in the U.S. Congress, where I worked with President Trump and wrote the largest tax cut in U.S. hi...

Iowa State Daily • 8th April 2026

Meet the candidate: Chris Jones looks to solve Iowa’s water quality problem

Former University of Iowa professor and water scientist Chris Jones is running for Iowa secretary of agriculture against incumbent Mike Naig.
Jones, a Democrat, said Iowa’s water pollution is a “quality of life” issue that is causing young people to leave the state.
“I’m running out of a sense of duty,” Jones said. “I feel like someone with a respected voice needs to take up the call to better water quality here. What we’ve tried over the past 30 to 40 years has not worked, so let’s try somethin...

messengernews.net • 19th July 2025

Daniel Pharmacy: 62 years in business

-Messenger photo by Kadin Luhmann

Daniel Pharmacy has been open at the corner of Central Avenue and 12th Street since 1963 and has been a family-owned business since it debuted.John Daniel II had to make a difficult decision as a college student attending the University of Iowa.Daniel originally wanted to be an engineering major, but switched to pharmacy after a conversation with his father.
After struggling early in his college career, Daniel said he considered going back to engineering, but d...

Iowa State Daily • 10th December 2025

MU parking prices continue to rise: Here’s why

The Memorial Union Parking Ramp has seen a steady rise in annual revenue in recent years. 
In fiscal year 2024, the MU made more than $794,000 from its parking ramp, an increase from 2023, when the amount was more than $788,000. 
Despite the increase in revenue, the MU has raised permit prices over the past three years. The most significant increase occurred from FY 2023 to FY 2024, where permit fees were increased by an average of 7%.
Permit fees over the past two years saw an increase of 3%. A...

Iowa State Daily • 25th September 2025

Overcoming adversity: ISU international students share their experiences

Krisha Sta Maria, a junior in psychology, moved to Ames as a 13-year-old immigrant from the Philippines. Sta Maria said she faced discrimination as a middle school student due to her accent and the food she would bring for lunch.
Seven years later, Sta Maria has found a sense of belonging at Iowa State.
“I see a lot more acceptance here, more diversity and more people that are willing to learn about you and your culture,” Sta Maria said.
Sta Maria is a domestic student because she recently becam...

Iowa State Daily • 24th October 2025

Amazon Web Services executive gives seminar, receives ISU award

Iowa State graduate and Amazon Web Services (AWS) executive Dr. Swami Sivasubramanian returned to campus Friday to deliver a seminar and accept the Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering (PACE) Award.
Sivasubramanian graduated from Iowa State in 2002 with an M.S. in computer engineering. He has been awarded 250 patents and has authored 40 scientific papers and journals.
Sivasubramanian said that Friday marked his first trip back to Iowa State since his graduation.
“It’s very nostalgic...

Iowa State Daily • 14th October 2025

Behind the scenes: ISU Bakery and Dining Support Center

When students treat themselves to a cookie from Union Drive Marketplace or a cupcake from Seasons, every bite traces back to the ISU Bakery.
Operating out of the Knapp-Storms Building, the bakery produces more than 1.6 million desserts per year.
“We produce breads, pastries, cookies, bars, cupcakes, bagels and pizza dough,” Karen Rodekamp, director of ISU Dining, said. 
The ISU Bakery, also known as the Dining Support Center, has 243 unique recipes that are still popular among former Iowa State...

Iowa State Daily • 19th November 2025

Weather the storm: How students and staff can prepare for winter

As the days grow shorter and leaves scatter across campus sidewalks, Iowa State University officials are preparing for the arrival of the winter season. 
Carrie Jacobs, assistant public safety chief of police, said that students and staff will be notified of any class delays and cancellations through email. ISUPD and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) work closely with the National Weather Service (NWS) to monitor winter storm alerts.
Jacobs said that in emergencies, ISUPD will still be avail...

Iowa State Daily • 17th September 2025

Behind the scenes: ISU Creamery

The Iowa State University Creamery staff have worked behind the scenes to meet the demand that the new school year brings. 
“There were a lot of welcome back parties on campus, so we are actually kind of low on some supplies right now,” Danielle Christofferson, the Creamery’s production manager and interim business manager, said. “We’re making a lot of cups right now.”
Employees at the Creamery are responsible for packaging, mixing and flavoring ingredients, cleaning the equipment and freezing t...

messengernews.net • 19th September 2025

Giving Back

-Messenger photo by Kadin Luhmann

Murphy washington, residential manager for the Fort Dodge Residential Correctional Facility, grew up in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood in Fort Dodge. Today, he gives back to the community through his work with the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee. He has also worked with Athletics for Education and Success.Editor’s note: This feature first ran in a special publication called Hometown Pride, published June 28, 2025, featuring people and organizations from F...

Iowa State Daily • 8th May 2025

Beans the Owl gives ISU students a ‘hoot’ and a glimpse into nature

A barred owl piqued the interest of wildlife students after making the Iowa State campus its home in late January.
Etienne Pienaar, a graduate student in fisheries biology, first spotted the owl by the bus stop at Lagomarcino Hall.
“I had to do a double-take because at eye level, I thought it was one of those plastic owls that people put next to a barn to keep pigeons away,” Pienaar said. “Then it blinked at me, so I just sat there and looked at it and then it eventually flew away.”
A different...

Iowa State Daily • 21st April 2025

Stay alert: How Iowa State students and staff can prepare for dangerous weather

The last time ISUPD prepared for a severe weather event was on Aug. 10, 2020, when a derecho devastated much of central and southern Iowa, killing four people and injuring many more.
ISUPD Assistant Chief Carrie Jacobs said the department prepared for the event by putting their patrol cars in a protected location and coordinating with the City of Ames and the ISU Power Plant in case they lost power.
Although they expected a storm with high winds, the severity of the event caught ISUPD by surpris...