by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published May 27, 2026
More than half a billion dollars in new capital investments were brought into the region in 2025 by the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, according to a new report. The total was reported to be $581 million in new capital investments and $33 million in outside funding. Ames City Council is expected to vote on renewing its contract with the Alliance in June. Council members asked for a closer look at the contract before renewing it for the 2026–27 fiscal year.
by Kate Laffey, Staff Reporter Published May 24, 2026
Longtime Ames resident Paul Hudson will serve on the Mary Greeley Hospital Board of Trustees, following former member Mary Kitchell’s resignation. Last month, Kitchell resigned from her role as a hospital board trustee member. She was reelected to the board in November.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published May 20, 2026
Ames residents will have to wait a little longer to splash around the new downtown plaza. Schainker Plaza will not open until the splash pad passes a state inspection and all construction problems are fixed.
Ames is facing a tight deadline to completely change its half-century waste-to-energy program and city officials must make decisions quickly. The city is in the process of shifting toward a recycling-centered approach to solid waste management. A new resource recovery and recycling center (R3C) will replace the current waste management facility. Once finished, it will process solid waste, recyclable materials and yard waste, providing a modern and environmentally friendly system for managing the city’s waste.
The city is racing against a federal deadline that could make or break plans to build a solar farm at the James Herman Banning Ames Municipal Airport. If the city does not act in time, a project that could cut electricity costs may cost 30% more — or not happen at all.
After raising millions of dollars, city officials are now moving ahead with plans for a new Ames Animal Services center. The Ames City Council learned Tuesday the project has enough funding to continue design work and prepare for construction, thanks in part to millions of dollars in private donations.
Ames elementary students will learn literacy skills from a new program that provides comprehensive coverage of reading, writing and speaking. The program, Magnetic Literacy, helps students build “decoding, comprehension and language skills in a connected whole,” according to the program website. The Ames School Board signed a $700,000 contract with Magnetic Literacy, which provides the district with five years of materials, tools and licenses.
A high-performance athlete and a determined “bucket-list runner” shared an exemplary goal last week: to conquer the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon. Ethan Mesenbrink, store manager at Fitness Sports in downtown Ames, is a high-performance athlete competing at the top tier of the sport. Amber Deardorff, president and CEO of Mary Greeley Medical Center, is a community leader chasing down a lifelong dream.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published April 29, 2026
A July 4 deadline was standing between Ames and millions of dollars in federal savings on a proposed airport solar farm, but city leaders acted to meet that deadline. The Ames City Council voted Tuesday to set a public hearing for May 12 on a revocable lease that would allow the developer to use portions of James Herman Banning Ames Municipal Airport for the solar project.
by Amber Mohmand, News Editor Published April 29, 2026
Nancy Carroll is coming back to Heartland of Story County this summer to be its next executive director, drawn by the chance to help older adults reconnect and find purpose.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published April 29, 2026
Ames’ Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center is almost done, but city officials are still working through a handful of problems. These include a standoff over a stain warranty, state inspection waivers and a system that could allow moisture to creep into parts of the building.
