by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published April 22, 2026
Ames city officials are racing against a July 4 federal deadline to secure a solar energy project at the James Hermann Banning Ames Municipal Airport. If they miss that deadline, the cost of the electricity could jump 30%, potentially killing the deal. The Ames City Council met for a special workshop meeting Tuesday because it was asked to approve a lease option as soon as May 12.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published April 22, 2026
Updating Ames’ aging power plant could cost $190 million, more than double early estimates and every electric customer in the city would help pay for the project through annual rate increases stretching to 2057.
by Amber Mohmand, News Editor Published April 15, 2026
Starting in July, Ames residents will see a slight increase in their water and sewer rates. The Ames City Council on Tuesday approved a 3.5% increase in water rates while sewage service will increase by 5.5%. The increases will take place on July 1.
by Amber Mohmand, News Editor Published April 8, 2026
The Ames Police Department is investigating acts of vandalism that left swastikas and racial slurs spray painted on vehicles. The vandalism took place over the past few weeks, according to a news release from Ames police. Reports have been taken from residents in the 100 block of Crystal Street, the 200 and 300 blocks of South Fifth Street, the 1600 block of South Kellogg Avenue and the 2800 block of Grand Avenue.
by Amber Mohmand, News Editor Published April 8, 2026
The Ames School Board reviewed new state legislation affecting district funding at its Monday meeting. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill in February that shifts responsibility for the state’s budget guarantee — a state law that requires school district budgets to increase by at least 1% each year — from local property taxes to state funding.
by Artemis Tack, Staff Reporter Published April 1, 2026
Built on the motto, “Food. Fun. Fabric,” the Ames Quilt Guild is a way for quilters to share their creativity, build a community and celebrate their love for the craft.
Over a thousand community members showed up and protested for the national No Kings Protest on Saturday. Organizers expected attendance of about 1,000 for Saturday's No Kings at O'Neil Park. Instead, 1,700 showed up.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published March 25, 2026
Ames is on the verge of opening its long-awaited Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center, but a dispute with a contractor over discolored exterior panels is threatening to put a blemish on the project.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published March 25, 2026
City leaders voted to move ahead with a major overhaul of Ames’ waste system after trimming nearly $1.6 million from an over-budget project, bringing the total construction cost for a new Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C) to about $18.1 million.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published March 25, 2026
The city of Ames plans to borrow up to $17.4 million through general obligation bonds to pay for a wave of road repairs and other infrastructure improvements across the city in the coming fiscal year.
by Amber Mohmand, News Editor Published March 17, 2026
A Fort Dodge man is charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed his sister and his 1-year-old nephew to death. Davontrez McCuddin, 22, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the killing of his sister, Markasia McCuddin, 26, of Ames, and her infant son, Liam Sanders-McCuddin.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published March 11, 2026
Ames officials are working to close a multimillion-dollar funding gap after construction bids for a new recycling and waste facility came in far higher than expected. The combined base bids for building the city’s Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C) totaled $19.62 million — approximately $2.8 million more than the $16.82 million engineers originally estimated.
