by Amber Mohmand, Staff Reporter Published July 1, 2026
Ames civic leaders did a lot of listening on Tuesday and one thing was clear: an overwhelming majority of residents at the special meeting opposed a proposed data center. Residents who converged on the Ames City Auditorium for a city council listening session filled nearly every seat on the ground floor, with some standing against the walls and outside the doors. Many wore “No Data Center” pins and carried pamphlets with a similar message.
by Amber Mohmand, News Editor Published July 1, 2026
After a decade of service, Michael Cox will move on from his role as the Story County Conservation director and embark on a new journey at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. At Iowa DNR, Cox told the Ames Voice he will be responsible for leadership of the parks, forests and preserves bureau.
by Lara Jones, Staff Reporter Published July 1, 2026
The Sunday morning air hung heavy with humidity, leaving skin covered in a sticky film, and a gray pall covered the sky, threatening rain that would later fall. Observers — of all ages — settled into their spots, a buzzed excitement as clocks ticked ever so closer to 8 a.m. To the average Ames resident’s eye, it felt like a normal, less-than-sunny day. But for the triathletes lined up at the lake shore of Ada Hayden Heritage Park, it was the day to put their training to the test.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published July 1, 2026
Two popular Ames city buildings will soon be powered in part by the sun.
The Ames City Council approved a nearly half-million-dollar contract to install solar panels on the rooftops of the Fitch Family...
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published June 24, 2026
Residents flooded city hall on Tuesday night to hear about a proposed data center in Ames. Many were seated outside the at-capacity council chambers and joined hundreds of at-home viewers who watched the proceedings on a video feed. Des Moines technology company Lightedge wants to build a large data center on city-owned land near the Ames airport. City leaders are taking a step-by-step approach before deciding whether to say yes.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published June 24, 2026
A fatal pedestrian crash on one of Ames’ busiest roads has prompted city leaders to take a hard look at whether streets are safe enough for people on foot. The Ames City Council weighed four options that could change how crossings are managed throughout the city during its Tuesday meeting.
by Kate Laffey, Staff Reporter Published June 24, 2026
For some Ames middle school students, next week will be a chance to travel out of the country and experience a new culture with a host family. The students are part of a one-week trip to Ames’ sister city, Koshu, Japan. Three adults and 17 students will be on a 12-hour flight to Tokyo for the night, then heading west toward Koshu, which is north of Mount Fuji.
by Jared Larson, Staff Reporter Published June 23, 2026
In the high-stakes arena of modern collegiate athletics, tradition is often the anchor, but money is the engine. In a message to the Cyclone community on Monday, Endowed Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard characterized the current landscape as one of the most “transformational periods” in the history of the sport.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published June 22, 2026
Ames made history 50 years ago when it became home to the nation’s first city-run, waste-to-energy plant. City leaders recently visited the Sixty Forward Center to explain to an overflow crowd why that groundbreaking system is being replaced by blue recycling bins at the curb.
by Kate Laffey, Staff Reporter Published June 17, 2026
Nonprofits that help youth and those dealing with homelessness were among the groups that reported to the Story County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
A new leader will help guide local news' future in Ames. The Ames Voice Board of Directors selected Brynn Sweere as the organization's first executive director on Monday. Sweere was chosen for her nonprofit background as well as her work in fundraising, community engagement and organizational leadership.
by Lara Jones, Staff Reporter Published June 10, 2026
Candidate accessibility will be one of the keys to winning in the general election in November, said the chairperson of the Story County Democrats. Last week’s Iowa primaries gave Iowa and Story County residents the answers to who would be on the 2026 election ballot.
