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 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 Jared Larson, Staff Reporter Published June 17, 2026
DES MOINES – Carver Elementary School’s gymnasium was transformed into a field of mentorship and athletic development as Iowa State football players spent Monday afternoon leading drills and building relationships at the Boys & Girls Club. The clinic offered kids the chance to practice drills and skills while interacting with the athletes. Zaimir Hawk, a redshirt junior defensive lineman, said the club shaped his childhood, so he felt compelled to return as a mentor.
by Kate Laffey, Staff Reporter Published June 10, 2026
Local actors Alyson Perry and Jenna Levendusky find that Ames Community Theater has been a place of comfort and growth for them. They play Ariel Moore and Betty Blast in ACTORS’ musical production of Footloose, which opens tonight and is completely sold out through its closing night on June 28. The ACTORS community could not be more excited for a sold-out show, which closes its current 70th season.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published June 2, 2026
Ames residents see the massive structure at the end of Main Street and most recognize it as the Ames Municipal Power Plant, part of Ames Electric Services. It’s been there in some form since 1896, reliably...
Iowa Democrats and Republicans will vote on Tuesday to determine who is on the November ballot representing their party. An assortment of offices will be up for election at the federal, state and county levels. Some of them are highly contested, such as most of the federal offices as well as the Republican race for governor.
by Kate Laffey, Staff Reporter Published May 27, 2026
After 46 years of service, Lynette Pohlman is retiring from her role as Warren and Beverly Madden Endowed Director and Chief Curator of University Museums at Iowa State University.
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.
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.
Eric Smidt started his career telling stories through social media. It's since expanded to include print publications and podcasts, among others. But one avenue he is most passionate about is through documentaries. Smidt, vice president of marketing & communications at the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, has been making occasional documentaries for the last 15 years. This fall, he is bringing that passion for the documentary form to the entire community, helming the inaugural Ames Documentary Film Festival, scheduled for Sept. 27 at the Ames Public Library.
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.
Against elite statewide competition, the Little Cyclones had second, third and fourth place finishes at competitions at this weekend’s Drake Relays. Angelica Attinger led the Little Cyclones with a second-place finish in the girls’ 400-meter hurdles. TJ Douglas placed third in the boys’ 400-meter hurdles. Ayak Akol and Brandon Johnson each placed fourth in their respective events.
