Ames Voice - Mid-Iowa Community News

Iowa State First Lady Katie Cook talks about coming back to Ames and her approach to leadership.

From Ames native to ISU’s First Lady, Katie Cook comes home

by Fiona Winn, Staff Reporter
Published August 26, 2026

For her first year, Cook is prioritizing listening, engaging in campus life and helping students find belonging. Drawing from her decades of experience in special education, she highlights inclusion, accessibility and connection in her new role.

City of Ames

The Ames City Council is organizing a citizen committee to research data centers.

Council questions data center safety for people, wildlife

by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter

The Ames City Council is forming a resident data center study committee to research how data centers affect local health, wildlife and temperatures, with findings due to the council by Feb. 28.

City leaders organized a listening session for the community after the city council heard Lightedge’s proposal to build a data center near the municipal airport.

New Iowa coalition advocates for data centers

Published August 26, 2026

Ryan Wiemold has been named as the new directory of Story County Conservation. (Photo: Story County Conservation)

Story County Conservation names Ryan Wiemold as new director

Published August 26, 2026

Dozens of Ames residents will be allowed to opt out of the city's recycling program due to issues related to where they have to place their recycling cart. (Photo: Nolan Sagan)

Alley recycling complaints result in opt-outs

Published August 26, 2026

The view an Ames student had outside of their host-home during their trip to Koshu, Japan, Ames' sister city. (Photo: Lillian Hansen)

Ames students experience Japanese culture

Published August 19, 2026

Iowa State University

ISU research funding shifts as federal dollars decline

by Kate Thalacker, Staff Reporter

Iowa State University is leaning into working more closely with industry partners in research as federal funding dropped by approximately $73 million this past fiscal year.

Iowa State University's CyTown development is set to have a groundbreaking this fall and complete construction in early 2028. (Image: CyTown rendering from Iowa Board of Regents via Iowa Capital Dispatch)

CyTown project delayed to 2028 with groundbreaking this fall

Published August 5, 2026

CYstarters is an 11-week entrepreneurship summer program for ISU students or recent graduates. (Photo: CYstarters)

CYstarters: Fostering student entrepreneurs

Published July 29, 2026

Reiman Gardens recently unveiled its new permanent baby gnome (who still needs a name). The sculpture will be placed next to Elwood, the world’s largest concrete gnome. (Photo: Rick Bartosh/Reiman Gardens)

Reiman Gardens unveils a baby gnome and you can help ‘gname the gnome’

Published July 15, 2026

David Schmitz will lead University Museums as its next director and chief curator. (Photo: Ryan Riley/Iowa State University)

David Schmitz named new museum director and chief curator

Published July 8, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

A picture of the northern half of Main Street in Gilbert in 1914. (Photo courtesy: Dave Baker)

Iowa historian speaks on history of Gilbert

by Anthony Capps, Editor

The history of Gilbert is the subject of a lecture this weekend by Iowa historian Dave Baker.

Twenty-thousand ducks are unleashed down a waterslide at Furman Aquatic Center.

Duck, duck, win: Photos of 12,800 racing for the finish at Duck Derby

Published August 12, 2026

Ames native and violinist Ari Dubin is helming the Rolling Hills Music Festival, a weekend-long celebration of music. In her career, she's performed on VEISHEA floats and in the Central Iowa Symphony to playing Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center. (Photo: Ari Dubin)

Rolling Hills festival celebrates Iowa’s music history, community

Published August 3, 2026

There were 13 performers at Alluvial Brewing's open mic night on July 8. It was the sixth open mic at the brewery, and hosted by Adam Kindred.

Open mic and sharing community through art

Published July 29, 2026

Everyone has about 30 to 45 minutes to walk and listen to audiobooks at the mall.

Exercising while reading

Published July 28, 2026

Sports

Aubrey "Pickles" Crawford (21) of Iowa State celebrates scoring the second goal of the night, her first career goal as well, against Kansas City.

4 Cyclones score in home opener

by Jared Larson, Staff Reporter

It was an active Sunday evening at the Cyclone Soccer Complex as Iowa State (2-0-0, 0-0 Big 12) dominated Kansas City (0-1-0, 0-0 Summit) by a score of 4-0.