AGP Executive Report

Urban Meyer: The Jaguars won Meyer’s grievance, meaning he won’t get the roughly $30M-plus contract balance after an arbiter ruled he was fired for cause. Cyclone Tailgate Tour: Iowa State coaches and AD Jamie Pollard are hitting Davenport and other stops across the state for the annual fan tour. Severe Weather Watch: Tornado warnings and storm damage reports rolled through Nebraska and into Iowa, with power outages and cleanup underway. Local Sports: Shelby County Speedway ran Baxter Lumber night despite rain, and Cedar Falls’ fishing team story keeps growing as participation explodes. Iowa Politics/Policy: A Cedar Falls vote is set on zoning rules for cryptocurrency mining, while Iowa’s phone-driving crackdown is already generating thousands of tickets. Community & Culture: Hy-Vee is offering free veterans’ breakfasts, and Memorial Day weekend cycling races return to Burlington, Muscatine, and Davenport.

Severe Weather Aftermath: Tornado damage reports and power outages are still rolling in after Sunday’s storms—Saunders County saw a tornado hit Ashland/eastern Saunders, with at least one home reported unlivable, while Omaha Public Power District and MidAmerican Energy crews are working through hundreds of outages across the metro and western Iowa. Next Round Threat: The National Weather Service is warning Iowans to prepare for another potentially dangerous severe weather push Monday evening into early Tuesday, with damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding, and a few tornadoes possible. Local Community & Events: Cedar Rapids is hosting the Spokes of Hope bike ride June 6 to support Mercy’s Hall-Perrine Cancer Center Hope Fund, and Tipton’s Good Makers Market returns this weekend at the Cedar County Fairgrounds. Sports & Culture: Iowa hoops continues to draw attention—Bria Medina’s feel-good transfer story is making waves—while a new film project is set to bring Dan Gable’s Waterloo-to-gold journey to the screen. Food Safety: Straus ice cream is under a voluntary recall in multiple states due to possible metal contamination.

Severe Weather Aftermath: Sunday’s storms left real damage across the Omaha metro and western Iowa, including a massive tree split that crashed into two homes in Council Bluffs, plus thousands still dealing with outages as crews worked through hundreds of power losses. Next-Day Threat: Meteorologists are warning that another round of strong-to-severe storms could hit Monday afternoon and evening, with tornado risk especially south of Omaha and into far southeast Nebraska. Local Sports Spotlight: Webster City’s tennis season ended for the boys in districts, while the Lynx girls and boys track teams grabbed multiple state-meet bids at Clear Lake. WNBA Buzz: Caitlin Clark powered Indiana’s rebound with a wire-to-wire 89-78 win over Seattle, posting 21 points, 10 assists, and a first double-double of the year. Community Wins: Marshalltown Little League Park got a major boost after AASI invested $20,000+ in new field upgrades.

WNBA Spotlight: Caitlin Clark’s Fever tip off Sunday vs. the Seattle Storm (5 p.m. CT on Peacock/NBC Sports Network), with Clark coming off a wild overtime loss to Washington where she scored 32 and forced the extra period. Local Arts & Learning: Luther College in Decorah is launching its first 20-sided fantasy role-playing camp (June 26–28), mixing storytelling, art, and strategy for grades 10–12 and recent grads. Community & Weather Watch: Iowa faces another round of severe storms through Monday, with damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes, and heavy rain possible—especially Sunday night into Monday afternoon. Sports & Schools: North Liberty unveiled “Los Trompos,” eight giant spinning-top play structures at Centennial Park through July 12, while Iowa high school track state action is set to begin Thursday, May 21 in Des Moines. Quick Hits: A voluntary recall was issued for certain Oregon ice cream flavors due to possible metal fragments; and the Cubs selected LHP Ty Blach from Triple-A Iowa.

Severe Weather & Recovery: Storms kept rolling through the weekend, with reports of destructive hail and power outages in western Iowa, including Red Oak—followed by more hail damage and cleanup. Local Culture: Cedar Rapids’ Czech Village drew crowds for the 48th annual Houby Days, celebrating Czech and Slovak heritage with music, dancing, vendors, and mushroom-themed fun. Parks & Play: North Liberty unveiled “Los Trompos,” eight giant spinning-top play structures at Centennial Park, running through July 12. Sports Spotlight: Iowa’s high school state track and field championships are on deck at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, with team titles across four classes and standout athletes chasing state gold. Tech & Kids: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Senate Judiciary Committee is set to summon major social media CEOs again for a June 23 hearing focused on protecting young users. Politics: In Louisiana’s GOP primary runoff, Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow advanced, while Sen. Bill Cassidy fell short.

Iowa Sports Spotlight: The Iowa Hawkeyes just locked in a real piece of March magic—buying the NCAA Houston Regional court from Toyota Center to replace the aging floor at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with installation starting next week. Local Governance: Burlington High School junior Ian Steward was honored by Gov. Kim Reynolds after being named Iowa’s “Most Outstanding Member” for HOSA, a win tied to major fundraising and community outreach. Recruiting & College Hoops: Utah State added JUCO point guard Ace Reiser to its 2026 transfer class, while Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau announced his return for 2026-27. Public Safety & Courts: Iowa City’s Ali Younes was sentenced to up to 50 years for the 2022 strangling and robbery case. Tech & Kids: Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is pushing another Big Tech grilling—Meta, TikTok, Google and Snapchat CEOs set to testify June 23 on social media risks for children. Weather Watch: Omaha-area severe storms are possible again this weekend into early next week.

Elite Eight Keepsake: The Iowa Hawkeyes just bought the NCAA Houston Regional court from Toyota Center and will swap it in at Carver-Hawkeye Arena next week—turning a postseason memory into a permanent home-floor upgrade. Fort Dodge Spotlight: Fort Dodge is celebrating its long mayoral history (37 mayors since 1869) and marking downtown momentum with Summerfest coming May 29-30, plus a $1 million federal boost for Fort Dodge Regional Airport terminal upgrades. Community & Culture: A Fort Dodge cafe is leaning into its “pinch of love” origin story, while local law enforcement teamed up for “Cop on a Rooftop” to raise more than $3,000 for Special Olympics. Weather Watch: Severe storms and hail hit western Iowa hard, with thousands losing power. Tech & Kids: Social media CEOs are again headed toward Senate scrutiny over child online safety, with Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley pushing the June 23 hearing.

Tech & Kids Online: Social media CEOs from Meta, Alphabet, TikTok and Snap are set for another Senate Judiciary hearing next month, as lawmakers push for stronger protections for children and teens. Local Sports Spotlight: Michael Zale’s big Pan Am comeback earned him a bronze medal for Team Mexico in the 70-kg freestyle bracket, after a dramatic turnaround. College Hoops Draft Buzz: Former Iowa State standout Milan Momcilovic says the goal is the NBA, even as college money keeps tempting him ahead of the draft process. Iowa Education & Community: Iowa youth mental health ranks #5 in a new national report, and parents are being urged to watch for how social media pressures show up. Arts & Entertainment: Alternating Currents drops its first 2026 lineup for the free Quad Cities festival, running Aug. 13–16 across 50+ venues. History in the Making: KIMT-TV marks 72 years on the air, tracing its start as KGLO-TV back to May 15, 1954.

Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball: Iowa just landed two new pieces for 2026-27—Knox transfer guard Bria Medina (23.6 ppg) and Sweden’s Ella Strömdahl, the program’s first Swedish recruit. Local Sports: Iowa Central is one series win away from the NJCAA World Series, starting a best-of-three vs. Williston State. Weekend Plans: Fort Dodge’s Motocross Spring Classic runs Friday-Sunday, and Webster City’s JunqueFest 2026 brings live music plus citywide garage sales on Memorial Day weekend. Education Spotlight: Miller Middle School’s Ann Jackson is nominated for the 2026 National History Day Teacher of the Year. Public Safety & Community: Council Bluffs held a National Police Week memorial honoring fallen officers, deputies, and troopers. Politics (Iowa Senate primary): Zach Wahls vs. Josh Turek clashed in a final pre-primary debate, especially over reproductive healthcare.

Roland-Story case: A former Roland-Story middle school teacher, Colden Carlson, 25, is arrested and charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, and lascivious conduct with a minor, after allegations he corresponded with a student from Nov. 2025 to Jan. 2026 via notes and Snapchat; he posted $8,000 bond and a May 22 preliminary hearing is set. Local schools/DOJ: Freeport School District leaders say they’re cooperating with a DOJ Title IX-related investigation but still don’t know what they’ll be asked for, as community tension grows. Iowa politics: Two Democrats vying for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat hold their second televised debate tonight (KCCI/Gray Media). Sports & entertainment: Iowa’s Field of Dreams gets a $10M boost from three Iowa families/business leaders, while Chance the Rapper announces a Council Bluffs show at Harrah’s Stir Cove on Oct. 2. Weather: Omaha-area forecasts warn of windy conditions and multiple storm chances this weekend, with severe potential.

School Tech Fight: Parents nationwide are pushing back on heavy classroom screen use, arguing for more pencil-and-paper options—while districts say tech is essential and opt-outs aren’t practical. Local Sports Boost: Waterloo is building CourtWorks at TechWorks, aiming to turn youth sports into a major economic engine (leaders project $17M a year). Pipeline Politics: Summit Carbon Solutions is revising its CO2 pipeline plan—shifting the destination to Wyoming and removing eight Iowa counties from the route. WNBA Spotlight: Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever play the Los Angeles Sparks tonight on USA Network, with Clark’s high school soccer clips also going viral. Public Safety: TSA agents at Des Moines International found a foot-long hatchet in a carry-on and removed it before the passenger continued on. Iowa Schools: Algona schools lifted shelter-in-place after a threat investigation, with classes resuming normally.

Iowa Sports Spotlight: Iowa basketball locked in its momentum—Ben McCollum’s reworked contract is now official, extending through 2032 after an Elite Eight run that brought the program back to national attention. Coaching Moves: Ferentz also added NFL legend Tom Moore as senior consultant and offensive advisor, bringing decades of pro experience back into the Hawkeyes’ orbit. Local Arts & Entertainment: Davenport is getting horror royalty—Joe Bob Briggs (and Darcy) is set for a June stop at the Last Picture House. Community & Culture: Orange City Tulip Festival organizers are warning about fake Night Show tickets sold online and reminding visitors about parade-route rules. Business & Agriculture: Carbonwave’s Sarga Agriscience and Growers Edge launched a performance-backed, “pay-when-it-works” biological program for tomato growers. Public Safety: Des Moines police are investigating a crash near Lincoln High School with minor injuries reported. Politics Watch: A House Democrat is pressing the DOJ for details after millions were paid in FBI misconduct-related settlements.

Iowa Education & Tech: Iowa’s charter school funding is getting a boost—Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law adding $1,200 per student on top of the $8,000 base, and it also expands who can approve new public charters. Local Sports & Community: Quad City DekHockey is back in Bettendorf with more than 500 kids across 55 youth teams, plus adult leagues and women’s games. School Facilities: Davis County schools are planning a GO bond and PPEL levy for an events center and a performing arts/safe room, with votes slated for 2027 and 2028. Public Safety & Weather Memory: Charles City is marking 58 years since the 1968 F5 tornado that still shapes the community’s identity. Statewide Recreation: Scott County Park Pool’s opening is delayed until early July due to contractor staffing, pushing the summer start back from late May. College Football Buzz: Tom Moore is joining Iowa football as a senior consultant/offensive advisor, adding another veteran voice to the Hawkeyes’ staff.

Iowa Sports & Entertainment Spotlight: Iowa’s biggest headline right now is basketball momentum: Ben McCollum just locked in a contract extension through 2032 after Iowa’s Elite Eight run, keeping the Hawkeyes’ coaching core in place. Big Ten Schedule Buzz: Rutgers, Purdue, and Iowa all got major 2026-27 Big Ten home/away pairings—Rutgers lands Iowa and Purdue at home, while Purdue’s road slate looks tougher than last year and Indiana hosts Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State. Local Community & Arts: Des Moines Performing Arts’ new CEO, Monica Holt, is settling in after a career at the Kennedy Center, and Sunday brings multiple local commencement ceremonies across northeast Iowa. Weather Watch: Iowa skies are showing mammatus clouds—those pouch-like storm formations that look wild but signal active weather ahead. Music on the Move: Journey added 40 more North American fall dates to its Final Frontier farewell run, and TobyMac, Chris Tomlin, and Third Day announced a co-headlining tour.

Field of Dreams Watch: A big “Bring It Home” announcement is set for Thursday at the Dyersville movie site, with Gov. Kim Reynolds expected to speak as the landmark pushes to preserve and expand the attraction. NBA Draft Combine Buzz: Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz turned heads in Chicago, posting top marks in spot-up shooting (20/25) and strong off-the-dribble work as he prepares for what’s next after Iowa’s Elite Eight run. Local Sports & Schools: Kirkwood softball is headed to the NJCAA D2 World Series again—11 straight trips—with the Eagles entering as the No. 1 seed; meanwhile, Fort Dodge schools are wrapping up the year with graduation set for May 23 and the last student day May 28. Statehouse/Community: Iowa signed a tougher animal-torture felony law (“Ember’s Law”), and DMACC landed $2 million for a new trades and industry center opening in phases in 2027. Arts & Community Calendar: Grinnell’s Farmers Market opens Thursday in Central Park, and the Cerro Gordo Photo Show winners were announced at the MacNider Museum.

Memorial Day in Largo: Largo will honor fallen soldiers at its annual Memorial Day Ceremony Monday, May 25, 9–10 a.m. at the Military Court of Honor in Largo Central Park, with color guard, live music, wreath presentation, and local veteran remarks. Local business spotlight: Milk Unlimited keeps a long-running community tradition alive in Atlantic, still operating 24/7 with tours that have reached generations. Digital growth in Iowa: Creative Canvas Web is expanding in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City with more website services for small businesses, from design and SEO to ongoing site care. Sports momentum: Johnson County Community College softball punched a ticket to the NJCAA D2 World Series after winning the Plains District title. Health watch: Pseudorabies was found in a small Iowa pig operation—the first commercial herd case in 22 years—prompting destruction of infected animals to prevent spread.