(An Iowa Capital Dispatch report) – David Cook has been named the new president of Iowa State University. The Iowa Board of Regents announced Tuesday afternoon that Cook, North Dakota State University president and one of two finalists for the Iowa State University presidency, has been chosen to lead ISU after President Wendy Wintersteen’s retirement in January.

Cook told ISU community members during a public forum last week that returning to ISU would be like coming home, as he grew up in Ames and completed his undergraduate education at the university. He said at the time he would not come back just to “reinvent the wheel” if selected, but to build on the legacy Wintersteen left and bring ISU to new heights.

David Cook has been named president of Iowa State University. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Wintersteen announced her plans to retire in May, after which the board of regents contracted with AGB Search and formed a committee to review candidates. Working with a timeline described by AGB Search Managing Principal Rodrick McDavis as “very, very, very tight,” the presidential search committee spent the summer creating a presidential profile and going through applicants, eventually narrowing down a pool of 78 people to eight semifinalists.

Of the four finalists selected for in-person interviews and public inquiry through forums, only two ended up coming to campus last week — Cook and Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean Benjamin Houlton.

(Atlantic, IA) –  The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors recently gathered at Schildberg Recreation Area to celebrate the completion of a new solar system display honoring the late John Garrett. Family and friends of the Garrett family, along with members of the Atlantic Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission, joined the Ambassadors for the ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating John’s vision and dedication.

The solar system display, which stretches across the west side of Schildberg Recreation, serves as both an educational and inspirational addition to the community. Designed to represent the planets of our solar system in proportionate scale and distance, the project invites visitors to explore science and nature together through an engaging, hands-on learning experience.

John Garrett’s inspiration for the display came from The Thousand-Yard Model: The Earth as a Peppercorn, an instructional book by Guy Ottewell that illustrates the solar system’s scale through a walking model. His idea was to bring that same concept to life in Atlantic, giving families, students, and visitors a way to visualize the vastness of space while enjoying the beauty of Schildberg Recreation Area.

During the ceremony, Carol Garrett, John’s wife, expressed her appreciation to everyone who helped make the project a reality. She thanked the community, volunteers, and the Atlantic Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission for their involvement and continued support in carrying out this project.

Kevin Ferguson, member of the Atlantic Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission, shared that the new display is a meaningful tribute to John’s passion for learning and community engagement. It stands as a reminder of his love for science, education, and the outdoors. These values will continue to inspire others for generations to come.

Schildberg Recreation Area is located on the north side of Atlantic and is open daily for public recreation, walking, and outdoor exploration.

(Radio Iowa) – Cedar Rapids has received approval from the Iowa D-O-T to turn two I-380 speed cameras back on. K-C-R-G T-V reports that the city received approval to turn cameras back on both sides of the “S-Curve” on Interstate 380 near First Avenue and J Avenue.

The city says the D-O-T agreed the cameras are needed to help control speed and ensure safety on the curve. City staff are working to install the required signs and recalibrating equipment to get the cameras back up and working.

Most of the Cedar Rapids speed cameras on I-380 were turned off after a 2024 law required cities to get approval from the Iowa D-O-T by showing the cameras are used to improve safety.

(Atlantic, IA)— Cass Health in Atlantic, will host a public meeting focused on cancer data specific to Cass County, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Ann McCurdy, Director of Marketing and Communications and Chair of the Cass Health Cancer Action Plan Team, says “The Iowa Cancer Registry’s newest data puts Cass County at the top of the list for the highest cancer incidence rate in the state. This presentation dives into the data for our county, and it gives us an opportunity as a community to come together to talk about cancer, share resources and ideas, and it’s a call to action for all of us to tackle this complex issue.”.

Launched by the Iowa Cancer Registry, Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project is an initiative to make sure every county in Iowa has access to the latest cancer data and information. The goal of each presentation is to give local leaders, healthcare providers, and residents the tools they need to act—whether that means boosting cancer screening rates, supporting caregivers, or advocating for better access to care.

The Iowa Cancer Registry has tracked cancer cases, survival rates, and deaths across the state since 1973. Over the years, their data has revealed critical patterns—like higher rates of certain cancers in specific parts of the state—and helped public health teams and hospitals better serve their communities.

To bring this information to every corner of Iowa, the Registry has teamed up with local health departments and statewide partners, including the University of Iowa College of Public Health, the Iowa Cancer Consortium, University of Iowa Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Iowa Rural Health Association.

The presentation for Cass County will be held at the Cass County Community Center on Wednesday, December 3. Doors open and dinner will begin at 5:30 pm, with the presentation to begin at 6 pm followed by Q&A time. Registration for both in-person or virtual attendance is required. To register, visit canceriowa.news/cass.

(Radio Iowa) – A non-profit is launched a mobile clinic, dubbed a suitcase clinic, in central Iowa that’s designed to fill in maternal care gaps for under- and uninsured people. EveryStep sends a nurse to community spaces like human services agencies, food banks and faith-based centers to provide free care. Becky Borgman is the maternal and reproductive health director at EveryStep. She says the clinic was developed in response to a growing need for care.

“Especially as we see more and more clinics and hospital and OB units closing,” Borgman says, “but clinics are also struggling, as well as there’s shortages.” She says the nurse can provide birth control and sexually-transmitted infection support, but the options go beyond just direct care.  Borgman says, “It’s connecting them to a doula, connecting them to a nurse or a case manager who can come to that house regularly, or connecting them to Medicaid when they didn’t know they qualified.” She says they can also do other services like lead testing in children and referrals to dentists and primary care physicians.

The suitcase clinic operates in Polk, Dallas, Madison and Warren counties.

Pictured: Congresswoman Miller-Meeks answered audience question reads by KILJ General Manager Kadie Johannson, who moderated the forum. (KILJ photo)

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks faced a vocal crowd in a sometimes tense town hall forum in Keosauqua and defended her votes on a variety of issues. “We passed a Continuing Resolution that included funding for SNAP,” Miller-Meeks said at one point and people in the crowd began shouting. Miller-Meeks, who represents Iowa’s first congressional district, responded to questions submitted on slips of paper and read by the general manager of K-I-L-J Radio, who moderated the event. The crowd applauded questions that challenged Miller-Meeks. Many focused on the looming expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Two people were escorted out of the room after making loud statements, including Taylor Wettach, a Democrat who is running in the same district Miller-Meeks represents. He chanted, “vote her out,” as he was removed. Miller-Meeks drew scattered applause from the crowd when she announced she had not been paid during the shutdown. It was the first town hall Miller-Meeks has held this year.

C-N-N reported in October that Miller-Meeks had told a gathering of Johnson County Republicans that she was not holding town halls just so people could yell at her. Miller-Meeks staff says she was followed to car yesterday (Monday) and a brief meeting with reporters after the event was cancelled.

(Radio Iowa) – After a two-hour closed session meeting that ended last (Monday) night, Sioux City’s school board voted to place the district’s superintendent on paid administrative leave. That leave for Juan Cordova is effective November 6th. During a brief open session prior to closing the doors, the board’s Dan Greenwell asked a question of the school district’s attorney. Greenwell asked if the person who was the subject of the closed session had to be present, and the attorney said it was up to the board.

After the private meeting, the board issued a statement saying in part that Iowa law prohibits disclosure of personnel information, adding, the board’s action was consistent with district policy. There will not be an interim superintendent named as Cordova is still employed by the district. Angela Bemus is the associate superintendent.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board will hold their regular monthly meeting this Wednesday evening in the High School Media Center. Their session begins at 6:30-p.m., and includes action on personnel matters, including: The resignation of Benjamin Cordova, ELL Paraeducator; And Contract Recommendations to hire:

• Aidan Wendt, Industrial Arts Teacher (Starting with the 2nd Semester, and replacing Dexter Dodson).
• Emma Webb, ELL Para (Replacing Benjamin Cordova).
• Anna Wieser, Junior Class and Prom Sponsor.
• Skyler Handlos, 9th Grade Basketball Coach.

The Board will discuss: the 2022-23 Audit, with an overview; Staff BEDS (Basic Education Data Survey) report results; and the Unofficial results of the General Obligation Bond vote from Nov. 4th.  The Atlantic School Board will act on approving the Second Reading of various Board Policies covering: Board Committees; Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO); Student Substance Use; Emergency Plans and Drills; and the Care, Maintenance and Disposal of District Records. They will also act on Snow Removal Bids for some district parking lots.

Wednesday’s Regular School Board meeting can be viewed live at https://www.youtube.com/live/xzS6PcIvs4M

A Special, Organizational Meeting of the Atlantic School Board will be held 6:30-p.m. Nov. 18th, and will include the selection of Board President/Vice President, SBO/Treasurer, and the swearing-in of new At-Large Board Member Chet Meneely, as well as re-elected At-Large Board Member Josh McLaren.

(Radio Iowa) –  There’s no U-S-D-A weekly crop report due to the government shutdown, but the state’s top ag official says the end of the harvest close. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says his travels around the state and conversations with farmers indicates the corn and bean harvest is nearly complete. That would fit with the five-year average that shows 98 percent of soybeans and 91 of the corn is usually harvest by mid-November. Naig says the weekend drop of temperatures into the teens and low 20s marked the official end of the growing season.

State Climatologist Justin Glisan wrote in his weekly weather summary that temperatures took a “nose-dive” late into the Nov. 3 through Nov. 9 reporting period.  Several towns in northwest Iowa reported the weekly low temperature of 13 degrees Fahrenheit, which Glisan said was 14 degrees below normal. Despite the drop in temperatures toward the end of the week, the overall average temperature for the period was 47.2 degrees. The statewide average was 3.4 degrees above the climatological normal.

According to Glisan, more than 50 weather stations reported measurable snowfall during the reporting period. Pocahontas reported just slightly more than 5 inches of snow. The weekly precipitation average across the state was slightly under three-tenths of an inch, while the normal is 0.52 inch.  The latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor showed 81% of Iowa was in abnormally dry or drought conditions. About 15% of the state, mostly on the eastern edge, was in moderate drought conditions.

(Radio Iowa) – The Board of Regents will interview the two finalists today (Tuesday) and then choose one to be the next Iowa State University president. Benjamin Houlton, the dean of the College of Agriculture at Cornell University, was the first finalist to visit campus last week. He says one of his goals is to make I-S-U a global leader in A-I. He says China is moving fast, and the U-S needs to do the same North Dakota State president David Cook is an Ames native and I-S-U graduate. He says the current educational climate requires colleges to have grads better prepared. He says they have to have critical thinking skills.

The new president will replace Wendy Wintersteen, who is retiring. The Regents will begin their meeting at 9 a-m and are expected to announced the new president by early afternoon.