(National News) – Reports on social media Tuesday night indicated the Aurora Borealis, or northern lights, put on a spectacular show across a large portion of the northern U.S.  Another awe inspiring display is expected tonight (Wednesday, November 12), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The display of the mesmerizing, ethereal lights are the result of incoming coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that, in addition to the dazzling fluid colors, can cause disruptions in some electronic communications. It’s all part of strong geomagnetic storm emanating from the sun.

The first CME, launched on Nov.9th, reach Earth late Tuesday night, and will be followed closely by a second CME that erupted Tuesday. A third CME released during the biggest solar flare of 2025, is currently hurtling toward Earth and could also hit Earth on Nov. 12, according to NOAA.  (Pictured are some of the views captured  from Officer Smith with the Atlantic Police Dept.)

The best time to see the northern lights tonight in the U.S. is between 10 P.M. and 2 A.M. local time, with the peak activity expected around 10 P.M. to Midnight CST. According to Space.com, in order to give yourself the best chance of seeing them:

• Find a north-facing vantage point with a clear view of the horizon as far from light pollution as possible.
• Use your phone camera to scan the sky as the camera is great at picking up faint auroras before your eyes spot them. This will give you a good idea of the direction you should be focusing your attention.
• Try to let your eyes adapt to the dark for at least 30 minutes; this will help your night vision develop.
• Where warm clothing! Part of the fun of aurora hunting is the chase. Be prepared to sit or stand for hours if conditions are looking promising, as you won’t want to miss the show when it starts!

STORM LAKE, Iowa (KTIV) – Firefighters say construction crews caused a gas leak on the campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake Tuesday morning.

The Storm Lake Fire Department says its crews were called to BVU’s campus just before Noon after a contractor, who was doing underground utility work, struck a large natural gas line next to Swope Hall.

Surrounding buildings were evacuated as utility crews shut down and repaired the gas line.

Fire crews found “moderate” gas readings in several university buildings while those repairs were made.

(by Radio Iowa) -Democrat Julie Stauch says if she’s elected governor, she’ll appoint an environmentalist as director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and ask that person to immediately review the laws on water pollution. “Identifying the penalties and also the enforcement mechanism for those who violate the clean water standards,” Stauch says. Critics have complained polluters do not face stiff sanctions for fouling Iowa lakes, rivers and streams.

Stauch says it’s time to rewrite the standards for manure management plans that determine how much liquid manure may be applied on cropland. She supports a moratorium on construction of new large-scale animal feeding operations until environmental protections are updated and she would return zoning decisions for livestock confinements to local officials. A 1995 state law has prohibited counties and cities from ordinances that restrict where livestock operations may be located.

“Since June I’ve been going to communities across this state, getting feedback from Iowans about what their top concerns are,” Stauch said. “…They do not like drinking poisoned water. Funny how that is. They want clean water.” Stauch made her comments at a recent Iowa Democratic Party fundraiser.

Stauch is running against State Auditor Rob Sand for the Democratic Party’s 2026 nomination for governor.

(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.