Your Ames Voice

Thursday, March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Happy Thursday! And we hope you're enjoying your spring break so far. 😊

In today's newsletter, David Cook began his term as Iowa State University’s 17th president. He was born in Ames, grew up here and graduated from Iowa State, so we asked him about finding his way back home.

In other news, the Ames Police Department arrested and charged a Fort Dodge man for the murder last weekend of his sister and her 1-year-old son. In sports, both the Cyclone men and women begin March Madness play this weekend.

Our Community Voice spotlights Prairie Valley Preserve, located north of Ames and one of Story County Conservation's newer additions.

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

Co-Editors: Anthony Capps & Amber Mohmand
[email protected]

Top Story

David Cook began his term as Iowa State’s 17th president on March 1. | Photo by Amber Mohmand

‘Figuring it out along the way’: New ISU President David Cook’s journey brings him home

by Amber Mohmand | News Editor | Published on March 18, 2026

Coming back to Ames — let alone becoming the president of Iowa State University — seemed like a distant dream for David Cook.

It’s been 34 years since the Ames native and Iowa State alumnus earned his bachelor’s degree, after which he went to the University of Kansas and began his career.

“We always thought coming back to Iowa was always something that was in the back of our minds and I never thought it was possible that I could come back and be president,” Cook told the Ames Voice, sitting in his new office, the Office of the President at Iowa State.

He began his term as the 167-year-old university’s 17th president earlier this month.

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City of Ames

Crime & Courts

Fort Dodge man accused of murdering his sister and infant nephew

by Amber Mohmand | News Editor

A Fort Dodge man is charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed his sister and his 1-year-old nephew to death.

Civic Calendar

Thu (March 19): Parks and Recreation Commission, 4 p.m., Council Chambers at City Hall (Ames)

Mon: Ames CSD Regular Meeting, 5:30 p.m., District Office (Ames)

Tue: Board of Supervisors, 10 a.m., Administration Building (Nevada)

Tue: City Council Meeting, 6 p.m., Council Chambers at City Hall (Ames)

Thu: Ames CSD Policy Meeting, noon, virtual

Arts & Entertainment

Ames Voice Sponsored Event

With urgency and clarity, Art Cullen tells us the rent is due for Iowa, the nation and democracy

by Doug Burns | Contributor

With a rare sense of place, a know-it-when-you-see-it Iowa-ness, Art Cullen’s roaring new book is nothing short of an unsparing mirror for 3.3 million of us in the state.

Sports

Women’s Basketball: March Madness

Cyclones, Orange clash in March Madness opener

by Jared Larson | Staff Reporter

The Cyclones (22-9, 10-8 Big 12) head into the NCAA Tournament in Storrs, Connecticut, with a 23-23 all-time record.

More from March Madness

MBB: Cyclones head to St. Louis as No. 2 seed in March Madness

Community Voices

Story County Conservation

The Outside Story: Prairie Valley Preserve

by Jim Colbert | Contributor

The Landers Prairie portion of Prairie Valley Preserve is truly rare and special. It includes “remnant prairie” – native prairie that was never plowed. Such remnants are quite rare in central Iowa.