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Iowa women’s basketball sees big value in small steps forward amid Big Ten grind

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Iowa women’s basketball sees big value in small steps forward amid Big Ten grind


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IOWA CITY — Of all the coaching cliches uttered throughout an arduous college basketball regular season, coaches and players saying they’re taking things one game at a time can generate the most eye rolls.

Big-picture discussions are everywhere this time of year as the bright lights of March inch a little closer. Conference-race projections, weekly bracketologies, constant chatter about how results offer evidence of what might happen in the NCAA Tournament — all attempts to define each game with future context.

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For some squads, that’s a justifiable reality. Several programs are in positions where, no matter how much positivity happens ahead of March Madness, NCAA Tournament results will firmly define season narratives. The last two years of Iowa women’s basketball matches that exact scenario.

The current Hawkeyes, though? They’re walking coach-speak for treating every game as its own four-quarter story. And that’s perfectly acceptable as Jan Jensen’s inaugural squad heads into February planted on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Steps forward, even if they’re sometimes small ones, can be appreciated just as much as the emphatic leaps.

Tuesday’s 85-80 win over Northwestern highlights just that.

Was there more turbulence than Iowa (14-7, 4-6 Big Ten Conference) needed against a team that doesn’t have a win in 2025? Yes. Did the Hawkeyes look like a team ready to charge through a rigorous month ahead that features one intense matchup after another? Not exactly.

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But in a game with similar framework as some of Iowa’s most painful losses, the Hawkeyes found the conclusion they needed to keep momentum moving forward. Doing so carries ample significance for a developing group.

“I’ve always told this team they’re closer than they are farther away,” Jensen said after Iowa snapped a rare three-game home losing streak ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated visit from Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins and No. 4 USC. “So yeah, do I wish it would look as beautiful and pretty? Absolutely. But I’m telling you what, we are learning maybe the not-as-pretty wins are certainly better than a pretty loss.

“So I want to keep getting better. We certainly need to. We have a heck of an opponent coming up. But this particular team, we need to improve in the areas we aren’t great. But we need to celebrate what we do well.”

Amid frustration that a surge of separation never arrived Tuesday night, Iowa made the best of what it had created.

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A seesawing game late created numerous pressure free throws, so five different Hawkeyes stepped up and drained all 12 of them in the fourth quarter. That’s a step forward. Mitigating in-game frustration after Northwestern (7-12, 0-8) constructed a double-digit first-quarter advantage, that’s a step forward.

Hannah Stuelke, after missing two games with a concussion amid her shift back to the “5” position, delivered the second-best scoring night of her career (26 points on 10-for-17 shooting and 6-for-6 from the line). That’s a step forward. Aaliyah Guyton continuing to be a vocal presence in tense moments despite being fresh on the collegiate scene, that’s a step forward.

“I do my mental exercises on and off the court whenever I feel like I’m back-tracking, I have my teammates to help me too,” Guyton said after setting season-highs in points (15) and minutes (31). “Knowing that I’ve put in the work, knowing that my teammates and coaches have my back, that brings energy out of me and that leadership.”

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Aaliyah Guyton ready to do whatever Iowa women’s basketball needs after success vs. Northwestern

Aaliyah Guyton ready to do whatever Iowa women’s basketball needs after success vs. Northwestern

Considering all Iowa still struggled with — another slow start, another foe going off from deep, another wave of scoring droughts that disrupted offensive rhythm at times despite the strong final total — the Hawkeyes aren’t in a position to be picky about how their victories look.

To some extent, each night inside this daunting league is a roll of the dice until Iowa proves otherwise. One set of 40 minutes may look completely different than the next 40, which may contrast heavily with the 40 after that. Dialing in on one game at a time while valuing the progress is the proper way to dissect the rest of this season, however, and wherever it unfolds.

“Look at us, we’re pretty young,” Jensen said. “We’re trying to figure it out, I’m thrilled. We’ve shown some growth.

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“… There was a lot more attention to detail. And we just got a little bit more confidence while leaning into the moment instead of being on our heels. I think that was a big key tonight.”

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.



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Groundbreaking held for Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s 16th Woman Build

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Groundbreaking held for Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s 16th Woman Build


IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) — Volunteers broke ground Saturday for Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s 16th Woman Build, honoring a retired University of Iowa nursing professor.

Liz Swanson, a retired nursing professor, was chosen as this year’s honoree for her decades of impact. The Women Build program focuses on including women in every step of home construction.

While the home is built in Swanson’s honor, it will go to a fellow nurse and mother of three. The family applied through the affordable housing program.

Swanson said she’s proud to be part of a project that directly connects to her nursing legacy.

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“It’s very special to have the unique opportunity to help the nurse who is working nights,” Swanson said.

Swanson said stable housing gives families the security to plan for the future.

“It means security for families. We talked briefly to the children and they said, ‘we’re gonna have our own bedroom,’” Swanson said.

Volunteers are set to begin work on the home in August. Those interested in volunteering can find more information here.

Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.

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Iowa Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Midday results for May 8, 2026

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The Iowa Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big with rewards ranging from $1,000 to millions. The most an Iowan has ever won from playing the lottery was $343 million in 2018 off the Powerball.

Don’t miss out on the winnings. Here’s a look at Friday, May 8, 2026, winning numbers for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing

37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick-3 numbers from May 8 drawing

Midday: 0-5-8

Evening: 9-9-2

Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-4 numbers from May 8 drawing

Midday: 0-2-7-3

Evening: 0-7-0-6

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Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing

14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Iowa Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
  • Pick 3 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
  • Pick 3 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
  • Pick 4 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
  • Pick 4 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
  • Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Iowa editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Iowa SNAP restrictions raise concerns over confusion, impact on summer food aid

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Iowa SNAP restrictions raise concerns over confusion, impact on summer food aid


Iowa’s new restrictions on SNAP benefits are drawing concern from advocates who say the changes could make it harder for families to buy food and could put future summer assistance for children at risk.

The state’s SNAP waiver took effect January 1, 2026, limiting what items can be purchased based on Iowa’s taxable food list. While that includes widely discussed restrictions on soda and candy, the policy also affects certain prepared foods, creating confusion for shoppers.

“Something as small as whether or not a utensil is included in a food item actually impacts whether or not you can continue to purchase that item using your SNAP benefits,” Paige Chickering, Iowa State Manager for the Save the Children Action Network, said.

Advocates say the rules can be difficult to navigate, especially for people relying on quick meals. Items like prepackaged salads or sandwiches may or may not qualify depending on how they are packaged.

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At the same time, new legislation slated for the next session at the statehouse could make those restrictions more permanent by requiring Iowa to continue seeking federal approval for the waiver.

That’s raising additional concerns about the future of Summer EBT, also known as “Sun Bucks,” which provides food assistance to children when school is out.

“This makes that food assistance dependent on a decision made in Washington, D.C. that is just arbitrary and not really dependent on the needs of Iowans and Iowa children,” Chickering said.

The program is expected to help around 220,000 children in Iowa during the summer months. Advocates worry leaving it up to federal approval of the waiver could jeopardize that support if policies change. They also point out that SNAP plays a major role in addressing hunger compared to other resources.

“We know that for every one meal provided by an emergency feeding organization, SNAP provides nine,” Chickering said.

Advocates say they support improving nutrition but argue there are more effective, evidence based ways to do that without limiting food choices.

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For now, organizations across Iowa are working to help families understand the new rules, while also pushing lawmakers to reconsider how the policy could impact food access moving forward.



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