Iowa
Kim Reynolds creates task force to plan America’s 250th birthday celebration. Who’s on it?
Trump announces ‘America250’ celebration, says 2026 Iowa event planned
A part of the “America250” celebration, Trump said an event dubbed “The Great American State Fair” will start in Iowa.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has named a task force to prepare Iowa to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next year.
Reynolds signed an executive order on Nov. 6 creating the task force, named the Governor’s Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, which will be led by Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.
In a statement, Reynolds said she was honored to launch the task force.
“Ever since President Donald Trump visited the Iowa State Fairgrounds to kick off the 250th celebration, my administration has been working to coordinate our own year-long celebration,” she said. “I look forward to showcasing the incredible contributions Iowans have made throughout our nation’s history.”
Trump visited the Iowa State Fairgrounds on July 3 for an event kicking off America250, the national yearlong celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial, leading to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
“Iowa has a prominent place in American history more than deserving of displaying for our country’s 250th birthday,” Cournoyer said in a statement. “I want to thank Gov. Reynolds for appointing me to lead this task force with the goal of acknowledging Iowa’s impact on American excellence over the years.”
Naig said he was grateful to help lead the task force.
“America 250 is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the people who have and continue to make our nation exceptional, as well as the values that built this country — faith, family and freedom,” he said. “I look forward to working with partners across the state to highlight Iowa’s important contributions to our nation’s history over the last 250 years.”
Twenty-one Iowans will serve on the task force, including four ex officio members made up of a Republican and Democratic lawmaker from the Iowa House and Senate, who will be appointed by their legislative leaders.
The remaining members of the task force are:
- Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer
- Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig
- Secretary of State Paul Pate
- Department of Administrative Services Director Mark Campbell
- Department of Management Director Kraig Paulsen
- Department of Economic Development and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham
- Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow
- Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon
- Iowa National Guard Major General Stephen Osborn
- Department of Veterans Affairs Director Todd Jacobus
- Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons
- Member selected by the Iowa Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
- Member selected by the Iowa Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
- The FAMiLY Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats
- RMA Armament Founder and CEO Blake Waldrop
- Stellar Industries President and CEO Dave Zrostlik
- Cambrex (Charles City) President Joe Nettleton
Reynolds’ executive order directs the task force to issue a report within 120 days detailing plans for the country’s anniversary celebrations in Iowa.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.
An Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor committed to one of the Hawkeyes’ conference foes instead. Former Iowa State guard Kenzie Hare took a visit to Iowa during her transfer portal recruitment, but the 5-foot-9 guard committed to Indiana on Sunday night.
Hare had several visits throughout her transfer portal recruiting process, including trips to Michigan and Illinois State, but the Des Moines Register’s Chad Leistikow reported that Hare also visited Iowa.
On3’s Talia Goodman reported Hare’s commitment to the Hoosiers.
Hare has one year of eligibility remaining. This past season with the Cyclones, in 32 games played and 31 starts, Hare averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 40.5% field goal shooting and 40% from 3-point range. A hip injury limited Hare to just 10 games during her first year with the Cyclones in the 2024-25 season.
The soon-to-be redshirt senior transferred to Iowa State before the 2024-25 campaign after spending two seasons at Marquette from 2022-24. Hare averaged a career-best 14 points per game on 45.5% field goal shooting and 42.5% 3-point shooting during the 2023-24 season with the Golden Eagles.
Had Iowa been able to lure the Naperville, Ill., native to Iowa City, Hare would have been another valuable addition to the Hawkeyes’ backcourt depth. But, Iowa has landed other backcourt reinforcements throughout this transfer portal cycle.
The Hawkeyes inked both Dani Carnegie and Amari Whiting.
Carnegie was a first-team All-SEC selection this past season at Georgia, averaging 17.8 points per game on 42.7% field goal shooting, 35.4% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Whiting averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 42.5% field goal shooting, 32.1% 3-point accuracy, and 71.6% free-throw shooting.
As Hare joins a promising core of players in Bloomington, the Hawkeyes will once again face the former Cyclone at least once this upcoming season as part of their Big Ten regular-season slate.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Senator Chuck Grassley said he’s recovering from a gallstone removal procedure.
His media team shared that he is working in Iowa “in good spirits and looks forward to returning to Washington soon.”
“I’m gr8ful [sic] for the excellent care from local health care providers,” he shared on X.
Over the weekend in Iowa I had a procedure to remove gallstones I’m gr8ful for the excellent care from local health care providers Be back to capitol ASAP
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) April 20, 2026
Grassley, 92, is the oldest senator currently in office and the sixth-longest-serving senator in U.S. history.
The Senate is in session this week.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Former Iowa State center Audi Crooks has committed to Oklahoma State via the NCAA Transfer Portal. She has one season of eligibility remaining.
Crooks made 99 appearances and 95 starts during her three seasons at Iowa State. She averaged 25.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this past season, while shooting 64.9% from the field. Additionally, the 6-foot-3 star shot 1-11 from 3-point range.
Crooks played a leading role for the Cyclones from the moment she stepped on campus. She is a three-time All-Big 12 First-Team selection and two-time All-American. On April 2, Crooks announced her intention to enter the transfer portal.
“Cyclone Nation, thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day. I’ve met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I’ve built during my time at Iowa State,” Crooks wrote. “Words cannot fully express how grateful I feel to have called this place home.
“I want to thank my teammates for their friendship and all the great memories. … I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here.”
Now, Audi Crooks will aim to thrive in her new environment. Oklahoma finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-10 overall record.
The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened on April 6 and closes on April 20. The new 15-day window was enacted following a recommendation by the women’s basketball oversight committee. Athletes don’t have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.
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