Iowa

Fierce Blizzard Forces GOP Iowa Caucus Into Deep Freeze

Published

2 years ago

January 12, 2024

URBANDALE, Iowa — As a historic blizzard bore down on the first presidential caucus state of Iowa, a shivering Ron DeSantis joked that his team “can handle” the weather despite being “a Florida-based campaign.”

But as he stood outside his Des Moines-area campaign headquarters early Friday afternoon, DeSantis was wrapping his second and final campaign event on a day in which he was scheduled to hold four events.

As the entire GOP presidential field is finding out, Mother Nature can’t be outworked or out-organized, no matter how close the Iowa caucus looms on the calendar.

Thanks to what the National Weather Service called “life-threatening” blizzard conditions pummeling the state, nearly all the major Republican presidential candidates canceled campaign events for Friday.

While Nikki Haley scrapped her three events for the day and turned them all into “tele town halls,” Donald Trump’s campaign punted on their main event for the day, a rally headlined by campaign surrogate and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake.

While DeSantis’ campaign added the event at his Urbandale headquarters late—which attracted plenty of restless press snowed in around the capital city—his Never Back Down super PAC axed its events for the governor for later in the day.

Characteristically, it was far-right longshot Vivek Ramaswamy who sought to keep his full Friday campaign schedule of four events around the state. “George Washington braved the weather to cross the Delaware,” Ramaswamy said in an irony-free post on X.

As for the campaigns’ active efforts to reach Iowa voters—which entails sending legions of volunteers to knock on doors—the whiteout conditions around the state would seem an obvious obstacle.

Yet the DeSantis, Haley, and Ramaswamy operations all confirmed to The Daily Beast that their canvassing plans plowed ahead on Friday despite the weather. (The Trump campaign did not return a request for comment.)

“People are still activated and excited,” a spokesperson for the Haley campaign told The Daily Beast. “Iowans are used to the weather!”

Iowans handle the cold better than most, but the final days of the caucus campaign will see record-breaking extreme cold. This year could wind up as the coldest Iowa caucus in modern history, with highs on Monday likely to fall below zero and stiff winds making conditions even more dangerous.

The Friday mess drains valuable time for DeSantis and Haley to organize and rally crucial support ahead of Monday’s caucus, in which Trump is strongly favored to post a comfortable victory.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis leaves a campaign office after meeting with his staff on January 12, 2024 in Urbandale, Iowa.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Now, seemingly everyone in Iowa is attempting to game out whether the weekend’s cold, on top of the Friday blizzard, could meaningfully alter the landscape of a contest that has thus far been frozen in Trump’s favor.

While Haley and DeSantis likely aren’t expecting victories in Iowa, even the slightest hints of momentum could influence the primaries in the more competitive states of New Hampshire and South Carolina.

If the blowing snow and life-threatening cold conditions are going to help anyone by potentially deflating turnout on Monday, it’ll be Trump, said Steve Scheffler, a Republican National Committeeman for Iowa who’s remained neutral in the race.

Scheffler has been involved in every caucus going back to 1972, and told The Daily Beast in an interview that “turnout will be affected a little bit, but not a lot.”

The “diehards,” Scheffler said, will come out no matter what. “The major campaigns, especially Trump and DeSantis, have done a good job” cultivating their own supporters, the seasoned Iowa veteran said, but he remained adamant the cold shouldn’t depress turnout too much.

Whiteout conditions, on the other hand, could be a major problem, according to Scheffler, especially in rural areas. “Especially if you’re in rural Iowa,” he said, “and they’ve only got three or four caucus locations where you have to drive 15, 20 miles to get there.”

Still, there are others who see these conditions as a potential hurdle for Trump. According to the Des Moines Register, some Iowa Republicans believe the former president is poised to attract the votes of the vast majority first-time caucus participants—which would be good news for him, save for the fact that first-timers are seen as less likely to show up in bad weather.

Some DeSantis and Haley loyalists seem prepared to compete for every last vote, no matter how miserable it gets in Iowa. Tom Davis, a South Carolina state senator and Haley supporter, posted on X that his flight from Charlotte to Des Moines was canceled—so he planned to rent a car and drive the 800 mile trip instead.

Meanwhile, DeSantis was joined in Urbandale on Friday by a top ally, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who drove eight hours from St. Louis after his flight to Des Moines got canceled. “A true alpha male right there,” a DeSantis volunteer remarked before the pair headed outside to address reporters.

With nowhere else for the press to go on a snow day, DeSantis played media critic after insisting “our voters are by and large committed caucus goers.”

Speaking with a Newsmax microphone right in front of him, the Florida governor called out the conservative media for treating Trump with kid gloves. Referring to Fox News and unspecified outlets as “basically a Praetorian Guard” protecting Trump, DeSantis charged “they don’t hold him accountable because they’re worried about losing viewers.”

“That’s just the reality,” DeSantis continued. “That’s just the truth.”

Now, the strength of his Iowa operation will be put to the test along with everyone else’s, but the remark from DeSantis signaled a potential excuse for a widely predicted Trump victory—regardless of how the weather impacts the contest.

Indeed, though the late stages of caucus campaigning have been derailed by the weather, Scheffler, the longtime Iowa Republican, said the major dynamics of the race are already locked in.

The most important players in Monday night, he said, could end up being the campaign representatives who speak at their local caucus sites right before Iowans cast their ballots—effectively the final impressions campaigns can make on any remaining undecided voters.

“In terms of the trajectory, I don’t think there’s much you can change at this point in time,” Scheffler said. “I think maybe 10, 15 percent of people are going into the night undecided, so it’s important to have a good person giving the speech up there.”

Still, he said the former president shouldn’t have much to worry about if the cold keeps any significant number of likely caucus goers indoors.

“And again,” the seasoned Iowa hand said, “Trump supporters seem to be more in concrete than the others are.”

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Iowa

ESPN Matchup Predictor Forecasts Kansas vs Iowa State Basketball Matchup

Published

3 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Press Room

ESPN Matchup Predictor Forecasts Kansas vs Iowa State Basketball Matchup

No. 9 Kansas and No. 5 Iowa State are set to tip off this weekend in another Big 12 thriller. Two of the best teams in the conference will meet for the second time this season after the Jayhawks dominated the first matchup in an 84-63 blowout.

This time around will be much different, as the Cyclones will host the game at Hilton Coliseum, one of the best environments in the Big 12. KU head coach Bill Self has lost in that building three straight years by a combined 36 points.

Kansas has won its past eight games in a streak that began Jan. 13 against this very team in Allen Fieldhouse. Can the Jayhawks extend it to nine against the squad that started it all? ESPN’s computer model doesn’t appear to think so.

Kansas at Iowa State: ESPN Matchup Predictor Gives Prediction

The Matchup Predictor gives KU an extremely slim chance of coming out victorious Saturday afternoon. It gives Iowa State nearly a three-in-four probability of winning.

Jan 13, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) shoots against Iowa State Cyclones forward Blake Buchanan (23) during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

ESPN Matchup Predictor Chances at Victory: Iowa State 73.2%, Kansas 26.8%.

Kansas On SI’s Take

It makes sense that Iowa State is favored, but this number seems slightly exaggerated. The Cyclones opened as 5.5-point favorites, yet the computer model views them as overwhelming favorites.

As well as TJ Otzelberger’s squad has played this season, it has won just five of its last eight games after starting 16-0. In its most recent outing, Iowa State went into Fort Worth and suffered a disappointing loss to TCU, dropping to 8-3 in conference play.

The Jayhawks, on the other hand, have looked nearly unstoppable in recent weeks. They just defeated No. 1 Arizona — granted, it was at home in the best environment in America, but it was still a feat no other team had accomplished this season, and they did it without their best player in Darryn Peterson.

Kansas has an opportunity to complete a rare season sweep over one of its more deep-rooted conference rivals. It is highly unlikely that the team is run out the gym like ISU was last month, given its recent winning streak.

The star freshman appears to be on track to return this weekend, which would give KU a significant boost in its starting five. If he is available, the Jayhawks likely deserve better odds from ESPN’s computer model than they currently have.

MORE FROM KANSAS ON SI

3 Things Kansas Basketball Must Accomplish the Rest of the Season

Bill Self’s Minute-Long Darryn Peterson Rant May Be Familiar to Kansas Fans

What Melvin Council Jr. Returning to Kansas Would Mean for Jayhawks

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Iowa

Remembering Carter Johnson: teammate, friend, and community member

Published

15 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Press Room

Remembering Carter Johnson: teammate, friend, and community member

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The Rapid City and Iowa Lakes communities are mourning the loss of Carter “Tater” Johnson, the lone fatality from a bus crash Wednesday morning in northwest Iowa.

The Iowa State Patrol confirmed Thursday that the 19-year-old died in Wednesday’s fatal bus crash on Iowa Highway 4, just west of Twin Lakes, and north of US Highway 20.

Lt. Aaron Smidt said that stretch of road has seen other fatal crashes in the last few years.

“We’ve had, I believe, four fatalities at that location in the last 10 years,” Smidt said.

MORE: Bus carrying Northwest Iowa baseball team crashes on highway, 1 student dies from injuries

Iowa Lakes Community College athletic director Troy Larson said all of its communities are mourning right now, and asks people to hold the baseball team, especially Carter’s family, in their hearts.

“Our baseball team is more than a roster. They’re a family. Carter was a great teammate, a friend, and a valued member of our athletic community,” Larson said.

Larson said Carter’s presence on campus will be missed, and there are few words right now that can comfort people.

“In his time here, he really impacted our campus, both within our halls and the classrooms, as well as the playing field. We’re heartbroken over this tragedy,” Larson said.

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden offered his support for the team on Thursday, asking people to also support the college and the team.

“Sandy and I offer our deepest condolences for all those impacted by the crash this week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the students and their families — especially the family of Carter Johnson as they navigate this unimaginable loss.”

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds also took to social media, offering her condolences.

“Kevin and I are heartbroken by the horrible news of a deadly crash involving an Iowa Lakes Community College bus transporting student athletes. We are praying for all affected by this tragedy and their families. Please join us in keeping Iowa Lakes Community College in our hearts.”

And Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) brought the team up in Washington.

“We are praying for the family who lost a loved one. To the passengers and their families, we are praying for you and for a full recovery from your injuries. I’m thankful for the Iowans on hand to help, including emergency personnel, health care providers, and the Iowa Lakes Community College community for supporting the team through this difficult time,” Grassley said.

Meanwhile, in South Dakota, Carter’s family is mourning as well. His father, Jeff, said that the former Post 22 Hardhat and Stevens Raider was the best person he’s ever met.

“He just always cared about people. He always worried about the unfortunate and people less fortunate than him. He was the first kid, when he was six or seven years old, and a snow storm would hit, he would try to go shovel older people’s driveways in the neighborhood.” Johnson said. “He was just the best human being ever. He was infectious. Everybody he met, they got along with him. He found the good in everybody. He never complained. He worked hard.”

Jeff said he doesn’t understand why this happened to someone like Carter, and he may never wrap his head around it.

“It almost seems unfair that he made so much difference in the world, and the world is moving on without him,” Johnson said.

Jeff said he can’t describe how much it hurts right now to lose Carter. But knowing that he made an impact on many people’s lives, lived the best life he could, and always helped others, is comforting to his family.

“And the best thing in the world is to read the stories of how he impacted other people. He made a difference. That’s the greatest honor, moving on as a dad, that you can ask for from your kid,” Johnson said.

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Iowa

Bus carrying college baseball team crashes in Northwest Iowa, 19-year-old student dies

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

Press Room

Bus carrying college baseball team crashes in Northwest Iowa, 19-year-old student dies

POMEROY, Iowa (KTIV) – A college’s bus traveling on a Northwest Iowa highway crashed Wednesday morning, sending dozens of people to the hospital and resulting in one student’s death.

The Iowa State Patrol says shortly after 11 a.m. on Feb. 11, the bus crashed on Iowa Highway 4, near 220th Street, just west of Twin Lakes.

According to ISP, the bus belonged to Iowa Lakes Community College, a Northwest Iowa-based college, and had gone off the highway and overturned in a ditch. Authorities say only the bus was involved in the crash.

ISP says there were 33 people on the bus, with injuries ranging from minor to serious. Officials at the scene say one of the bus’s occupants was declared dead, they were later identified as 19-year-old Carter Johnson.

The other 32 bus occupants were assessed by medical personnel and sent to various hospitals.

“Due to the number of individuals and the extent of reported injuries, a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) was declared,” stated the Calhoun County Emergency Agency. “Given the seriousness of injuries, multiple medical helicopters were requested to assist with patient transport. Ground ambulances from surrounding jurisdictions also responded to provide additional medical support and transportation.

Authorities say there was an Iowa Lakes Community College van in the area as well, with six occupants, but it was not involved in the crash.

Iowa Lakes Community College has canceled classes for Thursday, Feb. 12, and Friday, Feb. 13, after the deadly bus crash involving the college’s baseball team.

Email sent to students from Iowa Lakes Community College.(KTIV)

In an email to students, ILCC confirmed that a student-athlete was killed in the crash. According to various Facebook posts, that student has been identified as 19-year-old Carter Johnson of Rapid City, SD.

Previous Coverage

A college’s bus traveling on a Northwest Iowa highway crashed Wednesday morning, sending dozens of people to the hospital and resulting in one death.

The Iowa State Patrol says shortly after 11 a.m. on Feb. 11, the bus crashed on Iowa Highway 4, near 220th Street, just west of Twin Lakes.

ISP says there were 33 people on the bus, with injuries ranging from minor to serious. Officials at the scene say one of the bus’s occupants was declared dead after rescue personnel arrived, but did not go into further detail on their identity.

The other 32 bus occupants were assessed by medical personnel and sent to various hospitals.

Authorities say there was an Iowa Lakes Community College van in the area as well, with six occupants, but it was not involved in the crash.

Bus was carrying members of NW Iowa baseball team

Officials with Iowa Lakes Community College have confirmed that members of their baseball team were on the bus. A student also confirmed to KTIV that the bus was taking the team to Arkansas for a game. The student said some of the people on the bus were flown to a Des Moines hospital.

Iowa Lakes Community College confirms that members of its baseball team were involved in a bus accident earlier today while traveling.
Emergency personnel responded immediately to the scene, and injured individuals were transported to area medical facilities for evaluation and care. The College is working closely with local authorities and emergency responders to gather confirmed information.
The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. The College is actively supporting those affected and communicating directly with families.
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Out of respect for the privacy of those involved and their families, the College will not be releasing names or additional details at this time. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available and is confirmed by authorities.
The College asks for privacy and compassion for all those affected.

Iowa Lakes Community College was scheduled to play against North Arkansas College in Harrison, Arkansas, on Thursday, Feb. 12.

On Facebook, North Arkansas College released a statement about the crash, saying they would be praying for the team.

“Our hearts are heavy as we grieve alongside the Iowa Lakes College community. The loss of a life is a tragedy that reaches far beyond one campus. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the individual who passed away, and we are lifting up in prayer those who were injured and all who are affected,” stated Dr. Rick Massengale, North Arkansas College President. “During moments like this, we are reminded that the higher education community is a family, and we stand ready to support Iowa Lakes Community College in any way we can.”

Iowa Lakes Community College is located in the Iowa Great Lakes region. It has campuses in Algona, Emmetsburg, Estherville, Spencer and Spirit Lake.

Crash closes highway for hours

Northbound and southbound lanes on Iowa Highway 4 were closed a little after 11 a.m. due to the crash. By 2:45 p.m., the road had reopened.

While responding to the crash, the Iowa State Patrol was assisted by the Calhoun County Sheriff and EMS, Rockwell City Police Department, Calhoun County Emergency Management, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and other supporting agencies.

The crash remains under investigation.

This map from Iowa 511 shows where the crash happened on Iowa Highway 4 on Wednesday, Feb. 11.(Iowa 511)

A bus from a local public school district was at the crash scene as well. Officials with Pocahontas Area Community School District say their bus was there to help authorities.

The district wanted to make it clear that their bus was not involved in the crash itself.

“Earlier today, a bus was involved in an accident on Highway 4, south of Pomeroy. This was not a PACSD bus. Pocahontas Police Chief Leu asked Jeff Halder, PACSD transportation director, to help at the site of the accident by bringing a bus to the location. That is the only reason why one of our buses is at the site. Again, our bus was not involved in the accident; it is only there to provide support,” stated officials in a post on Facebook.

Candlelight vigil in Estherville

A candlelight vigil has been scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 11. The vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Iowa Lakes Community College’s Estherville campus, inside the choir room.

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