My turn to take a swing at a post game. Boy I wish I hadn’t volunteered.
Iowa
Iowa 25, Penn State 24: BREATHE
Iowa mostly outplayed Penn State over 60 minutes and, despite some truly insane twists and turns, Iowa emerged a 25-24 winner after a late Kaden Wetjen touchdown plus a stop gave Iowa the win. Iowa improved to 5-2 and 3-1 with the win, while Penn State somehow dropped to 3-4 and a staggering 0-4 in league play.
From the get go this looked like one of those games. Iowa took the first possession of the game but couldn’t catch a slant on third down. The deflection was intercepted with one hand by Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley at the Iowa 35. Uh oh.
10 plays later, after Iowa missed not one, not two, but three attempts at a tackle for loss on fourth down and after Iowa stopped Penn State on fourth and goal from the 1 but was offsides, the Nittany Lions found the end zone through Kaytron Allen to take a 7-0 lead. Seriously, how is Iowa trailing?
Iowa responded with a solid drive, moving to the Penn State 21. But Iowa failed to convert a third down pass to Reece Vander Zee and had to settle for a 39-yard field goal from Drew Stevens. It wouldn’t be Stevens’s last involvement in the half.
Penn State was forced to punt on their next drive and the dynamic Wetjen returned the kick 25 yards to the Penn State 35. It sure looked like he was hit late out of bounds but the call was not given. Iowa was forced into a 46-yard field goal attempt, but Stevens pushed the kick wide. Ugh. Points left on the field.
The teams traded punts before Penn State put together a nice drive into Iowa territory. On third down from the Iowa 38, a pass that looked like a throwaway, Deshaun Lee hauled in a diving interception at the 4 for the first Penn State turnover of the night.
Iowa made it out of the shadows of their goalposts but were forced to punt from their 39 after Mark Gronowski started to slide short of the line to gain instead of diving head first which would’ve been a first down. It turned out to be no big deal, as Xavier Nwankpa – playing in his natural position at free safety and playing what is his best game in an Iowa uniform to date – picked off a tipped pass and returned it to the Penn State 1. Gronowski found the end zone on a tush push to put Iowa in the lead, finally, at 10-7.
The Nittany Lions seemed intent on giving Iowa the early first quarter miscues back with a brutal late half drive, punting back to Iowa with 47 seconds left and Iowa still in possession of a timeout. Iowa picked up a first down and drove to the Penn State 48. Instead of attempting a hail mary or simply punting, Iowa – get this – attempted a 66-yard field goal. Before the first kick, Penn State called a timeout. The first attempt was a solid 10 yards short. Instead of seeing that and attempting the deep ball or just punting, or even taking a knee, Iowa tried the 66-yarder again. The Iowa line was blown up – Penn State nearly blocked Iowa’s PAT attempt just a few minutes prior – and Xavier Gilliam blocked the kick. The block ricocheted directly to Elliot Washington II, who returned the block 35 yards for a 14-10 halftime lead.
Of course, Penn State received the ball to start the second half. Penn State drove to Iowa territory and seemed ready to stall, but a pass interference on Koen Entringer kept the drive alive, and eventually Penn State found the end zone. Somehow, someway, Penn State led 21-10. Danger zone for Iowa. Season on the line.
Iowa responded with possibly their best drive of the year, highlighted by a 38-yard rumble from Gronowski. Iowa drove inside the Penn State 5, and on third and goal, Gronowski faked the Penn State defense out on an RPO to cut the lead to 21-16. Iowa attempted a 2-point conversion, for some reason, and failed, so trailed by 5. I could be wrong, but I believe Iowa hasn’t converted a 2-point attempt since Wisconsin 2020 (of course it’s Wisconsin; kudos to CBS today for all the wide, panning shots of an empty Camp Randall in the afternoon slot. Reminder that they stink.)
Penn State’s next drive was stopped on downs, a Penn State 4th and 1 at their own 40. Penn State attempted to have the motion man take a quick snap, but Iowa was wise to the play and stopped it for no gain. Iowa took possession and immediately ripped off a 21-yard run from Kamari Moulton. The Hawks drove to Penn State’s 13 but had to settle for a field goal. 21-19, Penn State.
Penn State again dodged trouble with a fumble near midfield, a fumble bouncing directly to their tight end. On the next play, Penn State fumbled a snap but again recovered on first down. Dodging and weaving, this Penn State team. They did it again on 3rd and 11, dodging another sack for a huge conversion. The Nittany Lions continued to burn clock – this game zoomed by – but Iowa held and forced a field goal. 24-19.
Mark Gronowski took the next play 67 yards to the Penn State 8, then Kaden Wetjen scored on an end around to put Iowa in the lead, 25-24. Iowa attempted another two-pointer and failed again – don’t chase points – but Iowa led, 25-24, with 3:54 remaining.
Penn State drove to their 49, but a 4th down was stopped with a heave incomplete. It was an amazing call Phil Parker – a blitz dialed at the best possible time, with Nwankpa again blowing the play up – and Iowa clung to their 1-point advantage. Penn State still had time and two timeouts, but Tim Lester channeled Iowa versus Michigan State, 1985, and called a bootleg for Gronowski. The whole Penn State defense bit, and Gronowski easily picked up the first down to ice the game. He finished with 130 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
I’ll be back for The Morning After. Somehow. I’ll be a few beers in. LET’S FREAKING GOOOOOOOO.
Iowa
Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw expected to begin rehab assignment with Iowa
See inside Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs
See inside the batting cages, locker rooms and other spaces inside Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs baseball team.
When the Iowa Cubs return to Principal Park in Des Moines on June 2, the Triple-A team will likely be bringing back a familiar face.
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsel told reporters in St. Louis, Mo., on May 29 that super utilityman Matt Shaw would likely join Iowa when the team opens a six-game series against Toledo that Tuesday.
“Matts doing super well,” Counsell said during a pregame meeting with scribes. “The plan kind of remains intact that we think he’s going to be able to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday in Iowa. So, assuming everything progresses like it progresses, he’s going to have basically a full weekend of kind of normal pregame stuff. He should be good to go on Tuesday in Iowa.”
Shaw was placed on the injured list back on May 22 with mild back tightness, retroactive to May 20. He was replaced on the big-league roster by prized Cubs prospect Pedro Ramrirez, who tore apart opposing pitching during his first stint in Triple-A in 2026.
Shaw, 24, was hitting .242 (23-for-95) with six doubles, three home runs, three stolen bases and a .291 on base percentage to go along with a .400 slugging percentage in 42 games with Chicago this season. He’s bounced around the field this season and provided an important option off the bench for the Cubs.
Shaw remains one of the organization’s top young players. The Cubs selected in the first round of the 2023 draft. Shaw rapidly rose through the minor leagues and made his big-league debut with Chicago in 2025. After some early-season struggles, Shaw was briefly demoted to Iowa in 2024 before eventually making a return to the big leagues.
While the hitting wasn’t great, the defense was exceptional. Shaw found a home at third base and played so well he became a Gold Glove finalist in 2025.
Iowa starts the series on Tuesday at 6:38 p.m.
Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
Iowa
Iowa Supreme court affirms eviction order for Short’s Burger & Shine
Following a years-long legal saga, the Iowa Supreme Court recently upheld a decision to evict Short’s Burger and Shine from its South Clinton Street building.
The May 22 decision, delivered by Chief Justice Susan Christensen, agreed with the Johnson County District Court’s decision to evict the downtown burger restaurant after finding that it did not notify the building’s owner — a trust operated by Midwest One Bank — of its intent to extend the lease.
The decision concludes one part of the Short’s legal saga. The now-closed restaurant is also in litigation for a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit Short’s owner, Kevin Perez filed in 2024 against Midwest One Bank, the trust of late building owner Haywood Belle, Belle’s widow, a bank employee, and the City of Iowa City
Iowa City’s Short’s Burgers and Shine closed in 2024
Short’s closed in early 2024 after the court determined Perez hadn’t renewed the business’s lease on time.
Short’s opened at 18 S. Clinton Street in 2008 with the goal of honoring the legacy and story of former building owner H.D. Short, who shined shoes for 50 years, beginning in 1920. The original ownership group included Perez, Dan Ouverson, and former Hawkeye and NFL player Nate Kaeding, who now runs the Gold Cap Hospitality ownership group.
Eviction proceedings started when Short’s temporarily closed in April 2022 “to fix poor building conditions” without notifying Midwest One Bank, the executor of Belle’s trust.
The closure breached a part of the lease agreement that said the restaurant would default on its lease if it “failed to engage” in normal business for more than 15 consecutive business days, the court found. The renovations also violated a provision that forbade structural changes or improvements without prior written approval.
Midwest One Bank sent notice on May 10, 2022, that Short’s would default on its lease if it did not reopen for regular business and cease renovations within 10 days, according to court documents. Shorts responded, claiming it could not reopen for business until renovations were complete because the gas could not be turned back on until repairs were finished.
Midwest One Bank “terminated” the lease and started eviction proceedings in May 2022. Shorts was allowed to continue operating and occupying the building while the case was litigated.
Midwest One Bank filed two eviction claims and delivered notice that Short’s needed to vacate the building by the end of the lease on April 30. Short’s did not vacate, and Midwest One Bank pursued a third eviction claim, accusing the owners of failing to provide notice of renewal.
Short’s argued that because they continued renovations, disputed eviction, and secured insurance, it was evidence of their intent to renew.
The restaurant owners also argued that pending eviction proceedings prevented them from renewal. The court argued that Short’s simply did not declare intent to renew for “whatever reason.”
“Mere forgetfulness does not entitle a party to equitable relief,” the decision reads.
Liam Halawith covers Johnson County local government and public safety for the Press-Citizen. Reach him by email at lhalawith@registermedia.com. Follow him on X at @liam_halawith.
Iowa
Fired Iowa nurse aide wins jobless benefits after numerous resident-care complaints
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – An Iowa nursing home worker fired after being accused of repeatedly neglecting residents’ needs is entitled to unemployment benefits, a judge has ruled.
State records indicate certified nurse aide Abigail Kromah worked for Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center in West Des Moines from May 2024 through December 2025, when she was fired. She subsequently applied for unemployment benefits, which led to a recent hearing before an administrative law judge.
The hearing records indicate Kromah testified that when she was fired on Dec. 19, 2025, the employer informed her that the discharge was due to “numerous resident complaints” regarding the care she had been providing.
According to the judge’s findings in the case, Kromah had received multiple disciplinary warnings related to resident care. In August 2024, she allegedly received verbal and written warnings for failing to answer residents’ call-lights in a timely manner, failing to properly assist residents with their personal care, and for complaining about the residents in common areas of the workplace.
Her employer testified Kromah was also given warnings for refusing work instructions from the nursing staff, and for telling a resident who needed to be toileted to go the bathroom in their briefs.
In August 2025, it was alleged that Kromah failed to check on a resident throughout the entire night. During that shift, a nurse had neglected to unclamp a feeding tube, which caused the tube to leak. When another nurse checked on the resident at 5 a.m., the resident was “drenched in feeding solution from head to toe,” according to the judge’s findings.
‘I can’t live this way… She’s horrible.’
Days later, the home alleged, a resident of the facility entered the hallway in his wheelchair at about 6 a.m., loudly complaining, “I can’t do this anymore,” and, “I can’t live this way.” The man allegedly refused to go back to his room, explaining that Kromah was there and “she’s horrible.”
The man reportedly stated had had switched on his call-light to have his urinal emptied, but Kromah never came to assist him, which meant the urinal overflowed and spilled on him. When Kromah eventually came to the room, the man allegedly said, she changed him into dry clothing but did not clean him.
The home alleged Kromah was given additional warnings in October 2025 for reportedly failing to answer residents’ call lights and failing to complete her rounds every two hours. One resident of the home had allegedly became so frustrated by the lack of response to his call-light that he contacted the police on one occasion, according to the judge’s findings.
State inspection reports indicate Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center was cited for insufficient staff in January 2026, with one resident complaining the issue with call-lights had been a longstanding problem. According to the inspectors, the man said that on one occasion, he couldn’t get help to clear his airway and was afraid he was going to die unless he managed to clear it himself, which he did.
In ruling that Kromah was entitled to jobless benefits, Administrative Law Judge Michael Lunn noted that while she had clearly been warned about deficiencies in resident care, she appeared to have been fired for a separate issue — attendance — for which she had received no such warnings.
A discharge for misconduct cannot be based on past acts such as the resident-care issues, Lunn ruled, but must instead be based on a current act. With no current act of disqualifying misconduct, Lunn stated, Kromah was entitled to collect unemployment benefits.
Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to locate Kromah to seek comment for this article.
Copyright 2026 IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH. All rights reserved.
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