Iowa
Iowa State basketball rolls into Big 12 Tournament semifinals with win over Kansas State
KANSAS CITY – Iowa State left its game on Saturday knowing it played one of its poorer games of the season.
Just over a hundred miles away and against the same team, the Cyclones looked markedly better.
No. 8 Iowa State men’s basketball advanced to the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament with a 76-57 victory over Kansas State on Thursday at the T-Mobile Center.
The win avenged Saturday’s 65-58 loss to the Wildcats (19-14) in which the Cyclones (25-7) coughed up an early lead and saw lingering offensive issues reach a nadir.
It was a much different story Thursday as the Cyclones shot 46.3 percent from the field and committed just six turnovers.
Robert Jones had 18 points and Tamin Lipsey added 16 for the Cyclones. Keshon Gilbert tied an Iowa State conference tournament record with six steals. Tre King had 16 points and nine boards.
The performance certainly will put aside some anxiety of a late-season swoon for the Cyclones, who, despite winning five of its last six, showed signs of wear down the stretch. It wasn’t a cure-all (Iowa State was 1-of-14 from 3-point range), certainly, but a step in the right direction.
It also gives Iowa State the season series win against Kansas State after the two teams split their two regular-season games. There may be an extra dose of sweetness in the victory for the Cyclones after Kansas State made controversial spying accusations in their January loss at Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones will now try to reach their first Big 12 Tournament championship game since 2019, when they won the event for the fourth time in six seasons.
Demarion Watson out with injury
Iowa State was without key reserve Demarion Watson, who missed the game while in the concussion protocol.
Watson did not play during the second half of Saturday’s game at Kansas State after taking a blow to the head. He was in uniform Thursday night, but was not available to play.
It is unclear if Watson could be cleared in time for Friday’s semifinal matchup.
In Watson’s absence, rarely used McDonald’s All-American Omaha Biliew played for the first time since Jan. 24. The Waukee product had two points and a rebound in seven minutes.
Up next
The Cyclones will play in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals for the second straight year, and they will face either Baylor or Cincinnati.
The Bears and Bearcats were scheduled to play at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Iowa State, the 2 seed, lost its lone matchup with 3-seeded Baylor. The Cyclones nearly won that game in Waco, however, with Milan Momcilovic’s half-court shot being waved off after he banked it in. Video review showed he did not release the shot before the clock expired.
The Cyclones won in Cincinnati in February, the only matchup between the two schools. Four Iowa State players scored in double figures that night.
Tipoff for the semifinals Friday will come at approximately 8:30 for Iowa State after Houston and Texas Tech play in the first semifinal matchup at 6 p.m.
Travis Hines covers Iowa State University sports for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.
Iowa
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.
“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.
Iowa
Iowa Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Midday results for May 8, 2026
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.
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
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.
Iowa
Iowa SNAP restrictions raise concerns over confusion, impact on summer food aid
IOWA — 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.
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.
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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