Iowa

Iowa's Logan Jones, Connor Colby included among Lindy's top centers, guards

Published

2 years ago

July 5, 2024

Iowa's Logan Jones, Connor Colby included among Lindy's top centers, guards

Fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes are hoping this is the year it all clicks up front offensively.

Understandably, the amount of experience that Iowa returns defensively has garnered plenty of attention nationally. The Hawkeyes return 192 career starts to a defense that ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense (14.8 points per game) and seventh in total defense (282.5 yards per game).

Don’t lose sight of the amount of experience and starts that Iowa also brings back up front offensively. The Hawkeye offensive line returns 147 career starts, including 58 from last season.

That includes Iowa starting center Logan Jones and starting right tackle Connor Colby. Jones, a 6-foot-3, 290 pound senior, and Colby, a 6-foot-6, 311 pound senior, have started 26 and 36 career games, respectively. Colby started 12 last season, while Jones started 13.

In its annual preseason college football preview magazine, Lindy’s gave both some proper due. Jones was ranked as Lindy’s No. 6 center nationally, while Colby was ranked as Lindy’s No. 5 guard heading into the 2024 college football season.

For an Iowa offense looking to transform its production under new offensive coordinator Tim Lester, having Jones and Colby both back in the fold for his first campaign in Iowa City is massive.

In its breakdown of Iowa, here’s some of what Lindy’s had to say about Iowa’s offense as a whole:

Iowa’s offense became a national running joke last season, with websites, podcasts and—well, just about anybody who was paying attention—poking fun at the Hawkeyes and their offensive soap opera, which averaged just 234.6 yards a game, dead last in the country.
Yet they still won the Big Ten West.
In comes new offensive coordinator Tim Lester to replace the embattled Brian Ferentz, who has been replaced by a former head coach who has shown he can build a solid offense. After Lester was let go as head coach at Western Michigan (37-32 in six years), he spent last season as an offensive analyst for the Green Bay Packers.
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Good news for the rebuild: Quarterback Cade McNamara is healthy after missing more than half of last season with a torn ACL. Protecting the former Michigan transfer will be especially important, and after the line also battled injuries last year, that unit starts fresh with veterans at every position led by center Logan Jones and guard Connor Colby. – Lindy’s.

Iowa also brings back its top four running backs in Leshon Williams, Kaleb Johnson, Jaziun Patterson and Kamari Moulton.

Two of the Hawkeyes’ top pass-catchers at receiver are back in junior wide outs Seth Anderson and Kaleb Brown. Talented senior tight end Luke Lachey is back for Iowa as well.

In order for Iowa to complete the offensive transformation it’s working for, it’s no secret that Iowa needs to perform better up front, though. Jones and Colby join offensive tackles Gennings Dunker and Mason Richman, left guard Beau Stephens and Nick DeJong as offensive linemen that have started during their Hawkeye careers entering the 2024 season.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.

Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF

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Iowa

Blocked Iowa HHS director resigns but is appointed deputy director

Published

9 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Press Room

Blocked Iowa HHS director resigns but is appointed deputy director

Iowa’s director of Health and Human Services has resigned after the Iowa Senate blocked his confirmation in April, but he will stay in leadership as deputy director.

Larry Johnson was appointed to succeed Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia in September 2025. Johnson took over the department in October.

Johnson’s confirmation in April, however, was blocked by Iowa Senate Democrats. Johnson received the support of 28 senators, six votes short of the 34 needed.

“Hundreds of thousands of Iowans rely on the Department of Health & Human Services, but under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, those Iowans have been met with diminished care and services and a disrespectful lack of transparency and communication,” Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner said in a statement at the time of Johnson’s confirmation block. “Senate Democrats believe Iowans deserve more responsible leadership for such an important executive department.”

Under state law, 60 days after the Iowa Senate disapproves a person’s appointment, the nominee must step down. Johnson’s resignation came June 19, 58 days after his confirmation was blocked.

In a news release Friday, Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Kraig Paulsen, the director of the Iowa Department of Management, to also serve as the director of Iowa Health and Human Services.

“This is not the first time I’ve called upon Director Paulsen to help lead executive branch departments during times of transition,” Reynolds said in a statement. “His experience across state government is unmatched, and I have full confidence in his ability to ensure our state’s largest agency has the leadership team required, not only to serve Iowans most in need of assistance, but also to advance strategic initiatives such as rural health transformation, cancer research, and child welfare technology improvements.”

Paulsen named Johnson as principal deputy director of the department to “ensure efficient and effective operations,” according to the release.

“Iowa HHS requires strong and experienced leadership at every level to ensure continuity of critical services such as Medicaid, SNAP, and child protection, and Larry Johnson is exactly that leader,” Paulsen said in the release. “I look forward to working closely with Principal Deputy Director Johnson to ensure Iowa’s strong commitment to our most vulnerable citizens continues as usual.”

Weiner, in a statement issued June 19, said Reynolds “has decided to blatantly disregard and circumvent the Senate in re-establishing Larry Johnson as the de facto head” of Health and Human Services.“This is partisan politics of the worst kind,” Weiner said in the statement. “Under Larry Johnson, the hundreds of thousands of Iowans who rely on HHS for critical services have received a diminished standard of care, a disrespectful lack of responsiveness, and a department more concerned with fealty to the governor than transparency to the public. And yet, this governor simply cannot handle a world in which she doesn’t get her way, so she has invented a title that allows Johnson to resume his work.”

Weiner said the decision to not confirm John was “not made lightly,” and “We did what was right for Iowans.”

“Our goal has been and remains to work within the bounds of the Senate for the benefit of all Iowans,” Weiner said. “Unfortunately, Gov. Reynolds would rather play politics than give Iowans the respect of a more diligent search for a qualified candidate.”

Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.

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Iowa Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Midday results for June 19, 2026

Published

19 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Press Room

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, June 19, 2026, winning numbers for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 19 drawing

13-16-21-26-50, Mega Ball: 12

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-3 numbers from June 19 drawing

Midday: 3-2-2

Evening: 7-1-4

Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-4 numbers from June 19 drawing

Midday: 4-2-1-0

Evening: 9-9-0-7

Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 19 drawing

02-20-28-51-54, Bonus: 02

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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Reynolds orders flags lowered for funeral of Iowa Sen. Julian Garrett

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Reynolds orders flags lowered for funeral of Iowa Sen. Julian Garrett

DES Moines, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff Saturday in honor of state Sen. Julian Garrett, who died June 8 at the age of 85.

Flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset June 20, the day of Garrett’s funeral, on the Iowa Capitol Building and across the Capitol Complex. The order also applies to all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Garrett served 16 years in the Iowa Legislature, first representing House District 55 from 2011 to 2013 before serving in the Iowa Senate through the 2026 legislative session.

In addition to his legislative service, Garrett was a farmer, attorney and former employee of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

“Sen. Garrett was a friend who served our state with integrity — whether as a cattle producer, a Little League coach, an attorney in the executive branch, or a legislator,” Reynolds said in a statement. “For 15 years, we worked together to unleash opportunities for the Iowans we served, and his impact will be felt for generations to come.”

Reynolds is encouraging individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government entities to lower their flags to half-staff during the same time period as a sign of respect.

Garrett represented southwest Iowa in the Legislature and was known for his work on judiciary and agriculture-related issues during his tenure at the Statehouse.

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