A severe ice storm swept across Iowa and eastern Nebraska this weekend, creating hazardous travel conditions and causing chaos across the region. The storm forced the temporary closure of Interstate 80 highway after cars and trucks started to slide off the icy roads.
The icy conditions, which began Friday evening, have claimed at least one life in eastern Nebraska. A 57-year-old woman lost control of her pickup truck on Highway 30 near Arlington, colliding with an oncoming truck. The other driver suffered minor injuries, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s office.
“Luckily, some warmer air is moving in behind this to make it temporary,” said Dave Cousins, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Davenport, Iowa. Temperatures rose on Saturday afternoon, melting the ice in many areas.
Meanwhile, California faced a rare tornado warning in San Francisco and nearby San Mateo County. The warning, issued early Saturday morning, was lifted within 20 minutes. Later that day, a tornado struck Scotts Valley, about 70 miles south of San Francisco, overturning cars, toppling trees, and damaging power lines and buildings. The city last experienced a tornado in 2005, though Meteorologist Roger Gass noted the warning system may have missed it back then.
“Based on video, photos, firsthand accounts, and radar signatures, a tornado occurred (at) 1.40 pm,” confirmed the National Weather Service. Images showed vehicles overturned and significant damage to the area. Several people were injured and hospitalised, including a battalion chief with the California department of forestry and fire protection.
Heavy snow blanketed upstate New York, with 33 inches reported near Orchard Park. In Nevada, parts of the Sierra Nevada saw up to 3 feet of snow, while winds gusted up to 112 mph at Mammoth Mountain resort. Avalanche warnings remained in effect for high elevations near Lake Tahoe.
Western Washington faced widespread power outages on Saturday due to rain and high winds, leaving tens of thousands without electricity.

Iowa made a big addition to a formidable lineup of future upperweights on Saturday when Harvey Ludington announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes. 

The nation’s top-ranked 190-pounder recently re-opened his recruitment after previously committing to Arizona State in August of 2023. Before making his pledge to the Hawkeyes, Ludington also considered North Carolina, North Carolina State and Oklahoma. He had been the last uncommitted top-30 prospect on the 2025 Big Board. 

In Ludington, the Hawkeyes are getting an athletic and skilled big guy who won a New Jersey state title as a freshman at 175 pounds. He captured his second state title as a junior and followed that up by rolling through his Junior freestyle bracket this past summer in Fargo. 

Ludington is ranked #14 on the 2025 Big Board. He’s the second blue-chip recruit from New Jersey to join Iowa’s 2025 recruiting class. Last month, the Hawkeyes signed Blair Academy’s Leo Deluca, the #8 prospect on the 2025 Big Board. 

With the Hawkeyes, Ludington could become another lineup pillar in a powerful row of upperweights, with former prized recruits Gabe Arnold, Angelo Ferrari and Ben Kueter already on campus at Iowa. 

AMES – The Iowa State women’s basketball team entered the season with one starting spot up for grabs.

The Cyclones brought back starters Audi Crooks, Emily Ryan, Addy Brown and Arianna Jackson. The team thought it filled the fifth starting spot when Kenzie Hare emerged as a constant contributor.

But with Hare now out for the season with an injury, that starting spot is once again up for grabs. Finding her replacement is one of the top priorities for No. 17 Iowa State, which takes on Eastern Illinois on Sunday at 5 p.m., at Hilton Coliseum.

More: Iowa State women’s basketball: Brown battles foul trouble, Hare out, miscues doom Cyclones

“We’ve got to figure that out,” said Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. “And obviously we didn’t do a very good job of it the other night (against Iowa). So, we’ll continue to probably keep doing what we’ve been doing in the sense of giving everyone a lot of opportunities, mix and match and hopefully something good will come of it.”

Hare, a 5-foot-9 junior guard, transferred to Iowa State from Marquette and quickly produced for the Cyclones. The Illinois native averaged 8.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 10 games, including eight starts this season.

Hare had been dealing with a hip injury that occurred before she arrived in Ames. The Iowa State coaching staff tried treatment options but never could get her to 100%. So, the Cyclones decided to shut her down and medically redshirt her this season.

More: Iowa State women’s basketball guard Kenzie Hare to miss the rest of the 2024-25 season

Hare’s absence created a giant void on the floor. The newcomer, an established star 3-point shooter, gave Iowa State experience, defense on the perimeter and grit throughout games, diving for loose balls and making small but important plays.

“It’s a huge loss for our team,” Fennelly said.

Replacing her will be difficult. But Iowa State does have options. Freshman Aili Tanke has started at times this season. So has sophomore Kelsey Joens, who filled in during the Iowa game. Then there’s juniors Sydney Harris and Lily Hansford. The problem, Fennelly said, is that no one has stepped up and taken the job.

Tanke provided some valuable minutes in the Iowa game. Joens has shined at times off the bench. Harris has as well. Hansford, another strong shooter who transferred from Oregon State, has struggled to find her rhythm but is still in the mix after knocking down a big 3 against the Hawkeyes.

But no one has continually given Fennelly what he’s looking for: some points, some defense on the perimeter and some hard work. The bar isn’t high with Crooks, Brown and Ryan expected to handle the bulk of the scoring. Still, Tanke, Joens, Harris or Hansford has yet to win the job.

“They’re all in the mix and we just, up to this point, the only consistency has been inconsistency,” Fennelly said.

The coach said Friday and Saturday’s practices would decide who starts Sunday’s game. But that person may not be the permanent answer.

“I’m going to actually meet with all of them and just say, ‘Hey, here’s where we are and it’s going to be, whoever practices best the next two days will go out there first and whoever plays the best in the game on Sunday, stays in the game,’” Fennelly said.

There are other routes for the Cyclones to go as well. Fennelly said he’s thought about playing two post players at once, putting Crooks and Alisa Williams on the floor at the same time. He’s even thought about moving the versatile Brown to the three spot or into the post. Everything is on the table right now.

“I’m not afraid to try other things,” Fennelly said.

Time is ticking for Iowa State to figure it out. Things get very difficult for the Cyclones after Sunday’s game. Iowa State plays No. 2 UConn in the Invesco QQQ Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase next week. After that, the Cyclones embark on Big 12 Conference play. Iowa State was picked to finish second in the league this season.

If the Cyclones are going to have any success this season, replacing Hare is something they have to find an answer for. Fast.

“This is the situation we are in and it’s pretty evident, especially in the two road games that we lost,” Fennelly said. “So, we’ve got to figure that out.”

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468