Iowa
Three observations and a quote as No. 5 Texas beats Iowa State in Big 12 basketball game
Four Longhorns — Madison Booker, Shaylee Gonzales, Shay Holle and Aaliyah Moore — scored at least 12 points and No. 5 Texas extended its winning streak to six games with an 80-61 win over Iowa State at Moody Center on Saturday. The victory kept Texas (24-3, 11-3) in the running for the Big 12 championship.
Here are three observations and a quote from the Longhorns’ 19-point triumph:
Texas takes control during the second quarter
When a media timeout was called with 4:37 left in the second quarter, Texas found itself down 31-30. Less than five minutes later, the Longhorns rolled into halftime with an 11-point lead.
So, how did Texas go from facing a one-point deficit to holding a 44-33 edge? Booker scored six points in a 66-second span, and UT also got buckets from Moore, Gonzales and DeYona Gaston as well as a Taylor Jones free throw. Defensively, Texas forced two turnovers while limiting Iowa State to a 1-for-8 shooting performance.
Iowa State was unable to get any closer than five points in the second half against Texas, which outscored the Cyclones 23-10 in the fourth quarter.
Two of the Big 12’s top freshmen go head-to-head
Saturday’s game featured the only two players to win three Big 12 freshman of the week awards this season. Booker, the Texas point guard, and Iowa State center Audi Crooks had also each been recognized once as the Big 12 player of the week.
Since both players played well on Wednesday — Booker scored 23 points in a 82-66 rout of Houston while Crooks had 20 points and nine rebounds in a double-overtime takedown of No. 7 Kansas State — another weekly award was possibly on the line on Saturday. Perhaps either Booker or Crooks would also emerge as the clear frontrunner for Big 12 freshman of the year.
In addition to the win, Booker recorded her second double-double performance of the season. She had 18 points, which matched Gonzales’ team-high total. She also distributed a career-high 10 assists while committing only two turnovers. In the fourth quarter, she earned perhaps her biggest cheers when she loudly blocked a shot by Iowa State’s Addy Brown.
“Madison Booker is skilled, very mature beyond her age,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “The game doesn’t speed up for her and you got to give her a lot of credit and their coaches for, you know, she’s had to make a position adjustment without Rori (Harmon).”
Added Fennelly: “It’s a bad comparison, but since I’m in Texas, she’s got a little Kevin Durant in her. Got a fadeaway, jumper, can do a lot of things. Very impressive on film and a lot more impressive sitting on the bench watching her play.” That comparison may be apt for Booker, who wears the No. 35 because of Durant.
Crooks held her own over the 33 minutes that she played. The 6-foot-3 newcomer shot 10-for-19 from the field and led all scorers with 24 points.
“She’s got a great career in front of her,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. “She is hard to deal with.”
Texas, two others pull within one game of Oklahoma
The Big 12 race can now be considered a sprint to the finish. Oklahoma entered this weekend with a two-game lead over Kansas State, Texas and West Virginia, but the Sooners (18-7, 12-2) were beaten on the road by West Virginia (22-3, 11-3) on Saturday. That means that lead over the Longhorns, Mountaineers and a Wildcats team that beat Central Florida is down to one game.
Each of those four teams must play four more games in the regular season. The key games down the stretch will be West Virginia’s trip to Kansas State (22-4, 11-3) next Wednesday and Oklahoma’s home game against Texas on Feb. 28.
“You can’t take anything for granted right now, especially in this league with so many good teams. Anything can happen on any given night, so it’s really just one game at a time, focus on who’s next,” said Holle, whose team will host Texas Tech this upcoming Wednesday.
Texas and Oklahoma split the Big 12 championship last year. West Virginia won its last conference championship in 2014 and it’s been 16 years since Kansas State was last crowned.
They said it: Shaylee gets back to scoring
“I tried to focus on being more aggressive. I feel like that really helped me and just driving it to the basket,” — Shaylee Gonzales.
Her 18 points were a conference-high total this season for the sixth-year guard. Gonzales had been limited to 13 points over her last four games despite playing 124 minutes in those contests. Against Iowa State, she made eight of her 15 shots and knocked down two 3-pointers within 40 seconds of each other in the first quarter.
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.
Iowa
Harkin backs Turek for Iowa Senate
Scoop: Iowa Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek snagged a major endorsement for his Senate bid from former Sen. Tom Harkin.
Harkin, who retired in 2015, was the last Democrat to represent Iowa in the Senate. Turek is locked in a competitive primary with state Sen. Zach Wahls in a race that has divided major factions of the Democratic Party.
“I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to win an election, and then to faithfully represent all Iowans, not just those who voted for you,” Harkin said in his endorsement. “That’s why I’m supporting Josh Turek.”
Harkin served in the Senate for 30 years and is the author of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Turek, who was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, was 11 when the ADA was enacted.
Harkin is a widely sought after endorsement in the Hawkeye State. His decision to wade into the race is notable because Harkin also has a relationship with Wahls.
Wahls called Harkin “one of my closest political mentors,” and said the former senator officiated his wedding in 2021.
Iowa’s Senate primaries are June 2.
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