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Top 16 announced in Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest

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Top 16 announced in Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest


DES MOINES, Iowa — After a week of voting, a list of more than 50 is down to the Top 16 in the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa Competition.

Hosted by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and MidwestOne Bank, the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa Contest is a newer competition that highlights items that are designed or produced in the state that carry national, even international, impact.

58 products were initially nominated in the contest’s third year, on Thursday, officials announced the Top 16 had been chosen after a week of public voting. Products that made the cut include agricultural equipment, construction materials, food, and beverages.

  1. Mi-T-M ePowerStation (Mi-T-M Corporation – Peosta)
  2. Pella Steady Set (Pella Corporation – Pella)
  3. Beer Caves (Walk-In Coolers & Freezers) (Leer, Inc. – Carroll)
  4. Weiler D1075 Blasthole Drill (Weiler – Knoxville)
  5. Butter Braid Pastries (Country Maid, Inc. – West Bend)
  6. Ironclad Tornado Shelter & Gun Safe (Ironclad Shelter Solutions, LLC – Earlham)
  7. Spalding Arena Renegade Basketball Hoop (Spalding – Jefferson)
  8. Winnebago EKKO 23B (Winnebago – Forest City)
  9. Gushers (General Mills – Cedar Rapids)
  10. Cedar Ridge Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Cedar Ridge Distillery – Swisher)
  11. Load Cell (Scale-Tec – Anamosa)
  12. Flexzilla Garden Hose (Legacy Manufacturing – Marion)
  13. Marie Callender’s Pot Pie (Conagra – Council Bluffs)
  14. 23-28XL Scraper (Mobile Track Solutions – Elkader)
  15. Sterzing’s Potato Chips (Sterzing Food Company – Burlington)
  16. dScribe Studio, 55″ – Digital Lightboard (Revolution Lightboards – Dubuque)

“This is where the competition really comes to life,” said Nicole Crain, ABI President. “These Top 16 products represent the very best of Iowa manufacturing — innovative, high-quality, and made right here in our state. Now it’s up to Iowans to help decide which product rises to the top.”

Voting to decide the Top 8 moves to a bracket-style tournament, which opens on April 17 and runs through April 22. Participants can vote in each matchup, once per day (every 24 hours) per device. The Top 8 will be announced on April 23.

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The 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa will be revealed live in June during ABI’s annual Taking Care of Business Conference in Coralville and Iowa City.

Previously, the Vermeer Automated Hay Baler won the first contest in 2024, and the John Deere CP770 Cotton Picker won the second contest in 2025.



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Iowa teens plead guilty to kidnapping charge, attacking teen male

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Iowa teens plead guilty to kidnapping charge, attacking teen male


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A pair of teenagers recently pleaded guilty to kidnapping and attacking a fellow teen male.

Nailea Leverette and Albert Mlala, both 18, pleaded guilty on May 28 to third-degree kidnapping, willful injury causing serious injury, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

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Leverette and Mlala invited a 17-year-old boy to Mlala’s Altoona home on Nov. 2, 2025, where they led him to the basement and confronted him about alleged sexual abuse, according to court filings.

The two then allegedly tortured and beat the boy with a baseball bat and whipped him with a cut vacuum cord for three hours, leaving him with significant injuries, according to criminal complaints.

The boy, who has not been named publicly, said that Mlala displayed a gun at one point. The male was eventually able to make an excuse to leave the basement and the custody of the fellow teens.

Leverette and Mlala, both 17 at the time of the crime, were charged as adults with first-degree kidnapping.

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The pair pleaded guilty after initially pleading not guilty.

Mlala was provided with a pretrial release on May 29, according to court filings. Leverette was ordered to be released from custody on Nov. 25, 2025.

Mlala is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31. Leverette will be sentenced on Aug. 7.

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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 Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening results for May 31, 2026

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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 Sunday, May 31, 2026, winning numbers for each game:

Winning Pick-3 numbers from May 31 drawing

Midday: 9-9-4

Evening: 6-1-0

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Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-4 numbers from May 31 drawing

Midday: 5-3-2-7

Evening: 5-3-0-0

Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 31 drawing

03-11-26-45-56, Bonus: 05

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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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Iowa Football Looking to Cash in on Highly Touted Four-Star Offensive Lineman

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Iowa Football Looking to Cash in on Highly Touted Four-Star Offensive Lineman


More and more, it is looking like playing on the offensive line for the Iowa Hawkeyes is becoming a one-way ticket to the NFL. Offensive line coach George Barnett is among the best in the business, and his 2026 offensive line should continue the trend of strong play for the Hawkeyes.

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This past NFL Draft saw the Hawkeyes send Logan Jones, Gennings Dunker, and Beau Stephens to the next level as the latest successes. They come on the heels of Tyler Linderbaum and Tristan Wirfs, two of the best offensive linemen in the NFL.

Iowa is now looking to continue the offensive line prowess as it hosts a highly touted recruit, as they prepare for more future departures to the NFL. Two starters on the offensive line this season, Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck, have each generated NFL buzz, and if history tells us anything, NFL teams like Iowa offensive linemen.

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Iowa Hawkeyes Hosting Four-Star Caleb Johnson

While it may be summer for the current roster with training camp approaching, the recruiting trail doesn’t sleep for the coaching staff. Some of the latest news for Iowa’s class of 2027 is the upcoming visit that Caleb Johnson, a four-star offensive lineman, will take to Iowa City.

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Johnson, a product of Noblesville High School in Noblesville, Indiana, is coming off a string of visits to high-profile schools such as Indiana and Michigan State, with a visit to the Hawkeyes on deck.

Iowa may have a slight inside track on Johnson, as it was on Johnson’s recruiting trail earlier than some in the process, offering him back in January of 2026.

Caleb Johnson Bio

High School: Noblesville

Hometown: Noblesville, Indiana

Class: 2027

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Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 260

Recruiting Rankings: No. 2 recruit in Indiana, No. 22 offensive tackle, No. 248 recruit overall

Other Offers: Indiana, Michigan State, Missouri, Cincinnati, Auburn, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, UNC, Oklahoma State, Purdue, UCLA, and others

Analysis: At just 260 pounds, Iowa would be able to mold Johnson in the weight room and developmental program, which is one of the best in the country. In his tape from high school, Johnson is seen playing snaps at center, guard, and tackle, which offers versatility from the jump.

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Iowa Football 2027 Recruiting Class

The Iowa Hawkeyes currently sit with the No. 29 overall 2027 recruiting class as things stand right now. The Hawkeyes have landed 10 commits for the 2027 class, two of them being offensive linemen.

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Reilly Newman from West Chester Ohio, a three-star recruit, and Nate Brenneman from Rock Valley, Iowa, another three-star recruit have given their commitments to the Hawkeyes.

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