120 Iowa National Guard Troops Deploy To DC Friday
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa National Guard members are being deployed to the nation’s capital this week. One hundred and twenty National Guard troops will be stationed in Washington, D.C., providing security at America 250 and Freedom 250 events. The Iowa Guard will spend six months working with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. A send-off ceremony is planned for Friday at the 132nd Air Wing in Des Moines.
Man Pleads Guilty To Sexually Abusing a West Des Moines Teen
(Dandridge, TN) — A Tennessee man will spend six years in prison for sexually abusing an Iowa teen. Prosecutors say Martin Amaya Sandoval met the 13-year-old girl on Roblox. He’s accused of picking her up at her grandmother’s home in West Des Moines last year and taking her back to Tennessee. Amaya Sandoval pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated statutory rape. The victim’s parents are suing Roblox in federal court. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is also suing Roblox over concerns about child safety and consumer fraud.
Traveling Vietnam Memorial Coming to Iowa
(Washington, DC) — A traveling Vietnam War memorial is making two stops in Iowa later this month. The Wall That Heals is a three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and a mobile education center. The exhibit is making 31 stops across the country this year, including Manning from July 23 to the 26th and Brooklyn from July 30 to August 2.
Iowa State Fair Reveals New Foods For 2026
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa State Fair is announcing new fair foods for 2026. The list of concoctions includes the All-American Scrambled Egg Roll, Candied Pork Belly Mac & Cheese Pizza, an Iowa Sweet Corn & Popcorn Sundae, and Parmesan Ice Cream. A full list of new foods is available at the fair’s website. This year’s fair runs from August 13-23rd.
Report: Des Moines Ranks As 100th Best U.S. City For Drivers In 2026
(Des Moines, IA) — Allstate is out with its 2026 America’s Best Drivers Report, and Iowa’s capital is in the middle of the list. Des Moines ranks exactly in the middle of the rankings of 200 cities nationwide, coming in at number 100. The report finds that, on average, Des Moines drivers are involved in a crash once every roughly nine years, while the relative likelihood of a crash in the city is over 17 percent higher than the national average.
Iowa Ranks 10th Best State For Sports Lovers In SmileHub Survey
(Undated) — The U.S. men’s soccer team’s run in the World Cup may be over, but there’s reason for optimism among sports fans in Iowa. SmileHub used 20 key metrics to rank the best states in the country for sports lovers. Iowa came in at 10th overall, ranking third-best in the nation for sports-related degrees awarded per capita and seventh for sports-related jobs per capita. Iowa also scored well in the number of sports and recreation charities statewide and overall access to sports.
