Tens of thousands of balloon lovers from throughout the Midwest and beyond turned out for the National Balloon Classic in Indianola.  Mike Paulsen with the Classic tells the Torch there are more than 30 pilots just in Warren County. A hundred balloons were in the air during the event.

A federal judge has tossed out a lawsuit by seven Iowa residents who claimed their constitutional rights were violated by the city of Des Moines’ traffic camera use on I-235. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs’ claim of violation of due process and equal protection rights were without legal merit in the case.

Hundreds of inmates were installed in the new Fort Madison prison over the weekend.  the 166-million dollar facility opened more than a year after its target date, due to a faulty heating and cooling system.

Urbandale is going to be a guinea pig for the EPA, according to the city manager.  Agency officials will be checking out the city and its leaders at the end of the month to see how Urbandale plans to handle future development. They’ll specifically look at the city’s housing needs.

Iowa’s annual sales tax holiday is set for this weekend.  The holiday on Friday and Saturday lets shoppers buy select clothing and footwear priced at less than a hundred bucks without paying sales tax or local option taxes.

Three GOP candidates did some last minute stumping in Iowa prior to the Republican presidential debates on Thursday.  Rick Santorum, Scott Walker and Ben Carson were all campaigning.

A search panel for a new University of Iowa president has begun vetting more than 40 applications for the post brought in from an outside firm.  A handful of candidates are expected to be touring the campus next month.

More than 17-hundred school administrators from around Iowa will be in Des Moines tomorrow for the School Administrators of Iowa annual conference. The conference runs for three days at Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center.

This is the start of National Farmers Market Week.  The state ag department says more than 220 farmers markets operate around Iowa. The WIC Farmers Market and Senior Farmers Market nutrition programs provide fresh produce for those eligible for the programs.

Wells Fargo Arena hosts country hitmaker Shania Twain this Thursday night.  It’s part of her Rock The Country tour.