The city of Ankeny saluted the heroes and victims of the 9-11 attacks this morning with a remembrance ceremony at the fire department headquarters. The public was invited and a reception followed the event. The latest No Child Left Behind report shows 81 percent of Iowa schools failed to make adequate yearly progress in…… MORE
Iowa is among the 21 states getting money from USDA to put in more gas station pumps selling higher blends of ethanol fuel. Nearly 200 blender pumps will be added in Iowa, letting customers choose between blends ranging from E15 to E85.… MORE
The state of Iowa is about to receive about $5 million from the USDA for its new “Fueling Our Future 100” initiative. Governor Terry Branstad, along with state Ag Secretary Bill Northey put out a statement today about the receiving the grant, noting that it will help expand choices at the pump for Iowans, as…… MORE
Enrollment is growing at Iowa’s three public universities. The latest official figures for the fall show ISU topping 36-thousand students, the largest enrollment in the school’s history. The University of Iowa has more than 32-thousand students, up by more than 700 from last year…and UNI has just under 12-thousand students, up more than 50 from…… MORE
Though he has not been in the political limelight in the past few weeks, Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul is clearly following along with fellow contender Donald Trump’s media frenzy of the past couple of months. Paul spoke to the Torch’s Robert Rees on Thursday morning about his take on the GOP front-leader. “I think…… MORE
Iowa State now has the most students enrolled this semester in the school’s history. The university announced earlier today that 36,001 students are enrolled this fall, marking the ninth consecutive year of growth for the school. More than 3,500 of the freshman class is from the state. It’s a quiet week for presidential candidates…but it’ll…… MORE
President Obama is coming to Iowa on Monday. The president will join Education Secretary Arne Duncan at North High School in Des Moines. It’s part of the secretary’s “Back-to-School” bus tour. Polk County had a number of school board elections that shook up a few boards…although not in Ankeny, where incumbents held their seats. …… MORE
The hiring of a former IBM exec for the presidency at the University of Iowa has prompted a no confidence vote from the university senate for the Board of Regents. The senate has no power to reverse the decision to appoint Bruce Harreld, so it’s largely a symbolic move, but the faculty says it plans…… MORE
She’s not the first candidate’s wife this presidential cycle to meet with Iowans on behalf of her husband, but Kelley Paul commanded the attention of 20 Polk County Republican women on Tuesday afternoon with a speech about her grandmother and her family’s background. “She was my inspiration for patriotism and bravery,” said Paul to the group.…… MORE
Des Moines’ job picture is looking bright. A new Robert Half forecast shows 12 percent of the area’s chief financial officers expect their company to create new jobs in the next six months. Another 76 percent will be hiring for open positions in their companies. More than half say it’s somewhat or very challenging to…… MORE
