2026/02/17

Eye Opener: Iowa State topples No. 2 Houston for second big win in three days

It's Tuesday, February 17.

Today's emoji forecast: ☀️⛈️ Record highs are possible in parts of Iowa today, but we could also see some February thunderstorms. Jon Rivas has your forecast.

What people are talking about:

Iowa State picked up a big win last night against No. 2 Houston, thanks to clutch shots at the end of the game by Jamarion Batemon and Nate Heise.
More details have emerged about the death of a UNI football player.
A new restaurant could be coming to Jordan Creek in West Des Moines.

TOP STORY: The Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84

THE 101: The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights leader who was once a protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., died early Tuesday at the age of 84.

WHAT TO KNOW: Jackson had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease about a decade ago. He was also diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disorder.

Jackson, born in 1941, rose to prominence in the 1960s and spent more than six decades fighting for racial equality and voter rights.

MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

Jackson spent time in Iowa in the 1980s as he explored campaigns for president in 1984 and 1988.
Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline Brown, had five children.

4 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

💉 "CERvivor": An Iowa mom is sharing her personal battle with cervical cancer caused by HPV in the hopes of raising awareness about the importance of vaccination. Read more

🚨 Cold case: Investigators believe the identity of a man burned alive in California in 1972 may be a Des Moines native. Read more

🏫 Teacher resignation: A central Iowa teacher accused of having inappropriate communication with students has resigned. Read more

🌊 KCCI Investigates: Here's how Des Moines Water Works hunts down water main leaks.

WEATHER OUTLOOK

We are set to break some record highs across the state this afternoon as this unseasonable warm stretch persists. This week will have more volatility and eventually a cooldown, so enjoy the warmth while we have it.

Tuesday will bring back the stronger winds with gusts around 30 to 40 mph. We will stay warm, but a system will pass over late Tuesday into early Wednesday which will bring a chance for rain and some out of season thunderstorms. These will roll on through with minimal severe threat with dry conditions expected for Wednesday as we stay warm and breezy.

Thursday will bring another system that will give additional rain chances through the day. As colder temperatures move in, we will see the rain switch to some wet snow chances overnight into Friday. As of now, the threat for accumulation snow is favoring northern and/or northwestern Iowa. This is still far out into late week, so confidence is low. Better focus on snow accumulations will come over the next few of days. Highs will return to seasonal norms for Friday and the weekend.

DAY BY DAY:

Today: Becoming partly cloudy and windy. Chance of showers Tuesday evening and night. High 69F. Winds SSSE around 20 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny and windy. High 65F. Winds W around 20 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy and breezy. Chance of rain. Afternoon snow possible in northwest Iowa. High 56F. Winds NE at 15 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph.
Friday: Snow during the morning, then clouds decrease. Gusty winds possible. High 35F. Winds NW at 15 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph.