2026/03/02

Eye Opener: U.S. and Israel strike Iran

It's Monday, March 2.

Today's emoji forecast: 🌧️☔ Rain is on the way. Jon Rivas has your forecast.

What people are talking about:

The girls state basketball tournament tips off today in Des Moines.
A bill moving through the Iowa legislature would change how hemp products are regulated around the state.
One person has died and three more are injured following a shooting in Marshalltown.

TOP STORY: U.S., Israel strike Iran

Photo above: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine take questions during a press conference on US military action in Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2026. The United States hit hundreds of targets across Iran, and Israel expanded its bombing to Lebanon on Monday as President Donald Trump vowed to avenge the first US deaths in the war he launched to topple Tehran's ruling clerics. Iranian forces fired missiles and drones across the Middle East, killing people in Israel and the United Arab Emirates, in retaliation for the conflict that began February 28 with the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

THE 101: The U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran over the weekend, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. At least 555 people have been killed in Iran so far.

WHAT TO KNOW: Multiple U.S. troops have been killed or seriously injured during the attacks. President Donald Trump said more losses could be coming in the next few weeks.

MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

Trump told the Daily Mail that he believes the conflict could last for "four weeks or so." He had previously warned that American troops could be killed or injured in the operation.
Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has threatened to launch its "most intense offensive operation" ever targeting Israeli and American military installations.

4 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

🗳️ Close Up: KCCI spoke with five Republican candidates for governor to hear their campaign strategies and key issues. Read more

🏀 41 and a W: Audi Crooks posted her fourth 40-point game of the season to lead Iowa State to a win at Kansas State in the regular season finale. Read more

🏈 Welcome to Des Moines: Drake formally introduced its new football coach this weekend. Read more

🏫 DEI compliance: The Iowa Board of Regents is expanding its review of diversity, equity and inclusion compliance at the state's public universities. Read more

WEATHER OUTLOOK

We have the cloud cover that will be staying over us today, keeping temperatures from climbing too high. The afternoon will have highs in the 30s and 40s.

Temperatures stay pretty stagnant overnight into Tuesday, but light rain chances will return.

Expect fairly light rain through Tuesday with rain accumulations staying pretty low. We aren't going to see substantial storm energy moving into Iowa, so thunderstorm chances will stay low until we get deeper into Wednesday evening and night. The better chance for showers and storms to return will be Friday. As of now, the severe weather threat is farther south for the end of the work week, but we could see a possibility of a few stronger storms over Iowa. This is still uncertain and we will continue to monitor the forecast as we get closer to Friday. Rain chances come to an end for the weekend with mild conditions continuing.

DAY BY DAY:

Today: Mostly cloudy skies. High near 42F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Cloudy skies. Scattered rain showers, especially in southern Iowa. High near 44F. Winds ENE around 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly to mostly cloudy. Rain showers possible along with a thunderstorm or two. High near 50F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 61F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly cloudy and breezy. Showers and thunderstorms possible. High near 68F. Winds S at 15 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph.