Here are some of the big news stories that you may have missed over Spring Break:

Monday – March 13

• Structure fire causes “total loss” of Ames home– According to a City of Ames press release, no injuries were reported after an abandoned single-story home suffered a total loss after a structure fire. The fire is still under investigation as of Monday (March 13).
• Steve King faces backlash after tweets (March 12)– Steve King, Republican congressman, faced backlash after tweets about what many believe to be criticism towards foreigners and immigrants. King went to CNN to defend his comments and said he “meant exactly what I said.” Several other leaders including Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds actually condemned what King has to say, disagreeing with his comments and reassuring people that what he said is not what most Iowans support.

Tuesday – 3/14

• Cyclones softball split two games with UCF– The Cyclones won one and lost one in a doubleheader against the University of Central Florida. The Cyclones pulled out a 5-3 win in the first game but lost 11-3 in the second.
• The Uncertainty Festival comes to Ames in April– Nova Labs, local record label, will put on their first music festival in Ames in April. The event will take place the weekend of April 21 and will be held in the London Underground and DG’s Tap House.

Wednesday – March 15

• Medical amnesty bill passes unanimously– The medical amnesty bill passed with a 49-0 vote by the Iowa Senate on Wednesday. This bill allows underage drinkers to have immunity from legal prosecution in the case of a medical emergency. Cole Staudt, current Iowa State Student Government President, has been working on this bill since spring of last year.
• Iowa State agriculture and biosystems engineering programs ranked No. 1– According to the 2017 U.S. News and World Report on University graduate programs, both programs have been ranked first in the nation. New facilities have pushed the programs to the top. The faculty has worked hard to improve their research and facilities in order to get the programs to this place.
• Celtic Fire to open up Stephens Auditorium tonight– Celtic Fire, a performance group, will be performing at Stephens Auditorium tonight (Monday). There will be singing, dancing and storytelling, along with a celebration of their Irish heritage.
• Panic! At The Disco comes to Wells Fargo Arena– Panic! At The Disco, U.S. alternative band, visited Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Tuesday evening. Caroline Shaw, Iowa State Daily reporter, gives her opinion and perspective on the night.
• Walmart Supercenter opens near North Grand Mall– A new Walmart was built near North Grand Mall and opened on Wednesday. The Walmart has similar amenities as the one on South Duff Avenue and will employ up to 250 people. This Walmart was built right next to the old one which will soon be torn down.

Thursday – March 16

• Men’s basketball gets win against Nevada in first round of NCAA Tournament– No. 5 Iowa State grabbed a victory against No. 12 Nevada in the first round of the NCAA Tournament winning 84-73. Monté Morris played a big part in this game after winning the Big 12 Championship and the most valuable player award in the tournament.
• Walmart Supercenter opens near North Grand Mall- A new Walmart was built near North Grand Mall.  

Friday – March 17

• Ames Fire Department loses firefighter– Steve Buser, Ames firefighter, died on Friday. Buser was found unconscious in his firehouse where he had been working out and was transported to Mary Greeley Hospital. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
• Iowa State wrestling ends season at NCAA Championships– Iowa State wrestling ended in 56th place after earning one team point in the tournament. As this season ends, a new era begins with new head coach Kevin Dresser.

Saturday – 3/18

• Leath possible finalist for Auburn University president– Steven Leath, Iowa State University President, may be on the “short list” as a finalist for the position of president of Auburn University in Alabama. After the current president has recently announced his plans to retire, there is to be a vote for the new president sometime today (Monday).
• Cubers compete in Ames– Cubers came to Ames on Saturday to compete in the Iowa State Spring 2017 Rubik’s Cube Tournament. Joshua Beck, sophomore in mechanical engineering, organized the event. There were competitors of all ages. This was the first event held in Iowa in two years.
• Women’s basketball falls to Syracuse in first round of NCAA Tournament– The women fell to Syracuse after losing 85-65. The women only shot 11 percent in the field in the first quarter of the game. They attempted a comeback in the second half, but the deficit was too large and their season came to a heartbreaking end. Jadda Buckley also announced that she would not return for her final season.
• Cyclone Gymnastics finishes fourth in Big 12 Championships– The Cyclones finished just shy of a third place finish in the Big 12 Championships in Frisco, Texas. The team now awaits the information for where they will be placed for the regional competition.
• Iowa State softball wins final game to end their time in Florida– The women played their final game on Saturday which resulted in a win. The team heads home from Florida to prepare for their game in Ames on March 24 which will be their first home game of the season.
• Men’s basketball falls to Purdue in second round of NCAA Tournament– The Cyclones had a slow start and attempted to make a comeback in the second half. The push wasn’t enough to beat the Boilermakers and they ultimately lost 80-76. This loss was a heartbreaker for many as it was the end of the collegiate career for one of the best senior trios Iowa State men’s basketball has ever seen- Naz Long, Matt Thomas and Monté Morris.