Judge reinstates pause on Trump order limiting mail ballots

August 29, 2026

A federal judge froze for two weeks a Trump administration regulation to restrict mail voting late Thursday, calling the U.S. Postal Service rule a violation of states’ power to administer elections. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani’s temporary restraining order reinstated a pause that she had lifted just a day earlier, following a U.S. Supreme Court procedural ruling Monday that allowed the administration to implement the policy. The federal government will likely appeal Thursday night’s order. Throughout months of litigation, Talwani, whom President Barack Obama appointed to ...

Beware the moral panic over AI data centers

August 29, 2026

Don't look now, but we seem to have a moral panic on our hands. The term moral panic, at least as a social science concept, is relatively modern. It was coined by Stanley Cohen in the 1972 book "Folk Devils and Moral Panics." Moral panics emerge when large numbers of people start to freak out about something that doesn't warrant the freak out. When I was kid, there was a moral panic over Dungeons and Dragons, the role playing game. It was sparked by the tragic suicide of a gamer and quickly led to various Christian groups insisting, in the words of one Georgia pastor, that "the game ...

Community Calendar: Aug. 28, 2026

August 29, 2026

Today Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center: 9 a.m. to noon, 20 N. First St. Free admission. A.A. Girls — By The Book (Women’s meeting): 9:30 a.m., 1408 Fifth Ave. S. Blanden Memorial Art Museum: Noon to 5 p.m., 920 Third Ave. S. Admission is free. A.A. Saturday Noon Group: Noon, 1408 Fifth Ave. S. A.A. Candlelight Group: 7 p.m., 1408 Fifth Ave. S. Sunday A.A. Sunday Morning Group (Open): 10:30 a.m., 1408 Fifth Ave. S. Ice Cream Social and Bake Sale: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, 113 N. Ash St., Harcourt, beef burgers, chips, baked beans, pies, ...

Iowa Lottery: Aug. 29, 2026

August 29, 2026

Iowa Lottery Friday, Aug. 28 Iowa Pick 3 midday 4-3-2 Iowa Pick 3 evening Unavailable Iowa Pick 4 midday 4-0-8-6 Iowa Pick 4 evening Unavailable Millionaire for Life Unavailable MEGA millions Unavailable

Messenger poll: Aug. 29, 2026

August 29, 2026

This week’s question: Have you ever voted by mail? Vote at: www.messengernews.net LAST WEEK’S QUESTION: Are you concerned about declining vaccination rates for school children? YES: 74 percent NO: 26 percent The Messenger Poll is updated weekly. Answers and new questions will be published on Saturdays.

University of Iowa researcher helps identify potential gems on Mars

August 29, 2026

A University of Iowa researcher is helping to unearth the geological secrets of Earth’s planetary neighbor, with recent findings of a necessary mineral to create certain precious gemstones and future study into the largest canyon in the solar system identified so far. Valerie Payré, an assistant professor in the UI School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability, said striving to learn about the history and geological makeup of Mars’s surface can help in better understanding Earth’s own history. Based on previous study of the surface of Mars, Payré said she expected the Mars ...