Good morning Ames! A Chinese car company just filed a patent for a voice-activated “in-vehicle toilet” that slides out from under the passenger seat. What could go wrong…

No, Siri, I said “flush it” not “floor it!”

In today’s scoop:

Lets get started.

— Chance

This Friday through Sunday, Ames is doing its annual spring cleaning. Stash the Trash runs April 24-26, a community volunteer initiative where residents pick a neighborhood, park, or public space and clean it up. Collected trash can be dropped off at Iowa Home Consulting at 923 N. Fourth St., or you can schedule a free pickup. Register at StashtheTrash.com. It’s not required, but it gets you supplies and lets the city track how much Ames collectively cleans up.

Two ways to get involved this Saturday:

Council Connect Cleanup — City Council members will be picking up trash in Campustown on Saturday, April 25. First group meets at noon at Campustown Court (Welch Ave and Chamberlain St) until 2pm. Second group picks up at 2pm at the Ames Intermodal Facility, 129 Hayward Ave. Public welcome at both.

Ada Hayden Park Cleanup — Friends of Ada Hayden Park are cleaning up from 9am to noon Saturday. Meet at the north parking lot shelter and bring gloves and loppers. Brush clearing near the bridge, trash pickup throughout the park. Leave the chainsaw at home though, no power equipment allowed.

Spring is here. Go touch some grass and clean up while you’re at it.

Athletic Director Jamie Pollard announced that women's wrestling will debut as an official Iowa State intercollegiate program during the 2027-28 academic year, making it the first sport added at ISU since women's soccer back in 1996. The program will be led by Coach Alli St. John and will offer 10 scholarships with a 30-person inaugural roster.

The timing makes a lot of sense. Women's wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the country right now — 218 Iowa high schools already sponsor it, the NCAA held its first national championship just last month in Coralville, and it's been an Olympic sport since 2004. There's a deep pipeline of Iowa talent ready to compete at the next level.

A preliminary plat for Auburn Trail subdivision has been reviewed and is actively moving through the City of Ames approval process, including discussions around rezoning and a master plan amendment. The proposal calls for 178 new residential lots at 4605 and 4514 Hyde Avenue.

Because the development sits within the Ada Hayden watershed, it's held to some of the strictest environmental standards in the city. Stormwater gets run through a layered treatment system before it ever reaches the lake, and the design incorporates native ground cover and naturalized tree clusters throughout.

178 lots, roundabouts, trails, and a pocket park. Stay tuned as the approval process plays out. (zoning)

The city is considering a major 24.9 MW solar farm at the Ames Municipal Airport. Council was asked to decide whether to pursue a land lease to move the project forward. The project comes with some hurdles: FAA regulations, a potential $4M+ new substation, and limited staff resources. If the solar AND wind options are both pursued, Ames could hit 20.5% renewable energy by 2030.

Construction season is really hitting its stride now. As many of you know, the south side of Pammel Drive has dropped to a single lane with alternating traffic. A temporary traffic light is being used to manage the flow. Prepare for about 7 weeks of this.

Pammel Drive will be fully closed to traffic from Hyland Avenue during the work, so plan your routes accordingly. The sidewalk stays open, but the shared-use path isn't complete through the work zone — meaning cyclists will need to piece together a combo of path, sidewalk, and street to get through.

The project itself is a full pavement reconstruction from Ontario Street to Pammel Drive, plus patching between Pammel and Lincoln Way. The existing bike lanes on Hyland from Ontario to Oakland are being relocated to a brand new shared-use path along the west side of the street which will be a solid upgrade once the dust settles. (source)

🎸Mango Soul & Mike Walsh Band @ Alluvial Brewing - Starting at 7PM

CeCe Winans @ Stephens Auditorium - Gospel legend CeCe Winans is bringing her More Than This Tour to Ames for a full night of worship at 7PM. Classic hits, new standards, and the kind of live performance that leaves you feeling something long after you walk out. (tickets)  

Voice Division Recital @ Tye Recital Hall - ISU's Voice Division is putting on a recital where every single piece connects back to nature, trees, and the world we share. Sounds poetic on paper and will sound even better live at 7:30PM. (details) 

🎸Weary Ramblers with Beggars’ Bargain @ Ames City Auditorium - 7PM sharp. (info) 

Music Bingo @ American Legion - Come test your ear, fill your card, and see if your taste in music is finally good for something, from 7:30-9:30PM. 

ISU Wind Ensemble @ Tye Recital Hall - The ISU Wind Ensemble closes out their season with a concert featuring a live symphony performed alongside a Planet Earth film at 7:30PM. (info)                   

🎸Lipstick Homicide & Bat Problem @ Maintenance Shop - Starting at 8PM 

🎸80’s night featuring Megaballad with Lani @ Ames City Auditorium - 7PM (tickets) 

Indie Bookstore Day @ Dog Eared Books - Pick up your passport, collect your stamps, and treat yourself to the best possible excuse to spend money on books all day. (more info)  

Prom Night @ Time Out - Full-blown adult prom with throwback tunes, karaoke roulette, and Jell-O shots. Dig out your best dress or most radical suit and come relive the highlight of high school, except this time there's a bar. (at 7PM)   

Hog Roast @ Zylstra Harley-Davidson - Lunch starts at 11AM, runs until it's gone, and every dollar from the free will offering goes straight to Nation of Patriots to support veterans. (details)  

🎸Live Music on the Patio @ Cornbred - 6-9PM

🎸Airyn Duffy @ Sam’s Place - 9:30PM

Safe in the Sun Run @ Ada Hayden - 5k/10k run at 2PM (registration on event photo)  

🎸Matt Hannah @ The London Underground - 7PM

Paint The Path 5k @ Jack Trice Stadium - Lace up and run, walk, and get mildly assaulted by paint Sunday morning! Check in begins at 9AM. (details) 

Thanks for reading this weeks scoop. If you found something useful, send this to someone who could really use a haircut.

See you next week.