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News Headlines for May 15, 2026

Top Stories

Mason City’s Southbridge Theater to reopen May 16 with grand opening celebration and showing of ‘Footloose’

MASON CITY — The newly renovated Southbridge Theater will reopen to the public with a grand opening celebration on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in downtown Mason City.

The theater, located at Southbridge Mall, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. The celebration will continue with special showings of the 1985 classic “Footloose” at noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

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Politics

Rubio says China is top U.S. geopolitical challenge as officials head to Beijing

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said China remains the United States’ top geopolitical challenge as President Donald Trump and senior U.S. officials headed to Beijing for high-level talks.

In a May 14, 2026, interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News Channel aboard Air Force One, Rubio described China as both America’s biggest geopolitical challenge and one of the most important relationships for Washington to manage. He said the two countries will continue to have conflicting interests, but also said diplomacy is needed to avoid war and maintain global stability.

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Sports

College Basketball: Iowa’s Ben McCollum signs contract extension

IOWA CITY – After leading the University of Iowa men’s basketball program to its first Elite Eight appearance in 39 years, head coach Ben McCollum has signed a contract extension through 2032, the announcement was made this week by Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Beth Goetz.

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Business

Iowa City-area shoppers will pay 1% more sales tax starting July 1

IOWA CITY — Shoppers in Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty will begin paying a 1% Local Option Sales Tax on taxable purchases starting July 1, 2026. The new tax, commonly called LOST, was approved by voters in November 2025. It will be added to Iowa’s 6% state sales tax, bringing the total sales tax rate in the three communities to 7% on taxable goods and services.

Mason City has used LOST for years to fund projects in the community and was most recently renewed in 2022.

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Top Stories

Iowa DNR says a rare white fawn spotted on community college campus napping under a tree

The fawn appears to be either leucistic or albino. Both are genetic pigment conditions that can cause white coloration in deer. White deer are extremely rare in Iowa, representing far less than 1% of the state’s deer population. According to the DNR, they appear roughly once in every 30,000 deer.

The DNR said it is monitoring the situation and wants the public to enjoy the unusual sight from a distance. Officials said people should not approach the fawn or attempt to touch, move or feed it.

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