News Headlines for October 4, 2026
Mason City apologizes as Pennsylvania Avenue construction drags on and key downtown intersection stays closed
MASON CITY — A major Mason City street project continues to frustrate motorists and disrupt traffic around downtown, and now the city is openly apologizing as work along Pennsylvania Avenue stretches beyond another anticipated reopening date.
The City of Mason City announced October 2 that the intersection of 1st Street NE and Pennsylvania Avenue would finally reopen Saturday, October 3.
Suburban Iowa teens flee stolen vehicle, hole up in apartment with six guns as police close in
CLIVE — Four juvenile suspects ranging in age from 14 to 17 allegedly fled from a stolen vehicle, ran from police and were later found inside an apartment where authorities recovered six firearms, including four confirmed stolen guns, during a sprawling suburban Des Moines investigation.
Grandson charged with first-degree murder after 75-year-old grandfather found dead in Northern Iowa home
A 21-year-old Northern Iowa man is accused of killing his own grandfather inside the rural home they shared, then hiding in another room as sheriff’s deputies arrived Saturday night.
Aiden Flora erupts for five touchdowns as Iowa State football survives West Virginia thriller, 45-42
AMES — Aiden Flora did just about everything but sell popcorn Saturday as Iowa State football survived a wild Big 12 shootout with West Virginia, 45-42, before 52,724 fans at Jack Trice Stadium.
Flora ran for a career-high 212 yards and three touchdowns while also completing both of his passes for two more scores, accounting for five touchdowns as the Cyclones secured their first Big 12 victory of the season.
Iowa State improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play. West Virginia fell to 3-2 and 0-2.
Two dead after boat strikes floating object and throws three into Mississippi River
DUBUQUE — Two people are dead after a boat slammed into a floating object on the Mississippi River Saturday afternoon, throwing all three people aboard into the water and triggering a major emergency response near Dubuque.
The deadly boating accident happened at approximately 3 p.m. Saturday, October 3, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Iowa Hawkeye volleyball strikes first, but No. 16 Penn State roars back to take four-set battle
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Iowa Hawkeye volleyball landed the first punch against No. 16 Penn State Saturday night, but the nationally ranked Nittany Lions responded by taking the next three sets and handing Iowa a four-set Big Ten road loss.
Iowa grabbed the opener 25-22 before Penn State answered with victories of 25-17, 25-22 and 25-19 inside Rec Hall.
The Hawkeyes slipped to 12-6 overall and 1-3 in Big Ten play.
Mason City driver extricated after violent Highway 18 head-on crash sends pickup into ditch in flames
FLOYD COUNTY — A Mason City man had to be cut from his pickup and another truck caught fire after a violent head-on collision Friday evening on Highway 18 in Northern Iowa that sent both drivers to the hospital.
The crash happened at approximately 6:51 p.m. on October 3, 2026, on U.S. Highway 18 between Echo Avenue and Foothill Avenue in Floyd County.
No. 6 Iowa field hockey strikes in overtime to topple No. 15 Michigan, 2-1
ANN ARBOR, MICH. — No. 6 Iowa field hockey delivered another dramatic win over a nationally ranked opponent Friday, knocking off No. 15 Michigan, 2-1, in overtime behind a golden goal from Fréderique van Cleef.
Van Cleef scored the game-winner at the 70:33 mark off an assist from Dionne van Aalsum, giving the Hawkeyes their 10th victory of the season and improving Iowa to 2-1 in Big Ten play.
UNI Panther volleyball sweeps Bradley, stretches winning streak to five
PEORIA, ILL. — UNI Panther volleyball kept rolling through Missouri Valley Conference play Friday night, sweeping Bradley in straight sets for its fifth consecutive victory and extending one of the longest active conference winning streaks in Division I volleyball.
Northern Iowa defeated the Braves 25-15, 25-20 and 25-22 at Renaissance Coliseum, improving to 4-0 in MVC play.
Iowa lawmakers rewrite MEGA tax credit program to clear path for $15 billion steel mill
DES MOINES — Iowa has rewritten a major economic-development incentive program to accommodate the proposed $15 billion Mesabi Metallics steel complex, with Gov. Kim Reynolds signing House File 2801 after lawmakers approved the measure during a one-day special session Friday.
The new law allows the Iowa Economic Development Authority to offer a single qualifying business in a rural county an investment tax credit worth up to 10% of its qualifying investment, spread evenly over 10 years. The previous MEGA structure allowed incentives of up to 5% for each of two eligible businesses.
The change was crafted with the massive Mesabi Metallics project in mind. State officials say the proposed Iowa complex would represent a $15 billion investment and the largest steel-manufacturing investment in U.S. history.
Worth County eyes up to $6 million in borrowing for new administration building
NORTHWOOD — Worth County supervisors have moved another major step toward financing a new county administration building, setting an October public hearing on a proposal to borrow up to $6 million while also approving more than $246,000 in county claims and filling the county recorder’s office ahead of the November election.
Rockford man sent to federal prison after hundreds of child sex abuse images and videos found
CEDAR RAPIDS — A Northern Iowa man caught with hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including material involving infants and sadistic conduct, is headed to federal prison for more than seven years.
Anthony Paul Harden, 48, of Rockford, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography.
$200,000 garage fire erupts at Clear Lake home; quick response saves residence
CLEAR LAKE — A fast-moving garage fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage Friday afternoon in Clear Lake, but firefighters were able to stop the flames before they caused significant damage to the attached home.
The Clear Lake Fire Department was dispatched at 4:28 p.m. Friday, October 2, to 2310 16th Avenue North after a garage fire was reported.
Drug-and-booze party busted in rural Northern Iowa; drone hunts down fleeing revelers, 3 arrested
An alleged underage drug-and-alcohol party drawing roughly 50 people to a remote Northern Iowa property was busted by law enforcement after deputies secured a narcotics search warrant, with a drone deployed to hunt down partygoers who allegedly fled the scene.
Grassley says “deranged” Jack Smith ensnared Osage donor and scores of Iowans in subpoena dragnet
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is sounding the alarm after whistleblower records showed former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation obtained thousands of personal donor checks from Americans who gave money to President Donald Trump and Republican-aligned organizations — including 42 people from Iowa and at least one northern Iowa resident from Osage.
Grassley singled out the Osage donor after learning the person contributed just $10 to Trump.
According to Grassley, Smith’s team subpoenaed the personal check, placing information including the donor’s home address and banking information into the hands of federal investigators.
North Iowa entrepreneurs honored as 2026 Pappajohn Gala crowns top businesses, innovators and rising stars
MASON CITY — North Iowa’s business community took center stage September 24 as entrepreneurs, established companies, innovators and student business owners were honored during the 2026 Pappajohn Entrepreneur Gala at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City.
The annual event recognized standout businesses and entrepreneurs from across the region in several categories, while also presenting special awards for long-term impact and community leadership.
Iowa Hawkeye volleyball pushed to five sets before Maryland finishes the job
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Iowa Hawkeye volleyball battled through a wild five-set Big Ten match Thursday night but could not finish off Maryland, falling 20-25, 25-13, 22-25, 25-19, 10-15 inside Schanwald Pavilion.
The loss dropped Iowa to 12-5 overall and 1-2 in Big Ten play.
The match featured a staggering 48 ties and 21 lead changes, with Iowa repeatedly fighting its way back before Maryland finally pulled away in the fifth set.
Chicago solar company seeks permission to invade Cerro Gordo County drainage districts for massive 500 MW project
MASON CITY — A Chicago-based solar developer is asking Cerro Gordo County for permission to cross and use portions of several county drainage districts as it advances plans for a massive utility-scale solar project capable of generating up to 500 megawatts.
River City Energy, LLC, a Delaware-organized company with its principal office in Chicago, is seeking right-of-way easements involving Drainage Districts 19, 21, 45 and 71.
The application says underground electrical infrastructure tied to the project could cross drainage rights-of-way through excavation, directional boring or trenching.
Iowa Falls seeks permission to draw up to 50 million gallons a year from Iowa River for recreational waterfall
IOWA FALLS — The City of Iowa Falls is asking the state for permission to withdraw as much as 50 million gallons of water each year from the Iowa River to help maintain a recreational waterfall, a sizable increase from the city’s current annual allotment.
The proposed modification to Iowa Falls’ water-use permit would raise the city’s authorized annual withdrawal from 36 million gallons to 50 million gallons, an increase of 14 million gallons, or nearly 39 percent.
The request comes as water availability continues to draw attention across Iowa.
Lake Mills landfill operator hit with $30,000 in Iowa DNR penalties after repeated litter, cover violations
LAKE MILLS — A Northern Iowa landfill operator has been hit with $30,000 in state penalties after Iowa environmental regulators documented repeated problems with uncovered waste and windblown garbage, including litter reaching neighboring property and a cattle shed.
Central Disposal Systems, Inc., which operates a municipal solid waste landfill at 21265 430th Street near Lake Mills, entered into three separate administrative consent orders with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Each carries a $10,000 penalty and requires the company to comply with Iowa solid waste laws and daily cover requirements.
The penalties concern violations tied to May 20, 2025, February 18, 2026 and February 20, 2026.
Iowa State soccer fights back against Utah, earns first Big 12 point in 1-1 draw
AMES — Iowa State soccer finally broke into the Big 12 points column Thursday night, battling back from an early deficit and earning a 1-1 draw against Utah at the Cyclone Soccer Complex.
UNI volleyball sweeps Illinois State, stretches MVC regular-season winning streak to 55
NORMAL, ILL. — UNI volleyball survived an opening-set fight from Illinois State, then took command Thursday night to sweep the Redbirds and extend one of the most impressive conference winning streaks in Division I volleyball.
Northern Iowa defeated Illinois State 25-23, 25-18 and 25-20 at CEFCU Arena, improving to 9-5 overall and 3-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
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