News Headlines for September 8, 2026
New Iowa-Wisconsin Mississippi River bridge to open months early, ending ferry era
LANSING — A major new Mississippi River bridge connecting Iowa and Wisconsin is running well ahead of schedule and is now expected to open to traffic in early November, months earlier than originally planned.
The Iowa Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that the new Iowa 9/WIS 82 Mississippi River crossing at Lansing is progressing quickly enough to open before winter.
The bridge had originally been scheduled to open in spring 2027.
Former Lake Mills football star Caleb Bacon grabs Big Ten defensive honor after dominant Penn State debut
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — From Lake Mills to Ames and now Happy Valley, former Northern Iowa prep standout Caleb Bacon continues to make his mark on college football.
Bacon, a Lake Mills native and former Lake Mills High School star who spent four seasons playing for the Iowa State Cyclones, was named Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week following a dominant performance in Penn State’s 45-0 victory over Marshall.
Brian Wesley Stogdill, 64, Clear Lake, remembered as a caregiver who treated many like family
CLEAR LAKE — Brian Wesley Stogdill, 64, of Clear Lake, passed away Friday, September 4, 2026, at 9th Street Chautauqua in Charles City following a lengthy battle with renal failure.
A remembrance gathering honoring Brian’s life will be held at a future date, with arrangements and additional details to be announced.
Smug, repeat felony OWI offender nabbed again in North Iowa after prison, probation violations and years of drunk driving
MASON CITY — After felony drunk-driving convictions in two North Iowa counties, a five-year prison sentence, repeated probation violations and years of court intervention aimed at keeping her from driving impaired, Amber Ann Ward is accused of getting behind the wheel and doing it again.
Ward, 41, was nabbed by the Iowa State Patrol on Sunday, September 6, and booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail at 1:01 p.m. Her latest booking photo shows her smiling proudly, but the criminal history behind that image is considerably more serious: Ward has previously been convicted of felony third-or-subsequent OWI offenses in both Floyd and Cerro Gordo counties, has been convicted of driving while barred, has repeatedly violated probation and has previously been sent to prison.
County flags manure plan for large Thornton livestock operation near waterfowl protection area
MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County officials are raising concerns about a manure management plan update tied to a large livestock operation near Thornton, citing the site’s proximity to a protected waterfowl area.
The report before the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors concerns Balsam Beef & Bacon, formerly known as Luscombe Enterprises. The operation is located at 7442 Balsam Ave. in Thornton in Section 31 of Union Township.
According to the report prepared by the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, the confinement unit has capacity for 3,550 finishing hogs and 250 cattle.
The annual manure production is listed at 907,025 gallons of liquid manure, which is stored in below-building pits, along with 2,717 tons of solid manure from bedded cattle barns.
Mason City seeks state money for Highway 122-South Taft improvements, new trail connection
MASON CITY — Mason City is pursuing state transportation money for improvements at the busy intersection of Iowa Highway 122 and South Taft Avenue, with Cerro Gordo County officials throwing their support behind the effort.
The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors is being asked to support two city funding applications tied to improvements at the western Mason City gateway.
No. 4 Iowa Hawkeye field hockey hammers Ball State 8-0 behind pair of hat tricks
IOWA CITY — No. 4 Iowa Hawkeye field hockey unleashed another offensive barrage Sunday, crushing Ball State 8-0 at Grant Field behind hat tricks from Dionne van Aalsum and Fréderique van Cleef.
UNI Panther soccer falls short at Western Illinois, 2-1
MACOMB — Freshman Ella McGinnis scored the first goal of her collegiate career during the closing minutes Sunday, but Northern Iowa could not complete the comeback in a 2-1 loss to Western Illinois at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.
The Leathernecks controlled much of the offensive action, outshooting the Panthers 18-13 and holding a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Iowa Hawkeye soccer smothers Missouri State, rolls to 3-0 shutout
IOWA CITY — Iowa Hawkeye soccer overwhelmed Missouri State from the opening minutes Sunday afternoon, allowing just one shot while cruising to a 3-0 victory at the Iowa Soccer Complex to close out nonconference play.
The Hawkeyes improved to 5-1-1 and finished their nonconference schedule with the same record for the second straight season. Missouri State fell to 2-4-1.
Nancy Elizabeth Bailey, 83, Mason City, remembered for creativity, music and opening her heart to many
MASON CITY — Nancy Elizabeth Bailey, 83, of Mason City, passed away Friday, September 4, 2026, at her home while under the care of St. Croix Hospice.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 12, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd Street NE in Mason City, with Chaplain Jani Dahlin officiating. Nancy’s family will greet relatives and friends beginning at noon and continuing until the service.
Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.
Donald “Don” Walker, 70, Nora Springs, remembered for hard work, helping neighbors and love of family
NORA SPRINGS — Donald “Don” Dean Walker, 70, of Nora Springs, died Friday, September 4, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City surrounded by his family.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, September 12, at the Rock Falls Community Center, 3 S. Nottingham St. in Rock Falls. Don will be laid to rest at Rock Grove Cemetery in rural Nora Springs.
College Football: Cyclones roll past Southeast Missouri 38-10 as Jimmy Rogers wins Iowa State debut
AMES — The Jimmy Rogers era at Iowa State began with a convincing victory Saturday as the Cyclones overwhelmed Southeast Missouri, 38-10, in the 2026 season opener at Jack Trice Stadium.
After a 30-minute lightning delay, Iowa State jumped ahead 14-0 in the first quarter, carried a 28-7 advantage into halftime and never allowed the Redhawks to seriously threaten again. A crowd of 51,802 watched Iowa State open its 135th season of football with a win and improve to 1-0.
Hartman reaches 1,000 kills, but UNI volleyball falls in five-set heartbreaker at South Dakota
VERMILLION — Cassidy Hartman delivered one of the biggest performances of her UNI career Saturday, smashing a career-high 31 kills and joining Northern Iowa’s 1,000-kill club, but the Panthers couldn’t finish off South Dakota in a five-set thriller.
The Coyotes survived two UNI match points and escaped with a 25-22, 21-25, 19-25, 25-21, 17-15 victory in the final match of the 2026 South Dakota Classic.
UNI football goes silent in second half, falls to Eastern Washington, 34-24
CHENEY, WASHINGTON — Northern Iowa built a halftime lead behind three rushing touchdowns from quarterback Jaxon Dailey, but Eastern Washington shut out the Panthers in the second half and claimed a 34-24 victory Saturday, September 5.
The loss dropped UNI to 0-1 and extended the program’s struggles in the Evergreen State.
Iowa Hawkeye football steamrolls Northern Illinois 40-0 behind Moulton, suffocating defense
IOWA CITY — Iowa Hawkeye football opened the 2026 season with an emphatic statement Saturday, hammering Northern Illinois 40-0 behind an explosive performance from Kamari Moulton, an aggressive new-look offense and a defense that barely allowed the Huskies to move.
No. 22 Iowa scored 20 points in the opening quarter, carried a 33-0 lead into halftime and finished with a staggering 507-120 advantage in total offense before 69,250 fans at Kinnick Stadium.
Moulton was the centerpiece of the destruction.
The senior running back rushed only 11 times but piled up 183 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 16.6 yards every time he touched the football.
Both touchdowns came during Iowa’s first-quarter avalanche.
Patricia “Pat” DeeAnn Ulrich, 81, Mason City, remembered for caring heart, quiet strength and devotion to family
MASON CITY — Patricia “Pat” DeeAnn Ulrich, 81, of Mason City, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
Visitation will be held from noon until 1 p.m. Thursday, September 10, at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. NE in Mason City. A funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home, with Chaplain Jani Dahlin officiating.
Pat will be laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.
Convicted felon with revoked probation nabbed after suspicious-person call in Mason City
MASON CITY — A convicted felon whose probation was revoked and suspended prison sentence ordered imposed last year is back behind bars after a suspicious-person call in Mason City.
Iowa motorcyclist critically hurt after apparently blowing stop sign and smashing into parked vehicles
An Iowa motorcyclist was critically injured after he apparently ran a stop sign, entered a mobile home park and slammed into two parked vehicles early Saturday morning.
Daniel A. Van Note, 74, Garner, remembered for his North Iowa roots and years at Winnebago Industries
GARNER — Daniel A. Van Note, 74, of Garner, passed away Saturday, August 29, 2026, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.
In accordance with Dan’s wishes, cremation will take place. No visitation or funeral services are planned.
Two dead, one injured in head-on crash near Osage
OSAGE — Two drivers were killed and a passenger was airlifted to a hospital after two vehicles collided head-on Friday afternoon in Mitchell County.
The Iowa State Patrol said the crash happened at approximately 4:05 p.m. September 4 at Kirkwood Avenue and 440th Street near Osage.
Eugene “Gene” Scott Thorne, 64, Cresco, remembered for service to country and devotion to family
CRESCO — Eugene “Gene” Scott Thorne, 64, of Cresco, died peacefully September 2, 2026, at The Highlands in Decorah surrounded by loved ones.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 9, at First Congregational Church, 130 3rd Ave. E. in Cresco, with Pastor Tim Sir officiating.
Iowa State Cyclone soccer shuts out Missouri State 2-0, posts fifth clean sheet
AMES — Iowa State Cyclone soccer turned up the pressure after a sluggish start Thursday night and blanked Missouri State 2-0 to close out a four-game homestand with another shutout victory.
The Cyclones improved to 4-2-1 on the season and recorded their fifth clean sheet in seven matches.
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