News Headlines for September 9, 2026
Genesis named official luxury vehicle of Big Ten Conference
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIF. — Genesis is driving deeper into college sports after being named the official luxury vehicle of the Big Ten Conference, placing the automaker alongside Iowa Hawkeye athletics and some of the nation’s most-watched college competitions.
The agreement is Genesis Motor America’s first conference-wide partnership in college athletics. It begins with Big Ten football and will expand across men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, ice hockey and wrestling.
Todd R. McMurray, 60, Mason City, remembered for devotion to family, love of the outdoors
MASON CITY — Todd Raymond McMurray, 60, of Mason City, is remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed fishing, camping, grilling, old cars and time spent with the people he loved.
Per Todd’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to his family.
Todd died Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.
Northern Iowa rains offer relief as area farmers prepare for harvest
Much-needed rainfall reached parts of Northern Iowa during an unusually hot opening week of September as farmers across the state continued preparing for corn and soybean harvest.
The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report shows farmers had 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 6, while corn and soybean development continued toward maturity.
“The first week of September was one of the hottest on record, setting up some muggy conditions for attendees at the Farm Progress Show,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said.
Iowa Hawkeye volleyball sweeps Cyclones in Ames, snaps 32-year drought
AMES — Iowa Hawkeye volleyball ended more than three decades of frustration in Ames Tuesday night, sweeping rival Iowa State in straight sets for its first victory at Hilton Coliseum since 1994.
The Hawkeyes knocked off the Cyclones 25-20, 25-21 and 25-23 in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series showdown, improving to 4-2 on the season.
The victory was Iowa’s first over Iowa State since 2021 and its first in Ames in 32 years.
Northside Oktoberfest celebrates 30 years with huge Iowa City fall festival
IOWA CITY — One of Iowa City’s biggest fall traditions is preparing to raise a glass to three decades of beer, food, music and neighborhood fun.
Four hurt after teen driver pulls into path of MidAmerican Energy truck in Northern Iowa
EAGLE GROVE — Four people were injured Tuesday morning when a vehicle driven by a Northern Iowa teenager failed to yield at a rural stop sign and was broadsided by a MidAmerican Energy truck.
The crash happened at approximately 10:30 AM on September 8, 2026, at the intersection of 265th Street and Hancock Avenue in Wright County, east of Eagle Grove.
Winnebago County Sheriff Steve Hepperly to retire after 41-year law enforcement career
FOREST CITY — Winnebago County Sheriff Steve Hepperly will step away from law enforcement at the end of the year, closing a career that has stretched more than four decades across North Iowa.
Hepperly submitted his resignation and retirement notification to the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors during its weekly meeting Tuesday morning and said his final day as sheriff will be December 31, 2026.
He is recommending that supervisors appoint current Winnebago County Chief Deputy Sheriff Michael Droessler to take over the office following his retirement.
North Iowa housing projects score $2.26 million in tax credits for 133 new units
MASON CITY — Four housing developments in Mason City, Clear Lake and Ventura are in line for more than $2.25 million in state workforce housing tax credits, supporting 133 new residential units in Cerro Gordo County as part of a nearly $40 million statewide housing push announced Tuesday.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced $39.84 million in Workforce Housing Tax Credits on September 8 for 69 projects expected to produce 2,093 new residential units across 39 Iowa counties.
North Iowa grabbed a sizable piece of that investment.
James “Jim” Lee Miller, 88, Osage, remembered for craftsmanship, outdoors and devotion to family
OSAGE — James Lee “Jim” Miller, 88, of Osage, passed away peacefully Friday evening, September 4, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, September 14, at First Grace Lutheran Church, 726 State Street in Osage. Hoff Celebrations – Champion Chapel of Osage is assisting the family with arrangements.
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.
Bertha “Bert” Holland, 87, Charles City, remembered for travel, community service and a love of dancing
CHARLES CITY — Bertha “Bert” Holland, 87, of Charles City, is remembered for her adventurous spirit, decades of community involvement and the warm smile she shared with friends wherever she went.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, 1205 South Main St. in Charles City. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until the service begins Friday.
Bert died peacefully at her Charles City home Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026.
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.
Diane Ruth Manwarren, 70, of Emmetsburg, remembered for devotion to family and life’s simple joys
EMMETSBURG — Diane Ruth Manwarren, 70, of Emmetsburg, died peacefully Saturday, September 5, 2026, at her home surrounded by family.
A come-and-go visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, September 11, at Geelan Funeral Home, 403 11th St. SE, Spencer. A private family interment will be held later at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Emmetsburg.
Billy “Bill” Delose Huntley, 74, of rural Dolliver, remembered for a life rooted in family and farming
DOLLIVER — Billy “Bill” Delose Huntley, 74, of rural Dolliver, died Saturday, September 5, 2026, at his home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 9, at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel, 401 N. Seventh St., Estherville. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Estherville. Visitation was held Tuesday evening at the funeral home.
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.
Donald Erickson, 87, Forest City, remembered by family and community
FOREST CITY — Donald Erickson, 87, of Forest City, passed away Friday, September 4, 2026.
A visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, September 12, at Schott Funeral Home, 505 North Clark Street in Forest City.
A celebration of Donald’s life will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
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