Founded on Oct. 1, 2010
News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region
MASON CITY — Susan Kay Stallwood, 68, of Mason City, is being remembered after her passing on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Born Susan Kay Ahrens on April 25, 1958, near Grinnell, Iowa, she was the daughter of Jerry and Freda (Claybrook) Ahrens. Her early years were spent on the family farm, giving her a connection to rural Iowa that remained part of her life story.
A Northern Iowa man who lost control of his Jeep Wrangler and put it into a roadside timber area on Christmas Eve was later convicted of operating while under the influence, marking another OWI conviction on his Iowa court record.
RANDALIA — Multiple people were injured and two vehicles were destroyed in a crash west of Randalia on May 14, 2026.
An Iowa man has been arrested and charged with multiple felony counts of sexual abuse after authorities say he engaged in sex acts with a child over a period of several years.
OSAGE — Darlene Mae (Peters) Nicholson, an Osage woman remembered for her devotion to family, her love of music and many years helping others, died Wednesday, May 13, 2026. She was 89.
BUTLER COUNTY — Feldmeier Equipment Inc. plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in Butler County, bringing a $20.8 million capital investment tied to advanced production work and future growth.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board awarded the company $688,670 in tax credits through the state’s Business Incentives for Growth program.
In just a few years, the world has gone from barely noticing data centers to making them headline news. Now, conversations about these facilities are everywhere and the sums involved are staggering—billions…
MASON CITY – A young North Iowa entrepreneur who turned a personal truck problem into a growing business has been recognized by the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area Small Business Development Center.
Jordan Klooster of Klooster Flaps in Garner has been named the May 2026 Entrepreneur of the Month.
Why a Free YouTube Transcript Tool Is Essential in Modern Content Creation Video content dominates the internet, but text remains the backbone of search visibility, accessibility, and content repurposing. A powerful free…
CHARLES CITY — A Charles City pharmaceutical manufacturer is planning a major expansion that is expected to create more than 100 jobs and bring $150 million in new capital investment to the community.
Cambrex Charles City, Inc., a subsidiary of New Jersey-based Cambrex Corporation, plans to construct a new 7,700-square-foot facility in Charles City. The project is intended to increase the company’s production capacity by 40%.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board approved $10,132,500 in tax credits for the project through the state’s Business Incentives for Growth program.
MITCHELL COUNTY — Two people were taken to the hospital after a crash Wednesday afternoon at Highway 218 and 480th Street in Mitchell County.
NORTHWOOD — Lori Jane Pepper, a Northwood woman remembered for her work with children and her love of family, music, animals and women’s basketball, died Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Pillar of Cedar Valley in Waterloo. She was 67.
You put up your car, maybe your home, to get someone out of jail. You trusted them. Now they missed their court date, and your phone is ringing. The situation moves fast…
DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law dealing with the display of flags at half-staff on public buildings, along with a long list of other bills covering issues such as human trafficking, public records, child placements, window tint, nonresident deer licenses and social districts for alcoholic beverages.
MASON CITY — North Iowa Area Community College has announced that 1,146 students have been named to the 2026 spring term President’s List and Dean’s List.
The honored students represent 104 Iowa communities, 15 states outside Iowa and 18 countries outside the United States. Students are listed by hometown.
CHARLES CITY — A Minnesota man was stopped by police in Charles City after they say he was driving without headlights on a recent morning, and he apparently didn’t go quietly when told he was under arrest.
A Kansas woman arrested in March on a criminal warrant has been convicted of felony theft in northern Iowa.
ROCKWELL — Paul E. Pruin, a rural Rockwell farmer, U.S. Army veteran and longtime community member, died Monday, May 11, 2026, at Rockwell Community Nursing Home. He was 91.
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.
CHARLES CITY — A juvenile riding an electric bicycle on a sidewalk suffered minor injuries after crashing into a Honda Civic in Charles City.
GARNER — Mark A. Hefter, a Garner man who spent years working as a truck driver and traveling throughout the Midwest, died unexpectedly on Monday, May 11, 2026, at his home at Prairie View Apartments. He was 67.
CHARLES CITY — A Charles City woman was arrested on a felony theft warrant after police conducted a traffic stop earlier this month.
Caviar is one of the world’s most iconic luxury foods, instantly associated with celebration, refinement, and culinary tradition. Yet behind its reputation as a delicacy lies a rich global history shaped by…
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on May 7, 2026, that retailers authorized to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be required to carry a broader variety of staple foods under a new final rule, what the agency calls “real foods”.
Have you ever thought why some experts handle workplace challenges so smoothly while others struggle with delays and confusion? The secret often comes down to practical skills and smart thinking. That is…
The last two years have reshaped how fleet operators and equipment buyers think about auxiliary lighting. Stricter electromagnetic compatibility enforcement across European logistics corridors, combined with a brutal winter season in both…
MASON CITY — The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors set a public hearing for a fiscal year 2026 budget amendment during its regular meeting on May 11, 2026.
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.
A Wisconsin man arrested earlier this year after deputies received multiple reports of a vehicle in a Fayette County ditch has entered a guilty plea in the case, court records show, and this is not his first brush with drunk driving here.
CHARLES CITY — The Floyd County Board of Supervisors approved a county budget amendment, set a public hearing on conservation-area rules and noted a conservation department resignation during its regular meeting on May 12, 2026.
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.
VENTURA — Authorities are investigating after a body was found Wednesday afternoon in Clear Lake near McIntosh State Park.
CHARLES CITY – Diane Mary Brandt, 78, of Charles City, is being remembered as a devoted wife, mother and grandmother whose faith, laughter and love for family shaped the lives of those around her.
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.
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.
CHARLES CITY — Trisha Barnish, a Charles City woman remembered for her family devotion and local business ownership, died Sunday, May 10, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City. She was 62.
DES MOINES — Early voting opened Wednesday, May 13, for Iowa’s June 2 primary election, giving voters the option to cast ballots before Election Day either in person at their county auditor’s office or by absentee ballot through the mail.
A Northern Iowa man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after a crash involving a pickup and a farm tractor on Highway 20, according to the Iowa State Patrol.
“With Pioneer’s century-long legacy in seed genetics, Vylor’s roots are in Iowa, and our state will also be the foundation for its future,” Reynolds said. “This decision further validates Iowa’s leadership in agriculture, bioscience, and innovation.”
NORTHWOOD – The Worth County Board of Supervisors approved several drainage-related items, set a public hearing on a fiscal year 2026 budget amendment and approved a fireworks permit during its May 11 meeting.