Bonnie K. (Fjelstad) Steffens, 85, of Lake Mills, died on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at her home in Lake Mills. A funeral for Bonnie will be held at 1:30 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Salem Lutheran Church.
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Selfish Iowa drivers addicted to their phones put on notice by Iowa State Patrol
MASON CITY – Drivers in Iowa who think their beeping phone is more important than the lives of everyone else on the road are officially on notice. This month, the Iowa State Patrol and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau have declared that the “educational” period of the state’s hands-free law is over, and the era of “paying for your poor life choices” has begun.
Iowa man accused of smacking kid with sack of trash
SIDNEY, IOWA – In a performance that won’t be winning any “Father of the Year” trophies, a 34-year-old Iowa man found himself trading his domestic duties for a cramped cell at the local jail last week. Camaron Jean Focht was arrested on the afternoon of March 26, 2026, after a security camera—the silent, digital snitch that never sleeps—allegedly caught him engaging in a parenting style best described as “sanitation-based assault.”
OBIT: Larry Lee Hicok
Larry Hicok, 84, of Rockford, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Charles City, Iowa.
OBIT: Sofia Benedict
Sofia (Lopez) Benedict was born in Sinton, Texas on December 10, 1967 to Elias Lopez and Delia Trevino. She passed away at her home in rural Graettinger, Iowa on March 31, 2026 at the age of 58.
Winnebago County Courthouse: Supervisor meeting minutes and expense report for March 31, 2026
FOREST CITY – The following are the expenses paid by Winnebago county and Board of Supervisor meeting minutes for the period ending on March 31, 2026:
OBIT: Benjamin “Ben” Winkels
Benjamin “Ben” Winkels, 30, of McIntire, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Mitchel County Regional Health Center. A funeral service for Ben will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage.
OBIT: Judy Johnson
Judy Johnson, age 79 of Emmetsburg, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at the Emmetsburg Care Center. Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 4, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Emmetsburg.
OBIT: Belvia May (Ring) Lovik
Belvia May (Ring) Lovik, age 90, of rural Orchard, died Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.
Worth County Courthouse: Supervisor meeting minutes and expense report for March 30, 2026
NORTHWOOD – The following are the expenses paid by Worth county and Board of Supervisor meeting minutes for the period ending on March 30, 2026:
OBIT: Sandra Edler
Sandra “Sandy” Edler, 86 of Bradgate, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Laurens Care Center in Laurens. Sandy’s family will be hosting a celebration of her life at a later date.
OBIT: Darrel D Freie
Darrel D. Freie, 76, of Mason City, Iowa, passed away Saturday, March 28, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa in Mason City.
ICE nabs illegal that ran down innocent American motorcyclist
WASHINGTON – This criminal illegal alien was out tooling around when his sloppy driving skills caused him to run down and kill an innocent American citizen on a motorcycle, but thanks to ICE, he won’t be able to maim or delete anyone else in America.
College Football: Iowa State Cyclones to hold team showcase on April 25
AMES – The Iowa State football program will hold its Cyclone Football Spring Showcase, the first under head coach Jimmy Rogers, on Saturday, April 25.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will take the form of a traditional practice and is slated to start at 10:30 a.m. at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium.
Lane closures on U.S. 218 near Waverly begin on April 2
WAVERLY – Work to reconstruct U.S. 218 in Bremer County from the Cedar River to Iowa 116 in Waverly will require lane closures to pave median crossovers and add temporary pavement beginning on Thursday, April 2, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s New Hampton construction office. This portion of the project is expected to be completed by late April.
College Basketball: UNI Panthers hire Kyle Green as head men’s basketball coach
CEDAR FALLS – University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook and Director of Athletics Megan Franklin on Wednesday, announced that Kyle Green has accepted the position of head men’s basketball coach.
OBIT: Robert “Bob” Turner
Robert “Bob” Turner, 78, of Charles City, passed away Monday, March 30, 2026, at Franklin County View in Hampton, Iowa. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City.
OBIT: Christopher Schmeling
Christopher Schmeling, age 62 of Emmetsburg, passed away on Tuesday, March 31 in Emmetsburg. Funeral Services will be 3:00 PM on Saturday, April 4, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Emmetsburg. Visitation will be from 1:30 until the time of service at the church.
OBIT: Fred Hagaman
Fred Hagaman, 76, of Ames and formerly of Boone, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames.
Floyd County Courthouse: Supervisor meeting minutes for March 31, 2026
CHARLES CITY – The following are the expenses paid by Floyd county and Board of Supervisor meeting minutes for the period ending on March 31, 2026:
Chicago man who terrorized a person in Mason City faces federal prison
SIOUX CITY – This Chicago man brought his way of life to small town north Iowa, and now he will take his attitude to a federal prison cell for at least a year.
Iowa’s annual frog and toad survey begins in April
CLEAR LAKE – Volunteers with Iowa’s frog and toad survey have been collecting important information for more than 35 years, documenting population trends, identifying places with data gaps, and how changing land use and fluctuating levels of precipitation impacts the amphibians. They’ll be headed out again this year starting on April 1.
Improperly discarded smoking materials spark morning house fire in Mason City
MASON CITY — Residents of a Southeast Mason City neighborhood were met with an early morning emergency on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, as a house fire forced local occupants to evacuate their home.
Northern Iowa man lost to gunshot, sheriff says
KOSSUTH COUNTY – Authorities in Kossuth County have identified a North Iowa man following a death investigation that took place near Ledyard on March 31, 2026. The incident began late Tuesday morning when the Kossuth County Law Enforcement Center received a 911 call at approximately 11:13 a.m. regarding a person down with an unknown medical emergency. The call originated from a residence located at 1707 460th Street, prompting an immediate response from local emergency crews.
College Softball: Iowa State Cyclones cruise past UNI Panthers, 10-2
AMES – Iowa State (21-13, 3-6 Big 12) snapped a three-game skid on Tuesday afternoon, besting in-state foe UNI (17-14, 5-3 MVC) in five innings by a score of 10-2.
OBIT: David R. Kostohryz
David R. Kostohryz, age 79, of Cresco, Iowa, died on Monday, March 30, 2026 at WinnMed in Decorah, IA.
Supreme Court strikes down ban on conversion therapy for kids, dealing a blow to the rainbow community
WASHINGTON D.C. — In a landmark decision that could reshape the legal landscape for LGBTQ+ rights and professional speech, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, that Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors likely violates the First Amendment.
U.S announces re-opening of embassy in Venezuela as oil profits soar
CARACAS, VENEZUELA — A new era of American diplomatic influence has officially returned to Venezuelan soil as the U.S. State Department announced the formal resumption of operations at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas on Monday, March 30, 2026.
Waterloo man dead in fiery UTV crash
WATERLOO — A Waterloo man lost his life on Monday, March 30, 2026, following a single-vehicle rollover accident in Black Hawk county involving a utility task vehicle (UTV).
10 Home Office Standing Desk Brands to Avoid in 2026
10 Home Office Standing Desk Brands to Avoid in 2026 Buying a standing desk based on brand recognition alone is one of the most expensive mistakes a home office worker can make…
ABC cancels upcoming season of The Bachelorette after “star” revealed as violent
HERRIMAN, UTAH — A developing domestic violence case involving high-profile reality stars has led to the unprecedented cancellation of the upcoming season of The Bachelorette.
College Basketball: Ben Jacobson takes head coaching job at Utah State
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State tapped one of the most successful head coaches of the past two decades, Ben Jacobson, as its 23rd men’s basketball head coach in program history on Monday, as announced by Utah State Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker.
College Basketball: UNI’s head coach Ben Jacobson announces departure for Utah State
CEDAR FALLS – Ben Jacobson, the winningest coach in the history of the University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball program announced on Monday his departure from the Panther program to accept the head coaching position at Utah State.
OBIT: Douglas H. Lee
Douglas H. Lee, 97, of Mason City, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Good Shepherd Health Center surrounded by his loving family. A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 1 p.m., at Major Erickson Funeral Home.
Iowa man sentenced to seven years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography
CEDAR RAPIDS – An Iowa man was sentenced on March 25, 2026, to seven years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography.
OBIT: Ardis L. Sansgaard
Ardis L. Sansgaard, 93, of Humboldt, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Humboldt County Memorial Hospital in Humboldt.
OBIT: Mary A. Rewoldt
Mary Agnes (Budweg) Rewoldt, age 99 and 9 months, died peacefully at Hillcrest Living in Sumner, Iowa, on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026.
OBIT: Vincent “Bear” Edward Rohde
Vincent “Bear” Edward Rohde, 58, of Fayette, died Sunday, March 29, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
OBIT: Kent Pugh
Kent Pugh, age 56 of Sac City, IA, was called home by God on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026. He was surrounded by his loving family.
OBIT: Bonnie Jean Carpenter
Bonnie Jean (Aukes) Carpenter, 83, of Allison, Iowa, passed away on March 28, 2026. Woodley Funeral Home and Crematory, Allison is caring for Bonnie and her family.