Linda Dunbar, age 72 of Graettinger, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2026 at the Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Martin Mattice Funeral Home of Emmetsburg is assisting the family.
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Welcome to NIT, North Iowa's only true watchdog media. NIT was founded on October 1, 2010.
Clear Lake man jailed on felony charges following earlier domestic incident
CLEAR LAKE – A Clear Lake man is facing multiple felony charges, including third-degree sexual abuse, following an investigation that began with a domestic disturbance late last year.
Rep. Christian Hermanson of Mason City describes property tax reform bill inching through Iowa Legislature
“With things moving a bit slower at the Capitol this week, it is the perfect time to touch on one of the most important issues we are tackling property taxes. While we are working hard on legislation at the state level to provide serious structural reform, many of our local government bodies are currently holding their own tax and budget hearings. This makes it an opportune time to pull back the curtain on how our property taxes actually work and where your hard-earned money goes.” Rep. Christian Hermanson of Mason City said.
OBIT: Lu Anne Haack
Luella Anne Haack, (called Lu, Luie, or LuAnne) passed away on Friday, March 27th, 2026, at 9:24 a.m. at Mercy One Hospital in Mason City, Iowa. She peacefully took her last breath listening to Jimmy Buffett music with her husband and three children by her side.
OBIT: David “Dave” Ruzicka
David Ruzicka, 56, of rural Charles City, Iowa, passed away after a courageous battle with colon cancer on Friday, March 27, 2026, with his loving wife, Lisa, by his side.
OBIT: Marvin Fredrick Plagge
Marvin Fredrick Plagge, 90, of Latimer, passed away Friday, March 27, 2026, at MercyOne Hospital in Mason City.
OBIT: Clarene Marie Backer
Clarene Backer, 77, of Greene, passed away at her home Friday, March 27, 2026. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Green.
OBIT: Ragna Flatness
Ragna A. Flatness, 90, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Mill Pond Care Center in Ankeny, Iowa. A Celebration of Ragna’s life will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel.
College Basketball: Iowa State bounced by Tennessee in Sweet 16, 76-62
CHICAGO – The 2025-26 Iowa State men’s basketball season reached its conclusion on the evening of Friday, March 27, 2026, as the sixth-ranked Cyclones fell to No. 23 Tennessee in a 76-62 Sweet 16 battle. Playing in front of a packed crowd in Chicago, Iowa State finishes a remarkable campaign with a 29-8 overall record.
Sheryl Rozann Smith
Sheryl Rozann (Yost) Smith, of Stacyville, Iowa, passed peacefully to her reward on March 26, 2026, at home, at the age of 69 following a courageous battle with cancer.
OBIT: Scott Alan Landers
Scott Alan Landers, 61, of Greene, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2026, at his home on the farm outside of Greene.
Northern Iowa woman killed in sedan versus semi collision
RUTHVEN, IOWA — A Tuesday morning collision between a sedan and a semi-truck has claimed the life of a Northern Iowa woman.
Trump Administration boasts that over 3 million SNAP takers booted from program
WASHINGTON D.C. — Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins appeared on FOX Business’s *Mornings with Maria* Wednesday morning, March 25, 2026, to announce a historic decline in federal food assistance enrollment, framing the shift as a major victory for the American taxpayer and the labor market.
Citing new official data from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Rollins confirmed that SNAP participation has plummeted by 3.3 million recipients since January 2025. This rapid decline has pushed the total number of recipients below 40 million for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Building a Strong Defense When Defending Against Criminal Charges
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 2 million people are arrested in the United States each year on felony charges alone — yet most defendants have little understanding of how…
OBIT: John Lawrence Pickar
John Lawrence Pickar, 76, of Cresco, Iowa, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2026, at The Highlands in Decorah, Iowa, following a courageous battle with dementia.
OBIT: Debra D. (Skadburg) Francis
Debra Francis, 69, of Mason City, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026, at Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.
OBIT: Donald J. Welty
Donald J. Welty, 94, of Iowa Falls, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2026 at Hansen Family Hospital.
OBIT: John Frederic Cordes
John Cordes, 66, of Allison, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, at Trinity Reformed Church in Allison.
OBIT: Wayne A. Lamoreux
Wayne A. Lamoreux, 76, of Mason City, Iowa, passed away on March 26, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. A celebration of life will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Major Erickson Funeral Home.
College Basketball: Iowa Hawkeyes stun Nebraska Cornhuskers, 77-71, to reach Elite 8
HOUSTON — For the first time in nearly four decades, the Iowa Hawkeyes are heading to the Elite Eight.
In a gritty comeback at the Toyota Center on Thursday night, the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes erased a double-digit deficit to stun fourth-seeded Nebraska, 77-71. The victory marks Iowa’s first trip to the regional finals since 1987 and continues a historic “giant-killer” run that has seen them topple No. 8 Clemson, No. 1 Florida, and now the Huskers in just seven days.
Honduran who preyed on Iowa children gets 42 years in federal prison
A Honduran national prowling around Iowa was sentenced to 42 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation and possession of child pornography.
Modern Home Trends Shaping Jersey Living in 2026
Green Shift In recent years, home design has changed as people look for spaces that are comfortable and modern. Many home owners now want homes that not only look but also support…
Factoring Provincial Sales Tax into Your Monthly Auto Payment
Calculating a monthly car payment in Canada requires more than just the sticker price and the interest rate. You must factor in the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) or Provincial Sales Tax (PST),…
Men masquerading as women no longer allowed to pummel actual females in Olympics
LOS ANGELES – Common sense has re-entered the discussion on fairness in sports, and after men pretending to be women have dominated actual female humans in sports for years, and sometimes delivered brutal beatings (see: boxing), this travesty will never again take place in Olympic competition as biological men will have to stay out of women’s events and take their lumps against males.
Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females, determined on the basis of a one‑time SRY gene screening.
OBIT: Darrell Zaugg
Darrell Zaugg, 76, passed away on March 27, 2026. He was born on January 24, 1950, and lived a life marked by faith, service, and deep love for his family and community.
Over a dozen Iowa children hurt at school pickup lane when car jumps curb
An errant driver slammed into numerous children this week at an Iowa school’s student pickup lane, and those involved are trying to process the aftermath.
Mason City neighborhood locked down Thursday evening as local crook throws tantrum
MASON CITY – An armed standoff that paralyzed a Mason City neighborhood ended safely Thursday evening after a wanted man, previously accused of violent crimes, refused to surrender to authorities, triggering a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents.
OBIT: Marvin F. Banken
Marvin “Marv” Fred Banken, age 82, of Mason City, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2026, at his home surrounded by family.
Democrat House Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of ethics violations
WASHINGTON D.C. — In a session that stretched well past midnight on March 26, the House Ethics Committee’s adjudicatory subcommittee found Democrat Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) in violation of 25 counts of ethics breaches, even as a parallel criminal indictment in Florida continues to threaten her future outside of Congress.
OBIT: Michael Allan Hanson
Michael Allan Hanson, 78, of Ventura, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, with his family by his side. A family graveside service will be held at a later date in Brush Point Cemetery.
Mason City “dark web” meth dealer gets a decade in federal prison
At the plea and sentencing hearings, convict Victor Ineson admitted that between about April 2024 and continuing to December 2024, he and another utilized the “dark web” to purchase approximately three pounds of methamphetamine which was shipped to them from the U.S. Postal Service for further distribution in the Iowa area.
President Donald J. Trump’s signature to appear on future U.S. paper currency
WASHINGTON – In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump’s signature will appear on future U.S. paper currency along with the Secretary of the Treasury, marking the first time in history for a sitting president.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are on a path toward unprecedented economic growth, lasting dollar dominance, and fiscal strength and stability,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.
Best Compounded GLP-1 Online Services for 2026 (Trusted, Reviewed, and Ranked)
Trying to find the best compounded GLP-1 online can feel a bit overwhelming. There are dozens of telehealth platforms promising fast weight loss, easy prescriptions, plus quick delivery. But when your health…
OBIT: Nick J. Zahariades
Nick J. Zahariades, 89, of Mason City, passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Major Erickson Funeral Home.
Iowa economic development board doles out millions to prospective businesses
DES MOINES — The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board this week approved assistance for two manufacturing companies, which will assist in the creation of 26 jobs and result in $5.38 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Adel and Waverly. The board also approved assistance for startups in Ames, Des Moines and West Des Moines, while projects in Spencer and Webster City received awards through the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) program. In addition, reinvestment districts in Des Moines and Fort Dodge received approval for amended plans.
Iowa City house fire causes thousands in damages
IOWA CITY – The Iowa City Fire Department responded to a residential fire at 1:08 p.m., Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 55 Amber Lane. Reports indicated the home and deck were on fire.
OBIT: Doreen K. Miller
It has pleased Almighty God to call to Himself in heaven the soul of Doreen Kay Miller, who passed away early Wednesday morning, March 25, 2026 at the Westview Care Center in Britt. She was 67 years old.
OBIT: Marshall Arthur Thompson
Marshall A. Thompson, 88, Lake Mills, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the Lake Mills Care Center.
OBIT: Jacqueline “Jackie” Kay Sheffner
Jacqueline “Jackie” Sheffner, 71, of Fredericksburg, died Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Community Memorial Hospital in Sumner, surrounded by her loving family.
OBIT: Donna Marr Anderson
Donna M. (Halverson) Brackey Anderson, age 94 of Northwood, formerly of Thompson, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, Iowa.