Founded on Oct. 1, 2010
News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region
MASON CITY — Valerie “Val” Jean Smith, a Mason City woman remembered as a free spirit with a generous heart, died Friday, June 5, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center while surrounded by loved ones. She was 70.
A Celebration of Life is expected to be held in late July 2026, with details to be formally announced at a later date.
BOONE — James Marvin “Jim” Wilhite, 79, of Boone, Iowa, passed away Friday, June 5, 2026.
Jim was born in Mason City, giving his life an early connection to North Iowa before his later years in Boone.
NEW HAMPTON — Randall Rex Lewis, a New Hampton man whose life was marked by faith, family, steady work and an easy gift for making people laugh, died suddenly on Friday, June 5, 2026. He was 69.
A memorial service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall in New Hampton.
Joseph “Joe” Edward Bouska, a Charles City man remembered for his deep Catholic faith, years of farming, sense of humor and love for life’s simple pleasures, has died at the age of 90.
Bouska passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 3, 2026, at 9th Street Chautauqua in Charles City.
SIOUX CITY — A Fort Dodge man previously convicted in federal court for methamphetamine trafficking has been sentenced to nine more years in prison after admitting he joined a new meth and cocaine conspiracy in the Fort Dodge area.
A Northern Iowa man who stole a pickup truck, swiped a forklift, ripped off an ATM and then led police on a 46-mile high-speed chase has pleaded guilty in federal court.
AMES – The Iowa State women’s wrestling program has announced the addition of four signees. Of the batch, ISU has added two high schoolers and two transfers.
With today’s four signings, Iowa State’s incoming roster now sits at six student-athletes.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department is warning banks and other financial institutions to watch for suspicious money trails tied to illegal workers, shady labor brokers and employers accused of using unlawful labor schemes to dodge taxes, steal identities and undercut legitimate American businesses.
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as FinCEN, issued a joint advisory on June 5, 2026, urging financial institutions to detect and report illicit activity connected to the unlawful employment of people not authorized to work in the United States.
The Fourth of July with small kids is a whole different experience from the Fourth of July as an adult. The fireworks that used to feel magical now come with concerns about…
Two young people were hospitalized after a late-night shooting at a suburban Iowa park, and police say another male involved in the incident later contacted authorities and turned himself in.
Finding a $50 free chip casino Australia takes a bit of direction, and the offers are worth tracking down. Australian players have access to a range of no-deposit promotions through casino sites,…
There is a massive difference between watching a hunting show on television and sitting in the woods for five freezing hours, wondering why you haven’t seen a single tail. On screen, the…
MASON CITY — The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors approved several road and infrastructure actions during its regular meeting on June 1, 2026, including work tied to the Rockwell Secondary Roads Maintenance Facility and a nearly $1.91 million resurfacing project on S34.
A 14-year-old boy was killed and his father was injured Wednesday after a semi-truck and an Iowa Interstate Railroad train collided at a rural crossing, according to the Iowa State Patrol.
DES MOINES — Dry weather tightened its grip on much of Iowa in May, with northern and eastern parts of the state seeing worsening conditions after a month of below-normal rainfall.
Iowa has not been spared from the fentanyl crisis that has swept across the country over the last several years. State data shows opioid deaths remain a major concern, with illicit fentanyl…
Methamphetamine continues to be one of the biggest public health and law enforcement concerns across Iowa. State and federal data now show psychostimulants, mainly methamphetamine, have surpassed opioids as the leading cause…
A sudden head injury changes everything for an Atlanta family in a single second. When a major car crash happens on Interstate 85 or a bad fall occurs at a local construction…
A few years ago, “fast payout” sounded like a marketing perk. Now it reads like a baseline requirement for many online casino users. Iowa players who already understand KYC, risk checks, and…
Financial stability is a goal many people strive to achieve, yet it often feels frustratingly out of reach. Managing income, expenses, and unexpected costs requires a steady hand and a clear strategy….
MASON CITY — A person was taken to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center after gunfire broke out outside the South Federal Avenue Kwik Star in Mason City late Wednesday night, according to Mason City police.
The shooting was reported after an argument between several men near a gas pump at the Kwik Star, located along South Federal Avenue. Mason City Police Chief Mike McKelvey said the dispute apparently escalated into gunfire.
MASON CITY — A Mason City woman was collared by police Tuesday night after officers say she harassed neighbors, threatened severe harm and then tried to grab an officer’s Taser while being taken into custody.
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
For a boat owner, those turquoise waters and consistent trade winds represent the pinnacle ideal but, beneath the beautiful blue and cloudless skies, a real environmental assault is taking place against your…
OSAGE — Glendon Alvin Borchardt, an Osage man whose long life connected him to family, friends and loved ones across generations, died Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Home in Osage. He was 89.
CLEAR LAKE — Iowa House District 60 voters will see a new general election matchup in November after Republican challenger Dani Ollenburg defeated longtime GOP incumbent Jane Bloomingdale in Tuesday’s primary.
Ollenburg, a Clear Lake Republican and political newcomer, defeated Bloomingdale, of Northwood, by a vote of 1,620 to 1,176 in the June 2, 2026, Republican primary. Ollenburg received 57.9% of the vote, while Bloomingdale received 42.1%.
Ollenburg will now face Democrat Alexander Schmidt of St. Ansgar in the November 3 general election. Schmidt was unopposed in the Democratic primary and received 1,142 votes.
ALLISON — The Butler County Board of Supervisors approved a petition for suspension of taxes, heard updates on road projects and speed-limit changes, and approved county claims during its regular meeting on June 2, 2026.
DES MOINES — Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District race, which includes Mason City, Clear Lake, Cedar Rapids and Dubuque, is now set to feature three candidates on the November 3, 2026, ballot, with Democrat Lindsay James, Republican Joe Mitchell and No Party candidate Dave Bushaw competing for an open seat in Congress.
SANBORN — A northern Iowa highway corridor could see safety and traffic-flow improvements as the Iowa Department of Transportation studies possible upgrades to U.S. Highway 18 between Sanborn and the U.S. Highway 71 intersection north of Spencer.
The planning effort focuses on roughly 26 miles of U.S. 18, a key east-west route used by local drivers, commuters, farm traffic, commercial trucks and travelers moving across northwest and northern Iowa.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget proposal is being framed by his Treasury Department as a continuation of the administration’s broader economic philosophy: lower taxes, tougher trade enforcement, less regulation and a larger role for private investment in building family wealth.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared Wednesday, June 3, 2026, before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, where he defended Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget and argued that the administration’s economic agenda is already producing results for workers, families and businesses.
In prepared remarks, Bessent said the budget “builds on this Administration’s progress in unleashing a new era of economic expansion.”
DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds took final action on the remaining bills from the 2026 legislative session on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, signing dozens of policy and budget measures into law while also approving a separate package of public safety bills aimed at repeat offenders.
The final round of action formally closed the books on a wide range of legislation dealing with education, public assistance, workforce development, campaign finance, health care licensing, law enforcement rights, economic development, mining, state government spending and other major policy areas.
A 47-year-old Iowa motorcyclist died after authorities say he sped away from a marked patrol car, drove recklessly and was struck by another vehicle while trying to run a red light in Des Moines.
Michael “Mike” Steven Forbes, a rural Rockford man whose life stretched from farm work and manufacturing to books, gardens, fishing holes and family, has died at the age of 71.
Forbes died Monday, June 1, 2026, at home after a three-year battle with lung cancer.
He was born Feb. 26, 1955, at Park Hospital in Mason City to Charles L. and LeNore V. Forbes.
DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a new Iowa water quality funding package into law, a move state leaders say will put nearly $320 million over 12 years toward water treatment infrastructure, conservation practices and pollution monitoring from farm fields to household taps.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig joined Reynolds for the signing of House File 2771, the Agriculture and Natural Resources budget bill, which includes the “Farm to Faucet” water quality plan.
DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed the bipartisan Iowa Farm Act, a wide-ranging agriculture and rural economic development package backed by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.
Naig called the signing of the first-ever Iowa Farm Act “an important step forward for Iowa agriculture,” saying the bill reflects feedback he heard directly from farmers and rural communities across the state.
“The Iowa Farm Act reflects the priorities and feedback I’ve heard directly from farmers and rural communities across the state,” Naig said. “It expands opportunities for Iowa agriculture, reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens, and helps strengthen the long-term vitality of rural Iowa.”
MASON CITY — Mason City has been selected to host the 2026 World Aerobatic Championship, bringing one of the world’s premier aviation competitions to North Iowa next summer.
Competition flying is scheduled for August 24 through September 2, 2026, at Mason City Municipal Airport.
MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is blasting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Board of Pardons after officials granted clemency to a Laotian immigrant previously convicted in an armed robbery case and recently taken into ICE custody.
DHS said Jai Vang, a native of Laos, received a pardon from Walz and the Minnesota Board of Pardons on May 27, 2026.
According to DHS, Vang’s criminal record includes felony convictions for robbery and robbery of a business with a gun, along with a conviction for driving under the influence of liquor.
Seven people are dead after an Iowa mass shooting that police say appears to have stemmed from a domestic dispute.
When officers arrived, they found four victims inside the residence. All four had suffered gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the suspected shooter had left before law enforcement arrived, but he was quickly identified.
In the rapidly globalizing world of online entertainment, the most successful platforms are those that master the delicate balance between international infrastructure and local relevance. While many operators attempt to apply a…
Have you ever wondered why online slot games are so easy to understand, even for people who are trying them for the first time? That simple design is not an accident. It…