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Ollenburg ousts Bloomingdale in House District 60 GOP primary, will face Schmidt in November
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.
Three-way race set for Iowa’s 2nd District congressional seat as Bushaw qualifies for November ballot
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.
Trump budget pitch leans on tax cuts, trade pressure and deregulation as Treasury chief Bessent defends 2027 plan
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.”
Gov. Reynolds signs dozens of final bills, adds public safety crackdown as 2026 Iowa session closes
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.
Reynolds signs ‘Farm to Faucet’ water quality bill as Iowa faces nitrate, cancer concerns
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.
Iowa Farm Act aims to boost farmers, rural business
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.”
Reynolds signs flurry of bills into law before June 2 deadline
DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a long list of bills into law on Monday, June 1, 2026, one day before the deadline for her to take final action on remaining legislation from the 2026 session.
The bills cover a wide range of issues, including internet age verification for pornographic material, civics education, nuclear energy, speed limits, school discipline, agriculture, utilities, oil and gas production, ethanol taxes and a new specialty business court.
Cerro Gordo supervisors approve elected official raises, budget amendment at May 26 meeting
MASON CITY — The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors approved fiscal year 2027 elected official salaries, employee payroll actions, tax abatements, a budget amendment and county road planning items during its regular meeting on May 26, 2026.
One of the larger actions of the meeting came when supervisors approved fiscal year 2027 salary recommendations for elected officials. The raises were approved at 2.75 percent for the county attorney, auditor, recorder, sheriff, supervisors and treasurer.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says SBA money flowed to ‘Quality Learing Center’ and other questionable companies, calls for fraud investigation
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says federal small-business money flowed to companies now under scrutiny, including Minnesota’s infamous “Quality Learing Center” and dozens of questionable personal-care companies in Ohio.
Ernst, an Iowa Republican who chairs the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, said the Small Business Administration paid more than $231,000 to the Quality Learing Center, which she described as an abandoned operation exposed as a fraud front by YouTuber Nick Shirley.
Worth supervisors amend budget, approve claims and facility work at May 26 meeting
NORTHWOOD – Worth County supervisors approved a budget amendment, county claims, a change order for the Secondary Roads Maintenance Facility and several other items during their regular meeting on May 26, 2026.
Kaitlyn Kemna Ausborn hopes her Democratic campaign for Cerro Gordo County Attorney results in election win
MASON CITY – A North Iowa prosecutor is continuing her Democratic campaign for Cerro Gordo County Attorney as next Tuesday primary approaches.
Reynolds signs $4.2 billion Iowa property tax relief bill, slate of other new laws
DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a major property tax relief bill into law on May 18, 2026, along with a slate of other bills affecting health care, education, transportation, radon mitigation, abortion regulations, prescription access and other issues.
The centerpiece of the bill-signing announcement was SF 2472, a property tax package Reynolds said will save Iowa homeowners $4.2 billion over six years.
Republican governor candidate Eddie Andrews brings “People First Tour” to Mason City
MASON CITY — Republican gubernatorial candidate Eddie Andrews brought his “People First Tour” to Mason City this week as Iowa’s wide-open 2026 race for governor continues to draw candidates across the state.
Winnebago supervisors approve claims, discuss Apple Avenue property issues and emergency paging at May 19 meeting
FOREST CITY – Winnebago County supervisors approved county claims, discussed property issues in the northeast corner of the county and reviewed emergency paging concerns during meetings held May 19 and May 21, 2026.
Floyd supervisors approve ambulance contract, road work, stop signs at May 19 meeting
CHARLES CITY — The Floyd County Board of Supervisors approved a new ambulance services contract, road maintenance work, a county road vacation, new stop signs and drainage district work during its regular meeting on May 19, 2026.
Winnebago supervisors discuss Apple Avenue property problems, emergency paging gaps at May 19 meeting
WINNEBAGO COUNTY — The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors discussed property concerns, road matters, county safety issues, claims and emergency radio paging problems during meetings held May 19, 2026, and May 21, 2026.
Worth supervisors approve Founder’s Day airport road closure, future hearings at May 18 meeting
NORTHWOOD – The Worth County Board of Supervisors approved an airport road closure request for Founder’s Day and set hearing dates tied to Drainage District #6 during its regular meeting on May 18, 2026.
U.S. tightens economic pressure on Iran as threat of new military strikes hangs over war
WASHINGTON – The United States is escalating its economic campaign against Iran even as the threat of new military attacks continues to hang over the widening U.S.-Iran war.
On May 19, 2026, the U.S. State Department announced new sanctions against Iranian currency exchange houses, associated personnel, front companies and 19 vessels accused of helping Tehran evade international sanctions and move money from oil and petrochemical sales.
Cerro Gordo supervisors approve rezoning requests, road project plans and $1.26 million in claims at May 18 meeting
MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County supervisors approved two rural rezoning requests, payroll changes, road project plans and more than $1.26 million in county claims during their regular meeting on May 18, 2026.
Sub-Zero expansion in Cedar Rapids to bring hundreds of manufacturing jobs to Iowa
A major manufacturer of luxury kitchen appliances is planning a $196 million expansion in Iowa, a project state leaders say will bring hundreds of jobs and strengthen the state’s role in American manufacturing.
Sub-Zero Group, Inc. plans to expand its Cedar Rapids manufacturing facility with an approximately 225,000-square-foot building addition. The project is expected to create 312 jobs, including 115 jobs incented at a qualifying wage of $30.41 per hour.
The project also fits into a broader national push to grow manufacturing inside the United States. President Donald Trump has made reshoring and domestic production a centerpiece of his economic agenda, using tariffs, tax policy, investment incentives and “Made in America” messaging to encourage companies to build, expand and produce more goods on U.S. soil.