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Mason City seeks state money for Highway 122-South Taft improvements, new trail connection
MASON CITY — Mason City is pursuing state transportation money for improvements at the busy intersection of Iowa Highway 122 and South Taft Avenue, with Cerro Gordo County officials throwing their support behind the effort.
The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors is being asked to support two city funding applications tied to improvements at the western Mason City gateway.
Cerro Gordo supervisors accept $302,034 Rockwell site work, approve nearly $398,000 in claims
MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County supervisors formally accepted completed site work at the Rockwell Secondary Roads Maintenance Facility, set a September public hearing on a proposed rural road vacation and approved nearly $398,000 in county claims during their Monday, August 31 meeting.
Iowa nuclear task force calls for statewide reactor search, incentives and “nuclear-ready” communities
DES MOINES — Iowa should begin searching for possible nuclear reactor sites, prepare communities to host nuclear facilities, expand worker training and consider state incentives capable of attracting billions of dollars in nuclear investment, according to a sweeping new report delivered to Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Iowa Supreme Court blocks Auditor Rob Sand from secret city records; governor candidate blasts ‘corruption and secrecy’
DES MOINES — Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand has lost a major battle over his ability to dig into secret government discussions involving nearly $2 million in taxpayer-funded settlements, prompting the Democratic candidate for governor to accuse Iowa political leaders of enabling “corruption and secrecy.”
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that Sand’s office cannot force the City of Davenport to surrender communications protected by attorney-client privilege as part of an investigation into $1.9 million in settlements involving harassment claims by three city employees.
Trump approves $5 million in Iowa storm disaster relief as state leaders praise federal response
DES MOINES — President Donald Trump has approved a major federal disaster declaration and $5 million in disaster assistance for Iowa following destructive storms and flooding, drawing praise from Gov. Kim Reynolds
Gas-station kratom products associated with 45 Iowa deaths as poison calls soar
DES MOINES — A psychoactive substance sold openly at Iowa gas stations and convenience stores has been associated with 45 deaths since 2024 as poison-control calls involving the products continue to soar.
Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and the Iowa Department of Public Safety issued a statewide warning Tuesday about kratom and newly emerging products containing highly concentrated or synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly called 7-OH.
“Kratom is not a supplement, it is not a medicine, and it is not safe,” Reynolds said.
Iowa Supreme Court considers major changes to how lawyers remove jurors from trials
DES MOINES — Iowa’s highest court is considering a significant change to the way attorneys remove prospective jurors from criminal and civil trials, including new restrictions intended to prevent race or ethnicity — even unconscious bias — from influencing who ultimately sits on a jury.
Chief Justice Susan Christensen signed an order August 26 opening a two-month public comment period on proposed amendments to Iowa’s Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Criminal Procedure.
The proposal comes from the Iowa Supreme Court’s Fairness in Jury Selection Task Force, which spent months studying how attorneys use strikes during jury selection.
Biden’s FEMA workers cheated Trump-supporting homes after hurricane, watchdog uncovers
WASHINGTON — Federal disaster workers operating during the Biden administration improperly skipped Florida homes displaying signs supporting Donald Trump while canvassing communities devastated by Hurricane Milton, according to a newly released Department of Homeland Security inspector general investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the findings after the DHS Office of Inspector General concluded that FEMA disaster-response personnel violated federal law and agency policy when political signage was used as a reason not to approach certain homes.
The investigation focused on Federal Emergency Management Agency outreach following Hurricane Milton, which struck Florida in October 2024, just weeks before the presidential election between Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to DHS, some households displaying pro-Trump signs were deliberately bypassed by FEMA personnel conducting disaster-survivor outreach.
Heroic ICE agents clean up violent crooks in America’s capital region, arrest more than 1,300 illegal aliens
WASHINGTON – Federal immigration officers arrested more than 1,300 illegal aliens during a sweeping two-week enforcement operation across Virginia and Maryland, including people accused or convicted of murder, kidnapping, sexual offenses, drunk driving, robbery and other crimes, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers made 1,328 arrests between August 1 and August 14 as part of “Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C.”
Alliant ordered to cut natural gas rate, Northern Iowa customers could see relief on bills
DES MOINES – More than 200,000 Iowa households served by Alliant Energy are in line for a permanent reduction in their natural gas rates after state regulators reviewed the utility’s actual expenses and revenues following a previous rate increase.
The Iowa Utilities Commission ordered Interstate Power and Light Company, Alliant Energy’s Iowa subsidiary, to reduce residential natural gas rates by more than $2.5 million.
NIACC sports expansion prompts Mason City to move future water tower site
MASON CITY — NIACC’s expanding athletic complex is prompting Mason City to relocate land reserved for a future water tower on the city’s east side, with the City Council set to consider a land swap involving the college and NIACC Foundation.
The council will hold a public hearing Tuesday, September 1, on transferring city-owned property to North Iowa Area Community College and acquiring replacement property from NIACC and the NIACC Foundation.
The unusual land exchange stems directly from NIACC’s new baseball and softball complex.
Cerro Gordo supervisors award $2.26 million road contract, approve $352,442 in claims
MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County supervisors awarded a more than $2.26 million road construction contract Monday for a resurfacing and recycling project leading toward Mason City, while also approving more than $352,000 in county claims.
Mitchell County supervisors approve $100,000 server project, hire zoning administrator and prepare to replace sheriff’s K9
OSAGE — Mitchell County supervisors approved up to $100,000 for a major computer-server upgrade, adopted a new county ordinance, hired a planning and zoning administrator and learned that the sheriff’s office will
Floyd County weighs higher burial assistance as funeral costs climb
CHARLES CITY — Floyd County officials are considering increasing the amount the county will pay toward burials and cremations for qualifying residents after learning that only one funeral home currently accepts the county’s existing rate.
The Floyd County Board of Supervisors discussed the issue during its August 25 meeting after Public Health Director Gail Arjes presented an update on the county’s General Assistance program.
Winnebago County pays $247K paving bill, approves $388K in claims as recycling cameras eyed
FOREST CITY, IOWA — Winnebago County supervisors approved more than $388,000 in claims, including a massive $247,178.59 construction payment, while officials reported the Rice Lake road project complete and began exploring cameras at rural recycling sites.
Hancock County supervisors advance Riverhawk pipeline work, road safety plan, property sales and $688,839 in claims
GARNER — Hancock County supervisors moved ahead with work tied to an Alliant Energy gas pipeline, sought state funding for road-worker safety equipment, prepared county property and farmland for sale or lease, installed a new courthouse maintenance director and approved nearly $689,000 in county claims during meetings held from August 4 through August 24.
Massive 724-acre data center proposal headed for Hancock County zoning hearing
GARNER — A proposal that could bring a sprawling data center development to Hancock County is moving into the public zoning process, with more than 724 acres of agricultural land targeted for possible conversion to industrial use.
The Hancock County Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing Wednesday, September 9, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Hancock County Public Safety Center, 875 State Street in Garner.
Worth County supervisors approve $856,000 in claims, drainage work and housing action
NORTHWOOD — Worth County supervisors approved more than $856,000 in county claims Monday while also taking action on drainage work, a regional housing program and a manure management plan.
Floyd County advances bridge, road projects as massive $960K rock bill comes due
CHARLES CITY — Floyd County officials are moving ahead with a slate of bridge, resurfacing and secondary-road projects as supervisors approved final plans for another bridge replacement and signed off on nearly $1 million in rock expenses.
Republicans crush Democrats in Iowa State Fair straw poll as Lahn routs Sand
DES MOINES — Republicans dominated the Iowa State Fair’s unofficial political straw poll, sweeping every major race tested as GOP gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn delivered a particularly lopsided victory over Democrat Rob Sand.
Final results released by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate showed Lahn and running mate Derek Wulf receiving 1,757 votes, or 63.68 percent, compared with 1,002 votes, or 36.32 percent, for Sand and running mate Dave Muhlbauer.
That gave the Republican ticket a whopping 27.36-point advantage among fairgoers who participated in the voluntary poll.
And Lahn was hardly alone.
Republicans finished on top in the U.S. Senate race and all four U.S. House contests included in the poll… SEE RESULTS…