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Northern Iowa man flees after pickup demolished in building crash
An Iowa man was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly crashing into a building and fleeing the scene during a late-night incident in Buchanan County.
OBIT: Tekakwitha “Tek 9” Nelson
Tekakwitha Marie Nelson, 49, also known as “Tek 9,” passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Mason City, Iowa.
OBIT: Jim Allan Larson
Jim Larson, age 74, of Osage, Iowa, went home to be with our Lord on Monday, April 20, 2026. He was returning home from a family wedding in Texas when he sustained a head injury from a fall. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Champion Funeral Home in Osage.
OBIT: Deanna L. Eilderts
Deanna L. Eilderts, 84, of Oelwein, Iowa, died Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Unity Point Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa.
College Football: Iowa State send 5 Cyclones to NFL teams with new deals
AMES – Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange was drafted Friday evening in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings and following the draft’s conclusion on Saturday five of his teammates agreed to deals with NFL teams.
OBIT: Marcia A. Pepin
Marcia A. Pepin, 84, of Independence and formerly of Oelwein, died, Friday, April 24, 2026, at her home surrounded by her family.
OBIT: Alberta Mae (Van Dyke) Speedy Opperman
Alberta Mae (Van Dyke) Speedy Opperman passed away Thursday, April 23, 2026, at The Rehabilitation Center of Allison.
Mason City woman with history of violence arrested after brutal home invasion assault
MASON CITY — A local woman with a long history of criminal offenses was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly leading a group of individuals in a violent confrontation at a north side residence earlier this week.
The charges follow an incident on the afternoon of April 19, 2026, when the suspect and several acquaintances allegedly went to a residence in the 400 block of North Pennsylvania Avenue to confront an individual.
New analysis reveals the staggering $109 million cost of smoking in Iowa
A new financial analysis has laid bare the massive economic toll of cigarette smoking on the Hawkeye State, revealing that Iowans collectively spend over $109.5 million annually on the habit. Despite a slight year-on-year decline in smoking rates of -0.62%, there are still 400,049 active smokers across the state who are fueling this multimillion-dollar industry.
Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report for week of April 13-19, 2026
“Last week’s active weather pattern presented plenty of severe weather challenges across the state. Farmers certainly welcomed the moisture, but we could have gone without the wind, hail and tornadoes,” said Secretary Naig. “This week looks to be a bit quieter, and that will help farmers as they look to get the planters rolling.”
Chunky, older white clown threatens ICE Director, discovers things can get worse
WASHINGTON – An older, disturbed white man who once actually murdered another human is back on the rampage, joining liberal goofies across the country, as he leveled heinous deletion threats to America’s heroic, unshakable ICE leader, and now, his goatee will be soothing the urges of others in a dank cell for the forseeable future.
“Your Gestapo Nazi maggot ICE agents should be terrified,” suspect Daniel Barber said in an email sent on June 6, 2025. He added that ICE law enforcement officers “deserve” to be “executed right there as well with two f**king bullets to the back of their maggot Nazi heads!”
UNI Athletics sets an all-time record with over $400,000 raised from hundreds of donors
CEDAR FALLS – Live Purple Give Gold, the University of Northern Iowa’s annual day of giving, saw an unprecedented amount contributed to UNI Athletics and its 17 athletic programs with an all-time record of $402,398 raised for Panther programs.
Iowa DOT advises of intermittent lane closures on U.S. 218 in Osage
OSAGE – April 23, 2026 – Work has resumed on a full-depth patching and hot-mix asphalt resurfacing project on U.S. 218 in Osage in Mitchell County. This is a carryover project from last year and is expected to be completed by late May, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) New Hampton construction office.
Charles City man nabbed with illegal drugs
CHARLES CITY — A local man remains in custody following a trespassing call last month that led to the discovery of illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
Senator Doug Campbell says real estate tax bill offers discounts to Iowans as they age
According to Senator Campbell: “While the property tax system is complicated, for Iowans this bill is simple. For every Iowan who has a home, you will get a 50 percent permanent discount on the taxable value of your home. When you turn 60 years old, you get a 60 percent discount. When you turn 70, you get a 70 percent discount, and so on. Additionally, when property inflation goes up more than 2 percent, property tax levies automatically get lowered, bringing even more relief to your property tax bills.”
Suspected drug dealing activity leads to raid of Northern Iowa house
A narcotics investigation in this Northern Iowa town culminated in an early morning raid this week, leading to felony drug charges and a child endangerment count.
High-Flying Inspiration: Bully Free BMX USA wows students at Mason City’s Harding Elementary 2026
MASON CITY — The morning air at Harding Elementary was filled with high-flying stunts and infectious energy as the Bully Free BMX USA team rolled onto campus to deliver a powerful message of character and community. The event combined gravity-defying tricks with life lessons, educating students on the fundamentals of BMX riding while illustrating what it means to be a respectful and responsible member of the community. Between the jaw-dropping backflips and tailwhips, the playground was a scene of pure joy, filled with laughter, singing, and students loudly cheering each other on.
Despite the upcoming changes, the spirit of the school remains as strong as always.
FTMining launches free mining service for BTC, ETH, and DOGE holders, with daily earnings of up to $9,900?
FTMining’s new free mining service allows BTC, ETH, and DOGE holders to easily earn passive income without expensive equipment or specialized technical skills. As cryptocurrencies gain popularity worldwide, more and more investors
College Softball: Iowa Hawkeyes beat UNI Panthers, 21-17
CEDAR FALLS — The University of Iowa softball team defeated Northern Iowa, 21-17, Wednesday at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex. The game featured eight home runs and 38 combined runs.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst unveils Legislative package to stop fraud
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) led her colleagues in unveiling a comprehensive anti-fraud legislative package that would recover stolen funds, protect taxpayer dollars, and stop fraudsters.
Walleye season opens May 2 on Iowa’s Great Lakes
OKOBOJI – The 151st walleye fishing season officially opens May 2 at Spirit, East Okoboji, and West Okoboji lakes.
Northern Iowa man charged with felony arson following living room fire
A Northern Iowa man is facing a felony charge following a multi-week investigation into a residential fire that occurred in early March.