Founded in 2010

News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region

News Archives

TOP STORIES

Affordable & Professional: Breakthrough Web Design 515-897-1144

Top Stories

Iowa Supreme Court shields horse owner from lawsuit after woman is dragged, left permanently paralyzed

DES MOINES — A horrific accident involving a team of horses, a horse-drawn sickle mower and a falling steel bar left an Iowa woman permanently paralyzed from the waist down. But the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled the man operating the horses cannot be held liable under the circumstances, finding that Iowa law specifically protects people involved in certain domesticated-animal activities from lawsuits stemming from the unpredictable behavior of animals.

Read More »
Crime

White House claims massive Chinese election operation compromised data on 220 million U.S. voters

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and the White House are accusing China of carrying out what the administration describes as one of the largest compromises of American election data in history, claiming Beijing acquired information tied to approximately 220 million U.S. voters while intelligence officials failed to fully expose the operation.

Trump laid out the explosive allegations during a nationally delivered address from the White House on Thursday, July 16, 2026, as his administration released a large collection of newly declassified intelligence and election-security documents.

Read More »
Business

Mason City council considers adding top employees to manage downtown mall, arena

MASON CITY — Mason City officials are preparing to add two more full-time employees to help operate the city-managed facilities inside downtown’s Southbridge Mall, including its costly multipurpose arena.

The Mason City City Council will consider hiring a new Southbridge operations manager and creating an arena and ice-maintenance position during its regular meeting Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

Together, the two employees would receive approximately $128,710 in annual base wages. The total cost to taxpayers would be higher after insurance, IPERS retirement contributions, payroll taxes and other employment costs are included.

Read More »
Business

Mason City school district continues filling staff positions ahead of July 20 meeting

MASON CITY — The Mason City Community School District continues to reshape and fill its workforce for the approaching school year, with another round of hires, transfers and new assignments scheduled for consideration on Monday, July 20, 2026.

The personnel changes follow a lengthy report approved by the Board of Education during its June 15 meeting, when the board hired 10 certified employees and approved numerous support-staff transfers, resignations and extracurricular assignments.

The board’s July 20 personnel report includes one new certified teacher, two special-education paraprofessionals and several employee transfers or reassignments for the 2026-27 school year.

Andrea Rodemeyer is listed for hire as a fourth-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary at a salary of $52,005. Rodemeyer, a Buena Vista University graduate, would replace Kelly Lien following Lien’s voluntary transfer.

The proposed non-certified hires are:

Read More »
Business

Iowa farm income plunges 53% as rising costs, weak grain prices squeeze farmers across North Iowa

MASON CITY — Iowa’s farm economy is under mounting pressure after net farm income plunged 53% in just two years, and the squeeze could continue as high production costs, weak crop prices and trade uncertainty hammer producers across the state — including the heavily agricultural economy surrounding Mason City.

A sweeping new agricultural outlook released in July 2026 by Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the Iowa Bankers Association paints a troubling picture for Iowa farmers after the highly profitable years that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perhaps the most concerning conclusion of the report is that Iowa’s agricultural downturn may take time to work through.

Read More »
Top Stories

Two American warriors killed defending U.S. forces from Iranian attack in Jordan; another missing

WASHINGTON — Two American service members have been killed in action and another remains missing after U.S. forces came under Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack in Jordan, adding another painful chapter to America’s ongoing military confrontation with Iran.

U.S. Central Command announced that the two service members were killed July 17, 2026, as American and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.

Read More »
Crime

Police charge Northern Iowa teens in armed robbery attempt and shooting at McDonald’s

What was supposedly a routine property sale in a Northern Iowa McDonald’s parking lot allegedly turned into an armed robbery attempt and gunfire, leaving two teenagers facing major felony charges and police hunting for additional suspects.

Investigators are also examining the actions of additional people believed to have been involved. More arrest warrants and charges could follow as police continue untangling the planned meeting and violent confrontation.

Read More »