TOP STORIES
Affordable & Professional: Breakthrough Web Design 515-897-1144
NIACC student Hailey Stalzer earns national workforce scholarship
MASON CITY — North Iowa Area Community College student Hailey Stalzer has been selected as one of only 200 students nationwide to receive a 2026 Chime Workforce Scholarship.
Stalzer will receive $1,000 to help cover educational expenses while she completes a certificate or associate degree preparing her to enter a high-demand career field.
The scholarship is funded by the Chime Scholars Foundation and administered by the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation.
Gov. Reynolds orders Iowa flags lowered as state marks 25 years since 9/11 attacks
DES MOINES — Flags across Iowa will be lowered from sunrise to sunset Friday as the state marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks and remembers nearly 3,000 people killed that day.
Gov. Kim Reynolds issued the half-staff order Thursday in honor of Patriot Day and the victims of the coordinated attacks carried out against the United States on September 11, 2001.
Judy Kaye Newman, 69, of Mason City, remembered for her caring heart, honesty and love of good food
MASON CITY — Judy Kaye Newman, 69, passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at her home in Mason City.
Following Judy’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no services will be held.
Mason City couple’s court battle rages as explicit-photo sharing cases drag into fall
MASON CITY — The courtroom battle surrounding a Mason City couple accused of showing and distributing explicit photographs without permission is still raging months later, with one defendant moving toward a possible plea and the other preparing for an October jury trial.
The legal turmoil adds another messy chapter to a relationship that appears to be on the rocks. Court records show both Christina Jo Dodge and Matthew Alan Dodge (pictured at top in jail phortos) have previously sought domestic-abuse protection from the other.
Mason City caregiver convicted in dependent-adult abuse case; co-defendant heads toward trial
MASON CITY — One of two Mason City women accused of financially exploiting a dependent adult has been convicted through a plea agreement, while her co-defendant remains charged with three felonies and is scheduled for an October trial.
Illegal alien trucker kills innocent American woman driver with totally insane passing attempt
An illegal alien semi-truck driver with a Gavin Newsom California commercial license is accused of making a disastrous passing maneuver that sent his massive rig directly into an innocent American woman’s car, killing her in a head-on collision.
Manjit Singh of Fresno, California, was arrested and charged with aggravated vehicular homicide following the September 2, 2026, crash…
Trump proposes $5,000 windfall for American adults if Republicans retain Congress
DALLAS, TEXAS — President Donald Trump is proposing a potentially massive financial windfall for American adults, promising a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in November.
Trump unveiled the proposal Wednesday night during the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, presenting it as a way to return some of the federal government’s economic gains—including money collected through tariffs—to the American people.
“If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them … I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000,” Trump said.
‘Taxi’ and ‘Who’s the Boss?’ star Tony Danza bringing music, dancing and stories to Mason City
MASON CITY — Actor and entertainer Tony Danza will bring a blend of classic American music, personal stories, comedy, tap dancing and ukulele playing to North Iowa this fall.
Danza and his four-piece band will present Tony Danza: Standards & Stories at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the North Iowa Community Auditorium on the NIACC campus.
Northern Iowa house raid turns up meth, weed and pills; woman nabbed
A woman suspect was hauled to jail after police raided a Northern Iowa residence Tuesday night and allegedly uncovered methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Northern Iowa man accused of strangling woman while on probation for felony burglary case
A Northern Iowa man who avoided a lengthy prison term earlier this year is back behind bars after allegedly strangling and injuring a woman during a domestic disturbance.
Northern Iowa man nabbed on felony meth charge after 3:32 AM traffic stop
ROLFE — A Northern Iowa man facing a felony methamphetamine charge after an early-morning traffic stop has made his initial court appearance and is scheduled to return to court later this month.
The Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Office said deputies stopped a maroon Ford F-150 at approximately 3:32 AM on August 31 in the 700 block of Grant Street in Rolfe.
Cerro Gordo supervisors back Highway 122 improvements, approve $447,680 in claims
MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County supervisors backed a pair of Mason City transportation funding efforts, approved nearly $448,000 in county claims and spent more than half an hour behind closed doors during their Tuesday, September 8 meeting.
Todd R. McMurray, 60, Mason City, remembered for devotion to family, love of the outdoors
MASON CITY — Todd Raymond McMurray, 60, of Mason City, is remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed fishing, camping, grilling, old cars and time spent with the people he loved.
Per Todd’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to his family.
Todd died Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.
Northern Iowa rains offer relief as area farmers prepare for harvest
Much-needed rainfall reached parts of Northern Iowa during an unusually hot opening week of September as farmers across the state continued preparing for corn and soybean harvest.
The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report shows farmers had 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 6, while corn and soybean development continued toward maturity.
“The first week of September was one of the hottest on record, setting up some muggy conditions for attendees at the Farm Progress Show,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said.
Iowa Hawkeye volleyball sweeps Cyclones in Ames, snaps 32-year drought
AMES — Iowa Hawkeye volleyball ended more than three decades of frustration in Ames Tuesday night, sweeping rival Iowa State in straight sets for its first victory at Hilton Coliseum since 1994.
The Hawkeyes knocked off the Cyclones 25-20, 25-21 and 25-23 in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series showdown, improving to 4-2 on the season.
The victory was Iowa’s first over Iowa State since 2021 and its first in Ames in 32 years.
Four hurt after teen driver pulls into path of MidAmerican Energy truck in Northern Iowa
EAGLE GROVE — Four people were injured Tuesday morning when a vehicle driven by a Northern Iowa teenager failed to yield at a rural stop sign and was broadsided by a MidAmerican Energy truck.
The crash happened at approximately 10:30 AM on September 8, 2026, at the intersection of 265th Street and Hancock Avenue in Wright County, east of Eagle Grove.
Winnebago County Sheriff Steve Hepperly to retire after 41-year law enforcement career
FOREST CITY — Winnebago County Sheriff Steve Hepperly will step away from law enforcement at the end of the year, closing a career that has stretched more than four decades across North Iowa.
Hepperly submitted his resignation and retirement notification to the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors during its weekly meeting Tuesday morning and said his final day as sheriff will be December 31, 2026.
He is recommending that supervisors appoint current Winnebago County Chief Deputy Sheriff Michael Droessler to take over the office following his retirement.
North Iowa housing projects score $2.26 million in tax credits for 133 new units
MASON CITY — Four housing developments in Mason City, Clear Lake and Ventura are in line for more than $2.25 million in state workforce housing tax credits, supporting 133 new residential units in Cerro Gordo County as part of a nearly $40 million statewide housing push announced Tuesday.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced $39.84 million in Workforce Housing Tax Credits on September 8 for 69 projects expected to produce 2,093 new residential units across 39 Iowa counties.
North Iowa grabbed a sizable piece of that investment.
James “Jim” Lee Miller, 88, Osage, remembered for craftsmanship, outdoors and devotion to family
OSAGE — James Lee “Jim” Miller, 88, of Osage, passed away peacefully Friday evening, September 4, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, September 14, at First Grace Lutheran Church, 726 State Street in Osage. Hoff Celebrations – Champion Chapel of Osage is assisting the family with arrangements.
New Iowa-Wisconsin Mississippi River bridge to open months early, ending ferry era
LANSING — A major new Mississippi River bridge connecting Iowa and Wisconsin is running well ahead of schedule and is now expected to open to traffic in early November, months earlier than originally planned.
The Iowa Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that the new Iowa 9/WIS 82 Mississippi River crossing at Lansing is progressing quickly enough to open before winter.
The bridge had originally been scheduled to open in spring 2027.
Former Lake Mills football star Caleb Bacon grabs Big Ten defensive honor after dominant Penn State debut
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — From Lake Mills to Ames and now Happy Valley, former Northern Iowa prep standout Caleb Bacon continues to make his mark on college football.
Bacon, a Lake Mills native and former Lake Mills High School star who spent four seasons playing for the Iowa State Cyclones, was named Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week following a dominant performance in Penn State’s 45-0 victory over Marshall.
Brian Wesley Stogdill, 64, Clear Lake, remembered as a caregiver who treated many like family
CLEAR LAKE — Brian Wesley Stogdill, 64, of Clear Lake, passed away Friday, September 4, 2026, at 9th Street Chautauqua in Charles City following a lengthy battle with renal failure.
A remembrance gathering honoring Brian’s life will be held at a future date, with arrangements and additional details to be announced.