Founded in 2010

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

News Archives

BUSINESS

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

Franklin County supervisors certify primary election results, set ordinance hearings at June 9 meeting

HAMPTON — The Franklin County Board of Supervisors certified the June 2 primary election results, moved forward with two ordinance amendment hearings, discussed battery storage facilities and reviewed several county policy and building matters during its regular meeting on June 9, 2026.

County candidates nominated in the primary were Larry Sailer, Republican, Board of Supervisors District 1; Richard Lukensmeyer, Republican, Board of Supervisors District 2; Andrea Miller, Republican, County Attorney; Heather Bushbaum, Republican, County Recorder; and Chad Murray, Republican, County Treasurer.

County offices without a Democratic Party nominee were Board of Supervisors District 1, Board of Supervisors District 2, County Attorney, County Recorder and County Treasurer. No Republican county offices were listed as lacking a party nominee.

Read More »

Worth County supervisors approve drainage bid, claims, sheriff’s labor agreement at June 9 meeting

NORTHWOOD — The Worth County Board of Supervisors approved a drainage district bid, county claims, a sheriff’s office labor agreement and the official canvass of the June 2 primary election during its regular meeting on June 9, 2026.

The board approved a request to use the courthouse grounds from June 26 through July 5 for the 11th Annual 99 County Bible Reading.

Read More »

Iowa to shift state IT work to AWS and Cognizant, raising job-loss concerns for about 200 workers

DES MOINES — Iowa’s state government technology operations are headed for a major private-sector overhaul, with Gov. Kim Reynolds announcing that the state will move executive branch data to Amazon Web Services and turn day-to-day IT operations over to Cognizant Government Solutions.

The Reynolds administration says the move will modernize Iowa’s aging technology systems, improve cybersecurity, reduce reliance on physical servers and data centers, and save taxpayers more than $525 million over the next 10 years.

But the change also raises immediate questions about the future of roughly 200 state employees who currently work in the Iowa Department of Management’s Division of Information Technology. According to the governor’s office, those workers are expected to receive “individualized, competitive job offers” from Cognizant later this month.

Read More »

Grant helps NIACC launch small business incubator program for North Iowa entrepreneurs

MASON CITY — A federal rural business grant has helped North Iowa Area Community College launch a new small business incubator program aimed at helping entrepreneurs move beyond an idea and into the day-to-day work of building a sustainable company.

The first Venture Launch Lab cohort brought together 11 businesses and 14 entrepreneurs from across North Iowa. The participants represented a variety of communities and industries, highlighting the role small businesses continue to play in the region’s rural economy. The cohort completed the program with a pitch competition on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Seven teams chose to compete before a panel of judges, with cash prizes awarded to several North Iowa entrepreneurs.

Read More »

Iowa Ag Secretary Naig Presents Good Farm Neighbor Award to the Nieuwendorp Family of Lyon County at the 2026 World Pork Expo

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today presented the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to Nathan and Jacklyn Nieuwendorp of Lyon County during a ceremony held at the 38th annual World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The prestigious statewide award recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in caring for their livestock and the environment while serving as good neighbors and community leaders.

Read More »

Reynolds creates Iowa Office of Outdoor Recreation as state pushes parks, trails and tourism economy

DES MOINES — Iowa is making a formal push to grow its outdoor recreation economy, with Governor Kim Reynolds signing an executive order establishing a new Iowa Office of Outdoor Recreation.

Reynolds issued Executive Order 19 during a press conference at Lake Ahquabi State Park near Indianola. The new office will operate as an extension of the Iowa Tourism Office, which is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Read More »

Iowa crops hold strong after timely rains, but hotter weather looms

DES MOINES — Iowa farmers got some late-week rain relief as corn and soybean development continued to move along at a strong pace, according to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report for June 1-7, 2026.

The weekly report, released June 8 by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, showed Iowa had 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. That is slightly above the 4.7 days reported during the same week last year.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said showers and thunderstorms late last week helped drier parts of the state, especially across southern and eastern Iowa.

Read More »