- Protected: Convicted Mason City murderer Peter Veal loses appeal of life in prison sentence after arguing race played role in jury verdict
- Protected: Mason City woman arrested after lighting blaze next to house with infant inside
- Protected: Iowa man killed when Chevy leaves the road and crashes
News Headlines for October 2, 2026
UNI volleyball sweeps Illinois State, stretches MVC regular-season winning streak to 55
NORMAL, ILL. — UNI volleyball survived an opening-set fight from Illinois State, then took command Thursday night to sweep the Redbirds and extend one of the most impressive conference winning streaks in Division I volleyball.
Northern Iowa defeated Illinois State 25-23, 25-18 and 25-20 at CEFCU Arena, improving to 9-5 overall and 3-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Lyle Kenneth Murl Jr., 92, leaves a legacy of hard work, family and a life well lived in Mason City
Lyle Kenneth Murl Jr., 92, of Mason City, passed away Sunday, September 27, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, surrounded by his children.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, October 2, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. NE in Mason City. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery in Mason City.
Man found dead on ground in Northern Iowa state park; cause of death remains mystery
ESTHERVILLE — A 26-year-old man found dead on the ground inside a Northern Iowa state park has been identified, but authorities say the cause and manner of his death remain undetermined as they await additional medical testing.
The Emmet County Communications Center received a 911 call at approximately 8:54 a.m. on September 11 reporting an unresponsive man lying on the ground at Fort Defiance State Park near Estherville.
Pedestrian critically injured after being struck by train in Iowa
An early-morning train collision in Iowa left a pedestrian with critical injuries Wednesday after emergency crews rushed to a railroad crossing in Ames.
James “Jim” McCrea leaves a legacy of family, faith, community service and Hawkeye pride
MILFORD — James Roger “Jim” McCrea passed away on September 28, 2026, following a brief battle with cancer, surrounded peacefully by his family.
A visitation will be held Friday, October 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Turner Jenness Funeral Home, 1101 10th Street in Milford. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 3, beginning at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2300 27th Street in Spirit Lake, with lunch to follow. In Jim’s honor, those attending are encouraged to dress in golf-casual attire with a Hawkeye theme.
17-year-old Iowa pedestrian killed after SUV driven by 15-year-old strikes him in roadway
A tragic Sunday evening collision in central Iowa claimed the life of a 17-year-old pedestrian after authorities say he was struck by an SUV driven by a 15-year-old.
Mark Larsen, 73, leaves a legacy of farming, service and the precious gift of nine more years
RINGSTED — Mark Richard Larsen, 73, passed away September 26, 2026, at his rural Ringsted home, lovingly surrounded by his wife and children.
Visitation will be held Monday, October 5, from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Ringsted Community Center/American Legion, 5 W. Maple St. in Ringsted. A service will follow there at 5:30 p.m.
Merlin Christensen, 86, leaves a legacy rooted in family, farming and Northern Iowa agriculture
OSAGE — Merlin Christensen, 86, passed away Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Health Services in Rochester, Minnesota, surrounded during his final days by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Thursday, October 1, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 218 S. 12th St. in Osage. A memorial service will be held Friday, October 2, at 11:00 a.m. at the church. There will be no formal visitation Friday morning.
Special session called as Iowa races to reshape MEGA program for massive $15 billion steel project
DES MOINES — Iowa lawmakers are being called back to the State Capitol for a rare special session Friday as state leaders move quickly to alter a major economic development program for the enormous $15 billion steel complex planned for southeast Iowa.
Gov. Kim Reynolds will convene the Iowa General Assembly at 8:30 a.m. Friday, October 2, with what her office described as the “sole and singular purpose” of amending the state’s Major Economic Growth Attraction, or MEGA, program.
Winnebago County eyes new rules for data centers, solar and battery fields as officials raise water, road and electric-rate concerns
FOREST CITY — Winnebago County leaders are considering changes to county zoning rules aimed at some of the biggest and fastest-growing development issues facing rural Iowa, including data centers, large solar developments, battery fields and cryptocurrency operations.
Supervisor Terry Durby raised the issue during the September 22 meeting of the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors, discussing possible changes to the county’s zoning ordinance to specifically address solar, battery fields, crypto operations and data centers.
Fort Dodge gunfire leaves man dead, two wounded as accused killer allegedly shoots at cop
FORT DODGE — A barrage of gunfire outside a Fort Dodge bar left a 27-year-old man dead and two other men riddled with or struck by bullets, while the accused gunman allegedly opened fire on a police officer before making a run for it.
$1 million study blames booze, smoking and obesity for much of Iowa’s cancer excess
IOWA CITY — Booze may be helping fuel Iowa’s alarming cancer problem, along with smoking and obesity, as a major $1 million state investigation says researchers can now account for roughly 76% of Iowa’s excess cancer burden through behavioral and demographic factors.
Binge drinking, smoking and obesity emerged as key behavioral factors in the Cancer Drivers in Iowa project, a state-funded investigation undertaken by Iowa Health and Human Services and the University of Iowa College of Public Health as Iowa continues to suffer the second-highest rate of new cancer cases in the United States.
Northern Iowa intersection crash leaves both drivers facing citations
A teenage driver allegedly failed to stop and yield at a Northern Iowa intersection Sunday afternoon, triggering a two-vehicle crash that left both motorists facing citations.
The Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about the collision at approximately 4:30 p.m. September 27, 2026, at the intersection of 240th Street and Juniper Road…
No. 5 Iowa field hockey storms back to beat Ohio State, 3-2
IOWA CITY — No. 5 Iowa field hockey erased a halftime deficit and delivered another comeback Sunday, September 27, beating Ohio State 3-2 behind Fréderique van Cleef’s fourth-quarter winner and a career-high nine saves from goalkeeper Julia Claessens.
Cerro Gordo County supervisors approve $565,240 in claims, review farm manure plan
MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County supervisors approved more than $565,000 in county claims Monday while also reviewing a manure management plan involving a local farm and receiving an update on county road and engineering matters.
Floyd County backs sheriff’s $32,000 safety equipment project, approves bridge work and reviews county finances
CHARLES CITY — Floyd County supervisors backed an effort by the sheriff’s office to obtain new ballistic protection for deputies while also approving bridge-related work, reviewing county finances and handling the official canvass of a Charles City school election during meetings September 22.
Wet September stalls Iowa harvest as corn and soybeans fall well behind last year
DES MOINES — Persistent rain has put the brakes on Iowa’s 2026 harvest, leaving farmers with barely one day suitable for fieldwork last week as both corn and soybean harvests fell well behind last year’s pace.
The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report shows farmers had just 1.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 27, compared with 6.2 days during the same period last year.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said farmers are ready to get back into their fields after weeks of wet weather.
Trump announces massive $15 billion steel plant for Iowa, thousands of jobs expected
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Monday that Mesabi Metallics plans to pour approximately $15 billion into a massive new steel complex in southeast Iowa, a project state and federal leaders say would become the largest steel manufacturing investment in American history and create thousands of jobs.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds joined Trump and Mesabi Metallics Chairman Rewant Ruia at the White House on September 28 for the announcement, calling the project a “transformational opportunity” that could fundamentally change Iowa’s economy for decades.
Mesabi Metallics plans to locate the fully integrated steel complex in Lee County in southeast Iowa.
Northern Iowa drug probe nets Clarion man on six felony charges, alleged multi-state trafficking operation
CLARION — A Northern Iowa narcotics investigation stretching across state lines landed at a Clarion residence, where authorities say marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms and THC extract cartridges were allegedly being moved for profit, resulting in six felony charges against a 30-year-old man.
Investigators with the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 2271 Jackson Avenue in Clarion at approximately 7:40 a.m. on September 3 as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.
The investigation led authorities to charge Jacob David Peterson, 30, of Clarion, with a series of alleged drug-trafficking offenses…
Iowa Hawkeye soccer lead vanishes in second-half collapse at No. 8 Ohio State
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Iowa Hawkeye soccer carried a 1-0 lead into halftime against the nation’s No. 8 team Sunday, but Ohio State erupted for three goals in a seven-minute span after the break and handed the Hawkeyes a 3-1 Big Ten loss at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
The September 27 defeat dropped Iowa to 5-3-4 overall and 0-2-3 in conference play. Ohio State improved to 8-1-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten.
Child pedestrian killed in Iowa vehicle crash
A child pedestrian was killed Sunday evening after being struck by a vehicle in an Iowa neighborhood, and authorities say the driver was also a juvenile.
Iowa Supreme Court rolls out new required forms for Iowans seeking name changes
DES MOINES — Iowans who go to court without an attorney to legally change their name will have new standardized paperwork to use under an order signed by Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen.
The Iowa Judicial Branch is enacting Iowa Court Rule 17.40 covering forms for name-change proceedings, updating the documents to a new format and adding a new combined petition for an adult seeking a name change along with a minor child or children.
SEARCH NIT NEWS…
Discover TopEssayWriting – best essay writing service with expert writers for all academic needs.
Contact TarotAtlas for accurate online tarot readings from trusted, top-rated experts.
Visit StateOfWriting for top-notch online custom writing services in the UK.
JMetro Cleaning, LLC: Licensed & insured cleaning company in Allison, Iowa. Serving a 50-mile radius.
Call: 712-832-0275 or Send Email