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News Headlines for August 29, 2026

Crime

Heroic ICE agents clean up violent crooks in America’s capital region, arrest more than 1,300 illegal aliens

WASHINGTON – Federal immigration officers arrested more than 1,300 illegal aliens during a sweeping two-week enforcement operation across Virginia and Maryland, including people accused or convicted of murder, kidnapping, sexual offenses, drunk driving, robbery and other crimes, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers made 1,328 arrests between August 1 and August 14 as part of “Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C.”

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Sports

UNI volleyball storms back to topple Loyola-Chicago in five-set thriller

AMES — The UNI volleyball team dug itself out of a two-sets-to-one hole Saturday and stormed past Loyola-Chicago in five sets, earning its first victory of the 2026 season at the Cyclone Invitational.

Northern Iowa defeated the Ramblers 25-22, 17-25, 18-25, 25-8 and 16-14 at Hilton Coliseum, bouncing back after opening the season Friday with a straight-set loss to Georgia Tech.

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Business

Alliant ordered to cut natural gas rate, Northern Iowa customers could see relief on bills

DES MOINES – More than 200,000 Iowa households served by Alliant Energy are in line for a permanent reduction in their natural gas rates after state regulators reviewed the utility’s actual expenses and revenues following a previous rate increase.

The Iowa Utilities Commission ordered Interstate Power and Light Company, Alliant Energy’s Iowa subsidiary, to reduce residential natural gas rates by more than $2.5 million.

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Business

NIACC sports expansion prompts Mason City to move future water tower site

MASON CITY — NIACC’s expanding athletic complex is prompting Mason City to relocate land reserved for a future water tower on the city’s east side, with the City Council set to consider a land swap involving the college and NIACC Foundation.

The council will hold a public hearing Tuesday, September 1, on transferring city-owned property to North Iowa Area Community College and acquiring replacement property from NIACC and the NIACC Foundation.

The unusual land exchange stems directly from NIACC’s new baseball and softball complex.

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Top Stories

Copper thieves sparked Mohawk Square fire and may have returned, Mason City police chief says

MASON CITY — Apparent metal thieves were behind a July fire inside Mason City’s deteriorating Mohawk Square building, and police now believe burglars may have returned to the property, according to new information from Mason City Police Chief Mike McKelvey.

McKelvey disclosed the new details in his department’s monthly activity report included with materials for the September 1 Mason City City Council meeting.

According to the police chief, apparent metal thieves broke into Mohawk Square on July 16.

“One of the burglars apparently tried to cut an energized copper wire,” McKelvey reported.

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Sports

Iowa volleyball sweeps Army as dominant middles power season-opening win

WEST POINT, N.Y. — The Iowa volleyball team opened its 2026 season in commanding fashion Friday night, sweeping Army West Point in straight sets at Christl Arena.

The Hawkeyes never trailed in the match, defeating the Black Knights 25-23, 25-15 and 25-17 behind a dominant performance from their middle hitters.

Iowa’s middles accounted for 20 of the team’s 38 kills.

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Sports

Georgia Tech sweeps UNI in season opener, snaps Panthers’ 19-match regular-season streak

AMES — The UNI volleyball team opened the 2026 season on the wrong side of a sweep Friday, falling 3-0 to Georgia Tech in the opening match of the Cyclone Invitational at Hilton Coliseum.

The Yellow Jackets held off late UNI pushes in the first two sets before pulling away in the third, winning 25-22, 25-21 and 25-17.

Northern Iowa struggled to solve Georgia Tech’s blocking and service pressure, finishing with 30 kills and a .036 team hitting percentage.

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Sports

No. 11 Iowa storms back from three-goal hole, stuns No. 7 Wake Forest in overtime

IOWA CITY — The 11th-ranked Iowa field hockey team opened its season with a dramatic comeback Friday, erasing a three-goal deficit before knocking off No. 7 Wake Forest, 4-3, in sudden-victory overtime.

First-year Hawkeye Reine van Hoof delivered the game-winner at the 66:46 mark, scoring her first collegiate goal to complete Iowa’s stunning rally.

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Crime

Waterloo man who built machine guns at home gets federal prison term

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Waterloo man who used machining equipment to convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison.

Nicholas Laurence Wilson, 35, of Waterloo, was sentenced August 20 to 12 months and one day in prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to one count of possession of machine guns.

Federal prosecutors said Wilson machined three semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons inside his home.

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Obits

Marcia “Marcy” Colvin, 74, of Mason City, remembered for guiding generations of local youth

MASON CITY – Marcia “Marcy” Ann Colvin, 74, of Mason City, passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 26, 2026, following a second battle with cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Mason City.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 2, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Mason City, and again for one hour before Thursday’s service at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Burial will be held at Owatonna Memorial Garden Cemetery in Owatonna, Minnesota.

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Crime

ICE is getting electric-shock gloves—and Democrats aren’t happy about it

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Immigration and Customs Enforcement is moving ahead with a $16.7 million purchase of 6,000 pairs of electric-shock gloves designed to help federal officers gain control of resisting suspects and combative detainees.

Supporters describe the gloves as another tool for officers confronting dangerous people. Democratic lawmakers and civil-rights advocates see a weapon ripe for abuse.

The CTG-5 G.L.O.V.E.—short for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter—looks and functions like an ordinary patrol glove until an officer activates its electrical mode. When the glove touches exposed skin, it sends electrical pulses into the person’s body, causing intense pain intended to stop resistance and compel compliance.

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Sports

Hawkeyes hammer Cyclones in Cy-Hawk soccer showdown, roll to 2-0 shutout

AMES — The Iowa Hawkeyes seized control early and never let Iowa State breathe Thursday night, rolling to a 2-0 Cy-Hawk victory at the Cyclone Sports Complex.

Iowa dominated nearly every phase of the rivalry match, piling up a staggering 26-2 advantage in shots while holding the Cyclones without a single attempt during the second half.

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Obits

Erma “Jean” Reynolds, 93, of Algona, remembered as family and friends prepare to say goodbye

ALGONA – Erma “Jean” Reynolds, 93, of Algona, passed away Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at Algona Manor Care Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 1, at Divine Mercy Catholic Parish – St. Cecelia, 715 E. North St. in Algona.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, August 31, at Lentz Funeral Home, 403 E. McGregor St. in Algona. A Catholic Daughters of the Americas Rosary will begin at 4 p.m.

A private family burial will take place at a later date.

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Obits

Michael J. Woolery, 75, of Mason City, remembered as devoted family man and beloved “Uncle Funky”

MASON CITY – Michael J. Woolery, 75, of Mason City, passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 5, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. NE in Mason City. Burial will follow at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, September 4, at the funeral chapel.

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