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sun-courier.com

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‘I’m too stubborn to leave. I want Iowa to be better’

WATERLOO – On Thursday, Oct. 22, five local candidates in contested races for the Iowa statehouse gathered at Waterloo City Hall for a 90-minute candidate forum jointly hosted by the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk and Bremer Counties (LWV) and the NAACP of Black Hawk County, including Democrats Leila Staton and Calvin Horn.

Waterloo, IA · 9d
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Hometown Current

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First Belle Plaine wetland complete; second in process

BELLE PLAINE — The wetland project at the corner of Highway 21 and E66 northwest of Belle Plaine is the first of its kind for Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The department has helped rural and urban communities with water projects before, said Amy Bouska, Urban Conservationist for the IDALS-Division of Soil Conservation, for water quality, flood control, water source protection, but never with drought resiliency as the goal. Belle Plaine is pretty happy with the results. “It looks like it’s supposed to. Does what it’s supposed to. Slows the water down,” said City Clerk Sandy Walton. “Not every one of these projects … has the motivation,” said Iowa Sec. of Ag Mike Naig. The project was completed with the help of $250,000 grants from IDALS and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. IDALS will provide an additional $410,000 in funding for the second phase of the restoration project. Donavan Wildman was the lead engineer on the project for IDALS. Construction began in January and finished up in May, said Wildman. This is one of his first large projects, he said. “I’m super happy with it.” The 7 ½ acres of wetland drains about 350 acres of farmland,

Belle Plaine, IA · 6d

Hometown Current

partner publisher · 405 followers

Benton County Supervisors approve bridge embargoes

VINTON — The Benton County Board of Supervisors approved new bridge embargoes for various secondary road bridges during its regular meeting Oct. 28. Benton County Engineer Myron Parizek explained that as bridges and structures get older, they can’t handle the loads they were designed for. The county has 327 structures that are defined by the federal government as bridges. The board approved a reduction in bridge load limits for 10 bridges. Supervisors set a land use hearing for 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, for Lloyd and Sherry Biggart I, for land in Section 5, Fremont Township. Supervisor Bruce Volz gave an update on Heartland Insurance which plans a reevaluation of county properties and the county’s 53 buildings. The value is currently set at $35.9 million for the buildings and $4.8 million for the contents. There is a concern that the buildings are not insured at full value. Heartland also talked about workmen’s comp. Rates will be going up 31%. The loss ratio is -421%. “So we’re bad. We’re really bad,” said Volz. The company wants the county to have a reserve that is 33% of the premium. There is also an emphasis on cyber security. Premiums are going to

Benton County, IA · 7d

cbs2iowa.com

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Cedar Rapids, Marion celebrate completion of CeMar Trail with ribbon cutting

MARION, Iowa — Officials celebrated the completion of the CeMar Trail with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday in Marion, marking the end of years of planning and construction. The nearly 7-mile paved trail connects Cedar Rapids and Marion, stretching from Cedar Lake in Cedar Rapids through Thomas Park in Marion to the Grant Wood Trail.

Marion, IA · 8d
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kwayradio.com

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RNC Sues Black Hawk Co Auditor

The Republican National Committee is suing Black Hawk County Auditor Karen Showalter saying she would not allow pictures of seals on voting equipment, according to the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. The RNC’s lawyer says that its the only way to ensure that the equipment has not been tampered with. The equipment was sealed with tamper resistant tags with serial numbers following logic and accuracy testing on Oct. 1st, which was attended and attested to by RNC representatives. Showalter says the serial numbers are confidential and the request went against a resolution passed by county supervisors in 2018. RNC officials appealed to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office over the issue and received a response that while Iowa law does not expressly require seal numbers to be listed, that exclusion alone does not make seal numbers confidential. The RNC is asking the court to order Showalter to produce the withheld records and impose a civil penalty and pay their attorney’s fees. They have also asked for an expedited hearing on the matter.

Black Hawk County, IA · 8d

radioonthego.com

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Hardin Supervisors approve two livestock facility recommendations

The Hardin County Board of Supervisors approved recommendations Wednesday on two confined animal feeding operation permit applications for sites in Providence and Concord townships. The applications involve the Schwarck site in Providence Township and the Hetland Farm No. 2 site in Concord Township. The approvals include a notice publication requirement...

Hardin County, IA · 8d

KCRG.com

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Clearing up confusion on felons voting in elections

A man featured in an ad for Zach Nunn thought he could not vote.

Cedar Rapids, IA · 9d

Iowa Public Radio

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Alliant Energy gets $5.1B federal loan — but Linn County doesn't want its natural gas plant near Cedar Rapids

The U.S. Department of Energy announced that Alliant Energy could get a $5.1 billion loan to invest in new natural gas plants, gas pipelines or battery storage systems across Iowa and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Linn County is trying to stop plans for Alliant's Morgan Valley natural gas plant near Cedar Rapids.

Linn County, IA · 8d

KCRG.com

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A Look Inside The Backrooms Haunted House in Marion

We got a look inside a Marion home transformed in a haunted house! The FREE attraction is open October 30 and 31 from 5-9 p.m. at 405 W. 33rd Avenue in Marion.

Marion, IA · 9d

Radio Iowa

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Groundbreaking for $120 million expansion of Cambrex in Charles City

A company that produces ingredients for prescription medications is making a $120 million expansion of its facility in Charles City. Claudio Russolo, the Chief Executive Officer of Cambrex, said the expansion will increase the plant’s production of “Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients” by 25%, “making this site, here in Iowa, the largest independent API manufacturing site in the whole country.”

Charles City, IA · 8d

radioonthego.com

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Sheffield resident elected to Iowa 4-H Foundation Board

A Sheffield resident is among four new trustees elected to the Iowa 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees. Jason Arndt, a sales manager for Sukup Manufacturing Company, was elected during the foundation’s annual meeting Friday, Oct. 23. Arndt is a Franklin County 4-H alumnus who participated in the program through...

Sheffield, IA · 9d

Cedar Rapids Gazette

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Linn to revisit pitch for stand-alone elections office

CEDAR RAPIDS — The ongoing and growing popularity of early voting has led to increased foot traffic at the Linn County Jean Oxley Public Services Center, reprising questions about whether it's time to give elections staff their own space. Background The Linn County Auditor’s Office, which is responsible for overseeing Linn County elections, is one of several county departments to operate out of the Jean Oxley building at 935 Second St. SW in Cedar Rapids, but county leaders have long pondered whether it’s the best place for election services. The office must spread out its operations and storage throughout the Jean Oxley building plus some off-site storage. In-person absentee voting for state and federal elections takes place in the basement, where lines of residents snake through different rooms to cast their ballot. The Linn County Board of Supervisors last year took the first step toward exploring potential alternatives by approving a contract with Emergent Architecture for master planning of a potential stand-alone elections office. The firm was tasked with assessing county-owned land near the Public Services Center to identify what would work for the construction of such an office and to communicate with county staff about features desired in such

Cedar Rapids, IA · 6d

radioonthego.com

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Iowa Falls Mayor Mike Emerson discusses police chief departure, search for replacement

Iowa Falls Mayor Mike Emerson says he remains disappointed with how the city’s police chief situation unfolded, saying he was unable to get specific answers from council members about concerns surrounding Chief Josh Nelson before Nelson’s separation agreement was approved during the Oct. 19 meeting. Nelson, who had...

Iowa Falls, IA · 10d

Radio Iowa

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South Tama teacher is recognized for her work in the dramatic arts

A central Iowa teacher will be inducted into the Iowa Thespian Hall of Fame during a special event at the University of Northern Iowa next month. Dixie Forcht is a teacher and librarian at South Tama Community School District and is also the high school’s theatre director. Forcht says she’s thrilled to be included.

Cedar Falls, IA · 8d

radioonthego.com

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Pine Lake Corn Processors seeks increase in water permit

Pine Lake Corn Processors near Steamboat Rock is seeking state approval to increase the amount of water it is authorized to withdraw for ethanol production. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is reviewing a request to raise the company’s annual withdrawal limit from 320 million gallons to 345 million gallons — an increase of 25 million gallons a year.

Steamboat Rock, IA · 9d

cedar-rapids.org

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Project of the Week: 5th Ave SE from 5th Street to 19th Street

As one of the City’s oldest streets, Fifth Avenue SE used to feature a brick roadway with streetcar rails. When that system was shut down in the 1930s, the old rails were paved over and buried. When the current road surface reached the end of its useful life almost...

Cedar Rapids, IA · 10d

951thebull.com

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Early Voting Down to Final Days in Iowa; Extended Hours On Saturday (Oct. 31)

Early voting for the November 3rd election is down to its final days. Before In-person absentee voting ends on Monday (Nov. 2), County Auditor’s offices are offering extended voting hours, with the Floyd County Auditor’s Office at the Floyd County Courthouse in Charles City open until 5 PM Friday (Oct. 30). The same hours apply at the Chickasaw County Auditor’s Office at the Chickasaw Courthouse in New Hampton.

Floyd County, IA · 8d

The Des Moines Register

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Republicans sue Iowa county auditor over voting machine records

The Republican National Committee is suing Black Hawk County Auditor Karen Showalter, demanding records related to the testing of voting machines just days before the Nov. 3 election. Under state law, all voting machines are tested for accuracy before each election, after which they are sealed with numbered, tamper-proof tape or other devices to ensure they are not altered before Election Day. In a new lawsuit filed Thursday, Oct. 29, the national governing body for Republicans alleges that Black Hawk County wrongly prevented RNC representatives from photographing or documenting the seals placed after its Oct. 1 testing and has continued to withhold the seal numbers for its machines. "The public has a right to this information so they can know if election officials are doing their jobs and keeping these machines secure," the RNC said in a press release. More: Yes, the DOJ is sending election monitors to Iowa. Here's what we know The statute requires county auditors to publish notice of the time and place of the equipment testing and to notify local political party chairs so they can send a representative. It notes that, "the test shall be open to the public." According to the complaint, Showalter, a

Iowa · 9d

kchanews.com

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North Iowa Toys for Tots to Host Fill the Truck Event November 27 at Theisen’s in Charles City

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FLOYD COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER:. Wendy Johnson with North Iowa Toys for Tots and Ken Miller, Commandant of the local Marine Corps League discuss their annual Fill the Truck event happening Friday, November 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Theisen’s in Charles City. They highlight the need for donations, especially gifts for older children and teenagers, along with ways families can register for assistance and community members can volunteer.

Charles City, IA · 8d

Cedar Rapids Gazette

partner publisher · 633 followers

Atkins official: Morgan Valley fire response ‘an afterthought’

CEDAR RAPIDS — From the time the Morgan Valley Energy Center’s location was announced in March 2026, Benton County residents have argued they are being left out of proceedings that directly affect them. The 720-megawatt natural gas plant proposed by Alliant Energy would sit right on the county line between Linn and Benton counties on the Linn County side. In April, the Benton County Board of Supervisors sent a letter opposing the plant to the Iowa Utilities Commission. Among the concerns raised in the letter was the county’s capacity for emergency response. “A facility of this magnitude introduces potential risks that require coordinated planning, resources and communication across county lines,” the letter reads. “At this time, it is unclear whether sufficient consideration has been given to emergency response capabilities and interjurisdictional coordination.” Since then, the Benton County cities of Atkins, population 2,250, and Norway, population 465, have written letters opposing the project. Both point to emergency response as a crucial area that needs more consideration before the plant moves forward. Without support from Alliant, city officials say, their fire departments won’t be equipped to respond to a fire on the scale that a natural gas plant could create. Fire readiness

Benton County, IA · 10d