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The Des Moines Register

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Steel plant executive offers SE Iowa promises — and hope

FORT MADISON — In a carpeted Quality Inn & Suites conference room, an executive in a navy-blue vest made promises to residents in the southeast corner of Iowa. First, Mesabi Metallics CEO Joe Broking promised the farmers, mechanics, local officials and others gathered there that his company would be transparent. Then, he promised them the world. Broking displayed a rendering of the company's plan: a sprawling industrial campus where employees will melt iron and turn it into rolled steel. He provided a long list of industries that could buy from the plant, from automakers to appliance manufacturers and construction materials suppliers. It will be “the cleanest, most environmentally friendly steel in the world at the lowest cost,” Broking said. “And we can do that right here in the U.S., right here in Iowa.” The promises kept coming. “Your schools are going to improve. Your housing market’s going to improve. Access to community amenities is going to improve,” Broking said. People in the crowd of about 100 whispered among themselves as he went on. “This is absolutely a fantastic opportunity for Mesabi Metallics and a fantastic opportunity for each and every one of you. And I can’t wait to actually come

Fort Madison, IA · 2d

KBUR

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Two downtown Burlington commercial parcels will go up for auction tomorrow

Two downtown Burlington commercial parcels will go up for auction tomorrow, offering buyers the choice between buildings with established businesses, and a historically significant property that’s open for change. The HawkEye reports that the live online auction is scheduled for 11 a.m. The two parcels in the 500 block of Jefferson Street will be offered separately. The current owner says said considerable investment has gone into the buildings, including structural work at the rear of the properties and renovations to the occupied commercial spaces.Some prospective buyers are attracted to buildings with operating businesses, while others have ideas for starting something new in the building that is currently vacant.

Burlington, IA · 3d
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ottumwaradio.com

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Fairfield Pizza Ranch Closes After Nearly Eight Years Under Current Ownership

The Pizza Ranch in Fairfield has closed, the restaurant announced on social media this week. The owners said the closure happened last month due to unexpected circumstances that left the restaurant with only one manager. Pizza Ranch has operated in Fairfield for more than eight years, with the current ownership group having run the location for approximately eight of those years since 2019.

Fairfield, IA · 1d
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KBUR

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At the beginning of Monday’s work session meeting of the Burlington City Council, Mayor Jon Billups said he and other council members have been in contact with members of the Burlington Public Library Board of Trustees about issues at the library

At the beginning of Monday’s work session meeting of the Burlington City Council, Mayor Jon Billups said he and other council members have been in contact with members of the Burlington Public Library Board of Trustees about issues at the library. At last week’s council meeting, two people addressed the council about issues with homeless people being a presence at the library, including using study rooms as daytime sleeping quarters, odors in the upholstered seating and an increased amount of personal baggage and belongings brought into the facility. The HawkEye reports that Mayor Billups said the council members have talked to the board of trustees about current policies and holding a joint work session with the council at a future date. The Library Board of Trustees sets policy for operation of the public library.

Burlington, IA · 2d

Pen City Current

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County approves term sheet with Mesabi

LEE COUNTY – The Lee County Board of Supervisors put their stamp on an incentive package that was discussed last week to spur construction on a $15 billion steel plant in Lee County. The board approved the term sheet with a unanimous 5-0 vote in what Supervisor Chuck Holmes...

Lee County, IA · 2d

kilj.com

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Mount Pleasant City Council Discusses Holiday Activities, Approves $100,000 for Old Threshers Harvest Center

New holiday activities, financial support for a major community project, and city improvements were among the topics discussed by the Mount Pleasant City Council Tuesday evening. Sophia Walderbach, a Mount Pleasant High School senior interning with Main Street Mount Pleasant and the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance, presented plans to...

Mt Pleasant, IA · 2d

kilj.com

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Mount Pleasant School District Pursuing Charter School for Grades 6–12, Exploring Four-Day School Week

The Mount Pleasant Community School District is pursuing plans to establish a public charter school serving students in grades 6 through 12, potentially introducing a year-round calendar, a four-day instructional week, and a different approach to classroom learning. According to a November 6 weekly staff update from district administration, the...

Mt Pleasant, IA · 3d

nwestiowa.com

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McInnis selects Southeastern Community College for baseball

LE MARS — Le Mars Community pitcher Brett McInnis signed his letter of intent to play baseball for Southeastern Community College at a ceremony on Wednesday. “After this last summer season, I went to a lot of camps and I decided I was talking to quite a few coaches. Southeastern called me one day and they were straightforward with me. They gave me really some inspiration to come there. Ben (Beznoska), the pitching coach there, is a really cool dude and he’s talked to me, he’s worked with professional guys and he said that I have the potential to make it anywhere I want to. So, he really inspired me to go there,” McInnis said. “I didn’t think I was going to go the JUCO route at all, but then Southeastern stuck out to me a lot and talking to guys, I thought it was the best way for me to play professional baseball one day.”

West Burlington, IA · 1d

Pen City Current

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FM-SIRRC gets behind Old Fort rehab

FORT MADISON – A non-eventful easy Thursday evening in downtown Fort Madison turned into an eventful one thanks to the generous contributions of Fort Madison’s SIRRC board. The Southeast Iowa Regional Riverboat Commission made a $101,000 contribution to Old Fort Madison Preservation, Inc. at OFMP’s new digs at...

Fort Madison, IA · 16h

ottumwaradio.com

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Planned Power Outage Scheduled in Mediapolis

Residents in the Mediapolis area are being advised of a planned power outage scheduled for Thursday night into Friday morning. According to a notice shared by Mediapolis News and posted by KILJ Radio, Alliant Energy has scheduled an outage to perform maintenance on its Mediapolis substation. Power is expected to...

Mediapolis, IA · 1d

ottumwaradio.com

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Van Buren County Extension’s Inaugural Family Bingo Fundraiser Draws More Than 50 Attendees

Van Buren County Extension hosted its first family bingo fundraiser on Sunday, November 8th, at the Fair View Barn, drawing more than 50 youth and adults for an afternoon of games and community support. Participants played 10 games of bingo with prizes ranging from $20 to $100. Attendees also had...

Van Buren County, IA · 1d

ottumwaradio.com

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Fairfield Beautification Commission Presents Rose Award to Blue Rose Ballroom & Bistro

Blue Rose Ballroom & Bistro has received a Rose Award for Excellence in Design from the Fairfield Beautification Commission, recognizing the business for its exceptional craftsmanship and commitment to creating a space of remarkable beauty and character. The commission praised the venue’s sophisticated blend of Venetian plaster, natural wood, custom...

Fairfield, IA · 1d

kilj.com

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Louisa County Solar Project Raises Questions Around County Commercial Solar and Battery StorageMoratoriums

A proposed solar farm near Letts is headed to a public meeting with state regulators after Louisa County turned down a permit for the project. The Louisa County Board of Adjustment voted 4 to 1 in September to deny a special-use permit for Southpaw Solar. The company has since asked the Iowa Utilities Commission to hold an informational meeting about a state certificate for the project.

Louisa County, IA · 1d

kilj.com

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Iowa Health Officials Warn of Additional Measles Exposure Locations

Iowa health officials are warning residents about possible measles exposure at several locations across the state, including a previously identified location in Southeast Iowa. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Polk County Health Department have confirmed a measles case, with the individual believed to have been exposed...

Iowa · 1d

KBUR

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Legal and state regulatory options have now been launched by Ranger Power of Chicago to avoid the Sept. 1 denial of a special use permit by the Louisa County Board of Adjustment

Legal and state regulatory options have now been launched by Ranger Power of Chicago to avoid the Sept. 1 denial of a special use permit by the Louisa County Board of Adjustment. The HawkEye reports that Zoning Administrator Bruce Hudson told the Louisa County Board of Supervisors this week the company had filed a lawsuit over the denial of the permit for the proposed 450 megawatt solar, energy storage and agrivoltaics Southpaw Solar Energy project in northern Louisa County. In addition to the lawsuit, the company has also submitted an application to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) for a state permit. If granted, the permit would override the local decision and allow the facility to be constructed on approximately 5,700 acres. The local board denied the special use permit because of the impact of the proposed facility on some of the county’s best farmland.

Louisa County, IA · 1d