Local News

A former Spencer city employee will spend 30 days in jail and owes the city more than $100,000 after admitting to stealing public money. Fifty-three-year-old Lavonne Marie Bell of Spencer

For the third time, Buena Vista County supervisors have hit the brakes on a proposed high-tech traffic tracking system — this time, putting the idea on hold indefinitely. County Engineer

Alta Hometown Days returns this weekend with an expanded lineup of entertainment and activities planned throughout the Buena Vista County community. The two-day event is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday,

The Storm Lake I and Storm Lake II wind farms are still on track for a major redevelopment, but ALLETE Clean Energy now expects the project to begin producing electricity

Buena Vista University is continuing a recent enrollment upswing — with one of its biggest freshman classes in more than a decade. BVU says it welcomed its second-largest freshman class

A Newell woman’s photograph celebrating generations on a family farm has earned a $5,000 donation for a local organization. Kari DeMoss was named one of two winners of Lallemand Plant

A long-delayed Buena Vista County flood-recovery project is getting another infusion of federal money — but the latest FEMA award is still well below what the county says it will

Wet weather put a damper on this year’s Clay County Fair attendance — but one day set a new record. The 2026 Clay County Fair in Spencer drew 284,405 fairgoers

A local philanthropic group will decide where to direct its next round of donations during an October meeting in Early. The fourth 2026 meeting of 100 People Who Care Sac

Students in need at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Storm Lake will have greater access to food and hygiene supplies following a $2,000 donation from the Knights of Columbus Council