Local News

Storm Lake’s long ride toward new rules for e‑bikes, e‑scooters and personal mobility devices hit a major speed bump Tuesday night, as the city council’s proposed ordinance failed on a 2‑2 vote after a public hearing. The proposed ordinance would have rewritten Storm Lake’s bicycle code for the first time in decades, creating detailed rules for where personal mobility devices

The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors signed off Tuesday on an asphalt patch for 80th Avenue — a short stretch of road east of Alta that’s about to carry some very heavy traffic.  And that traffic could soon double, as Platinum Crush pushes the state for permission to bring in up to 1,400 trucks a day during soybean harvest.

A South O’Brien School District teacher has been charged following a four‑week investigation into allegations she sent sexually explicit Snapchat messages to a 17‑year‑old student from another O’Brien County school district. According to the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, the South O’Brien School District reported the incident on Aug. 5 after a mandatory reporter notified administrators that 37‑year‑old Priscilla Dawn Jenness

A Red Oak man is turning grief into grit on a 180‑mile ride across Iowa, reminding anyone who’s struggling to “keep going.” Nate Payne rolled into Storm Lake Monday night with two friends as part of “The Kicks Memorial Bike Ride for Mental Health,” a four‑day journey aimed at sparking conversations in small towns and honoring those lost to suicide.

Politics rolled into Sac City on Friday, and Zach Lahn made it clear he’s running on more than a policy sheet. He’s running on a culture message. More than 70 people filled the Sac City Rec Center as the Republican gubernatorial candidate from Belle Plaine outlined his “Iowa First” platform — a message he says is centered on protecting Iowa’s

The Storm Lake Police Department has identified three local juveniles as the suspects in an attempted burglary that left a North Ontario Street home with significant damage last week. Officers were called to a residence in the 1100 block of N. Ontario Street on Thursday after the homeowner reported an attempted break‑in. The victim told police the incident happened Wednesday

Buena Vista University will honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11 next week with conversations, community tributes and a stair‑climb challenge that turns remembrance into action. BVU’s Department of Community and Student Engagement is hosting the events on Thursday, Sept. 10, with support from Seed Coalition, 9/11 Day and AmeriCorps.  The day begins with a 9/11 conversational panel from 9:45-10:45 a.m.

A simple crochet hook is helping Alta’s Steven Smith bring comfort to women after mastectomy surgery — one Knitted Knocker at a time. Smith is working to form a local volunteer group that will make Knitted Knockers, the soft, lightweight, hand‑knitted or crocheted breast prosthetics provided for free through the nationwide nonprofit KnittedKnockers.org.  The organization, headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, has