Local News

First‑degree murder and attempted murder charges have been filed in the April UTV collision in rural Calhoun County that left one man dead and another critically injured. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that 21‑year‑old Jaxyn Stone Blum of Rockwell City is now charged with first‑degree murder in the death of Kyle Robert Rath, and attempted murder in the

A pedestrian was seriously injured Thursday morning after being struck by a vehicle in the Storm Lake Walmart parking lot. Storm Lake police say the incident happened around 9:30 a.m. at Walmart on North Lake Avenue. According to the preliminary investigation, 84‑year‑old Larry Spiess of Alta was walking in the parking lot when he was hit by a 2021 Chevy

A 127‑year‑old maritime display — tied to the company that built the Titanic — has surfaced in Cherokee, and the consignment shop now housing it says it may be one of the rarest pieces to come through its doors.  Lazy Cat Antiques owner Jeri Terry says the 1899 ship portrait arrived quietly: a man from Salix brought it in with

By the time Rob Sand took the microphone at Smokin’ Hereford Tuesday afternoon, the room was already full — and he wasted no time telling the crowd Iowa’s political system needs a reset. Nearly 100 people attended the Storm Lake Town Hall, where Sand — the Democratic nominee for governor running against Republican Zach Lahn — said the state’s two‑party

Wind turbines, solar fields and data centers dominated Rob Sand’s pre‑Town Hall huddle with reporters Tuesday — and he made clear the stakes are rising in northwest Iowa. Sand said counties should keep control over wind and solar zoning, but he supports reasonable setback rules — a topic gaining traction in northwest Iowa as developers explore utility‑scale solar and new

A decade after plans first surfaced for luxury condos on Sunrise Park Road, the developer says Phase 2 is ready — but the market isn’t.  The Storm Lake City Council heard that message Monday night as FB Storm Lake II developer Shawn Foutch delivered a candid update on the long‑running Breeze condominium project at 201 Sunrise Park Road, overlooking Sunrise

Storm Lake’s push to regulate personal mobility devices picked up speed Monday night, with city council members combing through a new draft ordinance line by line.  The work session marked the city’s first detailed review of proposed rules for e‑bikes, e‑scooters, mini‑bikes and other electric devices that have raised safety concerns across Storm Lake. Mayor Meg McKeon opened the discussion

Alta’s long‑running 28E agreement between the city and the Alta‑Aurelia Community School District was back under the microscope at last night’s city council meeting, as members weighed how much the city is really getting out of it. Mayor Desi Suter opened the discussion by saying the Alta-Aurelia Community School District Board of Education has not acknowledged Alta’s recent petition asking