Local News

Drivers heading into Marcus will see a major change this week as the Iowa Department of Transportation closes Iowa Highway 143 at its intersection with Highway 3.  The closure marks the start of the final phase of construction on the new single‑lane roundabout — a project the DOT says is designed to improve safety at one of northwest Iowa’s most

Storm Lake’s long debate over e‑bikes, e‑scooters and other fast‑moving devices is about to reach a pivotal moment — and city leaders say it’s time for residents to speak up before the rules are formally written. At last Monday night’s meeting, the Storm Lake City Council voted unanimously to set a public hearing for Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. on

The Little Sioux River is getting its moment — and planners say the people who paddle it, fish it, study it and love it have a chance right now to help shape its future. A new regional effort is underway to update the Inkpaduta Canoe Trail, a 200‑plus‑mile stretch of the Little Sioux that winds from the glacial lake country

Buena Vista County health officials are urging residents to stay alert and get protected as Iowa responds to a growing measles outbreak centered in Polk County.  While no cases have been reported locally, Buena Vista County Public Health and Home Care Administrator Tracy Gotto says the state has asked all counties to ramp up education and encourage vaccination — the

The Storm Lake Police Department is urging residents to take extra precautions after a string of vehicle crimes early yesterday (Thursday, Aug. 20) morning.  Between 2 and 8 a.m., officers responded to two stolen vehicles and at least one vehicle burglary in areas near the Sail Inn Motel on Kenzy Street, along Geneseo Street north of West Second Street and

Downtown Storm Lake could soon get a fresh new look — and this week, the city council took its first deep dive into a program that aims to reshape the way businesses catch the eye of pedestrians. Council members held a work session Monday night to review the proposed Downtown Blade Sign Bracket Grant Program, a public‑private partnership designed to

Storm Lake got a fast‑paced look at its regional economy this week — and the message was clear: momentum is building, and some of it is happening right here at home. The city council heard a quarterly update Monday night from the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. No action was taken, but the briefing offered a wide‑ranging snapshot of workforce

Ida County’s data center debate isn’t slowing down — and this week, residents took the conversation online as PathOne Data Centers tried to answer some of the biggest questions surrounding its early interest in the county. Monday night’s hourlong webinar was the second public session PathOne has held, following last week’s packed in‑person meeting in Ida Grove, where more than