Washington, Cedar, Jones and Muscatine counties will share $11.6 million through the Iowa Rural Roads Safety Initiative

WaCo among four counties receiving funding through Iowa Rural Roads Safety Initiative

Washington Iowa will receive more than $76.2 million in federal funding to improve roadway safety statewide, including funding for improvements in Washington County. Washington, Cedar, Jones and Muscatine counties will share $11.6 million through the Iowa Rural Roads Safety Initiative to address high-risk rural roads identified in their safety action plans...
Crash in Ainsworth sends one to hospital

Crash near Ainsworth sends one to hospital

Ainsworth A two-vehicle crash in the 3000 block of Highway 92 on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 5, sent one person to University of Iowa Hospital by ambulance. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Riverside man found guilty of 15 sex abuse charges

Riverside A Riverside man, Jason Bex, was recently found guilty by a jury on 15 felony sexual abuse charges. Bex, 52, was first arrested in May 2025 and held in the Washington County Jail on a $1 million bond. After multiple trial delays, Bex was found guilty on Wednesday, Nov. 4...
Voter turnout was high across Washington County during this year’s midterm election, with several precincts recording more ballots cast than in previous years.

WaCo County sees high turnout during midterm election

Washington A high number of Washington County residents headed to the polls during last week's midterm election, with many also casting their ballots early throughout much of October. Precincts such as Kalona, Wellman and Riverside each recorded more than 1,000 ballots cast.
Democrat candidates win on Tuesday night such as Rob Sand, Christina Bohannan, Josh Turek and Nate Willems.

Iowa goes blue as Sand, Turek and Bohannan win

Des Moines Democrat Rob Sand defeated Republican businessman Zach Lahn in the Nov. 3 general election and will become Iowa’s first Democratic governor since Chet Culver, who left office 15 years ago. Lahn carried Washington County by fewer than 400 votes, according to unofficial results...
Sports
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Swartzentruber concludes high school career with gutsy state run

Max Swartzentruber ran his final race as a Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk on Friday, finishing 34th at the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge. Swartzentruber went out aggressively with a medal on …

Golden Hawks fall to Roland-Story in football round of 16

WELLMAN With 4:59 left in Friday’s game, Mid-Prairie quarterback Brooks Weber’s state-leading 30th touchdown pass of the season gave the seventh-ranked Golden Hawks a chance in their 2A …

Yoder siblings claim top 50 spots at state cross country

A pair of top 50 finishes for Hillcrest Academy’s Marie and Troy Yoder capped off the siblings’ lone cross country season together at the IGHSAU/IHSAA state meet in Fort Dodge. Marie, who …

Another state run for Golden Hawk besties

IOWA CITY To fully understand the close bond between Mid-Prairie cross country teammates Brooklyn Stutzman and Kendal Landstrum, you have to go back three years. Or four. In 2023, …

District championship sends Golden Hawks running toward state meet

IOWA CITY The Kickers Soccer Complex on the south side of Iowa City is turning almost into a home course for Mid-Prairie’s cross country team. The Golden Hawks won the River Valley …

Fiery first half fuels Golden Hawk win

An explosive start lifted the Golden Hawks to a first-round playoff victory on Friday, as Mid-Prairie claimed a 52-27 victory after fending off a third-quarter comeback attempt by Chariton. …

Hillcrest sends 3 to state cross country

Marie Yoder qualified for the state cross country meet in each of her first three seasons for Hillcrest Academy. On Thursday, she made it four straight trips to state with a 5th place finish at the …
Community News
Kalona
During election day on November 3, the Kalona YMCA had around 700 that came and voted before 5 p.m.

2026 Midterm elections results

Washington County Board of Supervisors (District 3) (1 seat) Marcus Fedler (R, incumbent) – 1,122 votes (54.9%) JoAnn Whitmore (D) – 920 votes (45.1%) (District 5) (1 seat) Brendan DeLong (R) - 1,004 votes (60.9%) Lynette Isles (D) – 644 votes (39.1%) County Attorney Nathan Repp (R) – 7,420 votes (100%) County Recorder Teresa Mangold (R) – 7,557 votes (100%) County Treasurer Lindsay Greiner Adam – 7,539 votes (100%) Iowa House District 92 (1 seat) Heather Hora (R, incumbent) 7,307 votes (55.2%) Brittany Erikson (D) 5,933 votes (44.8%) Mid-Prairie CSD Bond: 19,000,000 (60% to pass) (YES) 1,977 votes - (67.3%) (No) 961 votes - (32.7%) Federal U.S. House Iowa District 1 (1 seat) Christina Bohannan (D) - 172,833 votes (53.6%) Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R, Incumbent) 138,105 votes (42.8%) Michael Bridgford (N) 11,805 votes (3.7%) U.S. Senate Josh Turek (D) - 670,543 votes (50.5%) Ashley Hinson (R) - 615,770 votes (46.4%) Thomas Laehn (L) - 41,177 votes (3.1%) State Governor Rob Sand (D) - 757,6326 votes (56.1%) Zach Lahn (R) - 607,415 votes (43.9%) Attorney General Nate Williams (D) - 681,097 votes (50.9%) Brenna Bird (R, Incumbent) - 657,405 votes (49.1%) Secretary of State Paul Pate (R, Incumbent) - 711,766 votes (53.2%) Ryan Peterman (D) - 625,867 votes (46.8%) Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig (R, Incumbent) -701,882 votes (52.7) Chris Jones (D) - 629,249 (47.3%) Treasurer of State Roby Smith (R, Incumbent) - 664,948 votes (50.3%) John Norwood (D) - 655,763 votes (49.7%) Auditor of State Taylor Wettach (D) - 666,632 votes (50.2%) Chris Cournoyer (R, Incumbent) - 660,159 votes (49.8%)

    • Dental group urges Kalona to continue fluoride use

      Kalona A group of concerned citizens and dental professionals were present during the recent Kalona city council meeting to protect fluoride in …

    • Trip of a lifetime

      Kalona Many wait years to go on Honor Flight and some don`t even get the chance to go. However, a few weeks ago Jim Miller got the chance to go …

Riverside
RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL

Groundbreaking ceremony for Riverside’s Wellness Center set

RIVERSIDE Years of waiting will end Saturday morning in Riverside. With bulldozers likely in the background, the city will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday for its …

Wellman
Good things were happening at the Wellman WMCA during 2026!

Wellman council hears positive report from WaCo YMCA CEO Amy Schulte

Wellman With 2026 winding down, the Wellman City Council heard an update from Washington County YMCA CEO Amy Schulte, who reported that Wellman YMCA membership has returned to pre-COVID levels. Schulte said members have been returning and signing back up. About 141 members, or 17%, receive some form of membership discount, while 85 members have addresses outside Wellman...

Lone Tree
JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

JoCo Board shuts down request to jump into Iowa City schools crisis

IOWA CITY A request by Johnson County Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz to look into helping the Iowa City School District through a financial crisis was not supported by the rest of the board in a work …

Hills
Trojans Youth Baseball board president Grant Pippert presents to the council about upgrades to the baseball fields.

Possible improvements to Hills baseball complex discussed at recent council meeting

Hills During the Hills City Council meeting on Monday, October 26, Trojans Youth Baseball board president Grant Pippert discussed possible upgrades to the Hills baseball complex. Currently, the club pays $3,200 annually to use the baseball diamonds and also makes improvements to the fields...

Johnson County
Scott Powers of Lone Tree has a new trail date set for July of 2027.

Man accused of killing his father in Lone Tree has new trial date set for July 2027

Lone Tree Scott Powers, 52, of Lone Tree, who was arrested back in July in connection with the death of his 76-year-old father, Richard Powers, is now scheduled to stand trial on Tuesday, July 27, 2027...

Obituaries
Dr. Barbara jean Kirkpatrick Lips
Dr. Barbara Jean Kirkpatrick Lips, 79, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at The Views of Marion. Barbara was born in 1947, the daughter of John Lowry Kirkpatrick and Dorothy …
Angela "Angie" Kallaus Hofer
Angela M. “Angie” (Kallaus) Hofer, 86, of Joetown, passed from this life Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Birdhouse Hospice Home of Johnson County, in Iowa City. Per her wishes, she will be …
Betty Jeanine Engel
Betty Jeanine Engel was born September 26, 1943, in Minneapolis, the daughter of Robert and Oretha (Rasmussen) Westlund. She was raised in Kewanee, Illinois, where she graduated from Kewanee High …
Virginia Ann "Ginny" Yoder Wenger
Virginia Ann “Ginny” (Yoder) Wenger, 83, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2026, surrounded by her loving family at the Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg. Born October 18, 1943, in …
Web Extras
The Thanksgiving NFL archive: 5 statistical anomalies that defy decades of football logic
SBD reports on five Thanksgiving NFL statistical anomalies, highlighting remarkable performances, odd trends, and historical records from Turkey Day games.
What research shows about studying techniques and recall
Quizlet reports that research shows self-testing improves memory retention more than rereading materials, despite students feeling more confident when rereading.
Money-saving energy tips to brave the cold months
Intuit TurboTax reports energy-saving tips for winter after Daylight Saving Time, including bundling up, using space heaters, and sealing drafts.
5 ways to manage minor aches and pains to keep running this fall
(BPT) - Fall is arguably one of the best seasons for running. The crisp, cool air brings runners a much-needed reprieve after a summer of sweaty miles and serves as a reminder to make the most of the …
American AI Models Must Become the Global Default
American AI Models Must Become the Global Default
(NewsUSA) - Leadership in artificial intelligence may come down to adoption: technological leadership matters only if American AI becomes the default choice for governments, companies, and …