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... more

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. more

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. more

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... more

Washington Washington County voters elected two members of the Board of Supervisors, with Republican incumbent Marcus Fedler winning another term in District 3 and Republican Brendan DeLong winning the open seat in District 5. District 3 Fedler defeated Democratic challenger JoAnn Whitmore with 1,122 votes (54.9%). Whitmore received 920 votes (45.1%). District 3 includes Riverside, Ainsworth, Crawfordsville and Coppock... more

Do you have a story to tell about an act of kindness, memorable holiday experience, or family tradition that you would enjoy sharing with the community? If so, please share it with us at The News! We're working on our Holiday Guide coming out in November, and our theme is "Stories of the Season: Celebrating Giving, Kindness and Community." We would love to include your story! Please email your submission to JJ at News@thenews-ia.com -- photos are welcome as well! Deadline is Friday, November 13... more

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%) more

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 along with his grandson Elijah Statler. Miller, who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War from 1965-1969, got to spend the day in DC looking at all the monuments, calling it “an awesome trip.” This was his second time going to DC, but the first time going on Honor Flight. In fact, Miller had to wait for a year and half, before he was able to go as he explained that he signed up for it a year and half ago. “Mine was almost two years; I did it in February of 2025.”.. more

Kalona After months of construction, the new bridge on 110th Street, northwest of Kalona, is complete, and both the road and bridge are open to traffic... more

Ainsworth Work to repair the pipeline crossing 220th Street in rural Washington County is scheduled to begin Nov. 3 between Spruce and Redwood avenues. The project will stretch approximately 2,600 feet, covering the entire section of 220th Street between the two avenues... more

Certain races in Washington County will be taking place such as District 3 (Riverside, Ainsworth, Crawfordsville, Brighton and Coppock), District 5 (Ward 2 and 3 in Washington), and the state representative for District 92 (Washington and parts of Johnson County)... more

Kalona Republican candidate for governor Zach Lahn spoke to a packed house at Dutch Country Table in Kalona on Wednesday during a Washington County campaign rally. Joining Lahn were Attorney General Brenna Bird, District 92 State Rep. Heather Hora, former gubernatorial candidate and State Rep. Brad Sherman, and Washington County Board of Supervisors Chair Jack Seward. Bird opened the rally by introducing herself and discussing her support for law enforcement, voter identification requirements and Second Amendment rights. She also discussed her lawsuit against OpenAI, which she described as an effort to protect children from suicide... more

Keota - Family does not always mean being related by blood. Sometimes, it means friends and neighbors coming together to help someone in their time of need. That is exactly what happened for the Conway family, whose farm is near Keota, just outside Wellman. John Conway, a Washington County farmer, suffered a serious fall on his 80th birthday, Thursday, October 8. According to his wife, Cathy, he was on a ladder repairing a leak in his corn dryer, something he does each year around this time, when he slipped and fell an estimated 16 feet... more

Washington - Candidates for Washington County supervisor Districts 3 and 5 and Iowa House District 92 gathered in Washington last Thursday for a candidate forum. Seated at tables, the candidates answered questions from moderator Michelle Redlinger, director of the Washington Chamber of Commerce. Participants included District 3 incumbent Republican Marcus Fedler and Democratic challenger JoAnn Whitmore; District 5 Republican Lynette Iles and Democrat Brendan DeLong; and House District 92 incumbent Republican Heather Hora and Democratic challenger Brittany Erickson... more

Washington - U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks stopped at Pizza Ranch in Washington last week during her campaign tour. During her opening remarks, Miller-Meeks introduced Johnson County supervisor candidate Jennie Wunderlich and U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy of Utah, who had helped the campaign by going door to door... more

Wellman - With the Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center in Cedar Rapids opening in less than a month, the Washington County Riverboat Foundation (WCRF) is bracing for changes. For the past 20 years, the foundation has allocated 25% of its yearly revenue to municipal grants for cities throughout Washington County. With another casino opening about an hour away, the foundation expects its revenue to decline. more

Ainsworth - Roadwork on Highway 92 near Ainsworth is scheduled to begin Monday, October 26, with completion expected Thursday, November 12. more

Riverside - 160th Street east of Riverside in rural Washington County will close beginning Tuesday, October 27, for pipeline installation. According to the Washington County Road Department, MidAmerican Energy will install new pipelines, with Michels Pipeline, Inc. serving as the contractor. more

How does pork get from a farm to your plate? Knupp Farms in Washington transports millions of pigs each year from farms to processing facilities. more