The year 2024 ended with above average precipitation and below average snowfall, capping off a year of volatile drought conditions across much of the state. According to the recent water summary …

The U.S. The Department of Agriculture has tightened its surveillance for turkey flocks in Midwestern states in response to the ongoing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak among livestock, and …

The Iowa Department of Agriculture is urging pet owners to keep their animals away from sick or deceased wild birds and animals as highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to circulate through …

State legislators have their priorities set on addressing property taxes in the upcoming 2025 legislative session, but have no concrete plans for solving the problem they see with them.  …

The Alta-Aurelia School Board approved the issuance of up to $9.5 million in sales tax bonds to build a new athletic facility. During their Jan. 13 meeting, the board held a public hearing …

The Alta Community Library has found a new home — for now. In the first of its kind town hall meeting Sunday afternoon, nearly 40 Alta residents joined at the town's Veterans of Foreign …

The Alta City Council approved a project proposal from Beck Engineering of Cherokee for the ongoing library relocation project that continues to circle around finding a location for the new library …

Land values across Iowa dropped 5% to 10% during 2024, a gradual decline from the record high prices they held in 2021 and 2022. An annual survey conducted by Iowa State University’s …

Buena Vista University President Brian Lenzmeier will serve another five years after the BVU Board of Trustees unanimously approved an extension of his contract. Lenzmeier has already served …

Dozens of dead geese and swans washed ashore Storm Lake last week, a likely sign of highly pathogenic avian influenza among local wild bird populations. Rachel Ruden, state wildlife veterinarian …

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Soybean Association and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service are forming a public-private partnership to implement projects to …

AgState ended the 2024 fiscal year with $950 million in sales and after-tax earnings of $18.1 million despite volatile weather, flooding and lower commodity prices that posed challenges for the …

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and federal partners continue to monitor the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the state’s wild bird population following a sharp …

The Alta-Aurelia School District is looking to utilize “Secure an Advanced Vision for Education” revenue and sales tax bonds to fund the construction of a new athletic facility. …

Land values across Northwest Iowa — and most of the state — fell during 2024, snapping a five-year growth trend. According to a press release from Iowa State University’s …

Multiple cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza were detected in commercial chicken and turkey flocks last week — a concern for poultry growers in Northwest Iowa, where livestock …

Storm Lake’s newest coffee shop, VeSo, experienced a positive first week of business after their soft opening last Thursday that coincided with Miracle on Lake Avenue. The cafe at 512 Lake …

Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow announced the recipient of the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year award Monday morning during an assembly at Sioux Central in …

The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors approved the “Wind Energy Conversion System Ordinance” last Tuesday, the first of its kind in the county. Discussions of the ordinance …

The repaving project on Memorial Road is officially completed, meeting the Thanksgiving completion date despite missing the contractual “substantial completion” date of Oct. 1. …