State and Regional News

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has lowered its estimate of this year’s corn crop to the lowest in four years, saying wet weather has delayed planting and reduced acres planted and the expected per-acre yield. The expected production was cut in a monthly report released Tuesday by 1.4 billion bushels to 13.7 billion bushels, the lowest since 2015...

Although there’s been no announcement or new information released the past few weeks, a certain amount of activity and out-of-town visitors have been witnessed at the former Iowa Food Group plant in Cherokee that was unexpectedly shut down April 16 after just two months of operations...

The Board of Directors of the Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund (NWIRHTF) will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, June 20, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. in the board room of Northwest Iowa Planning & Development Commission located at 217 West 5th Street in Spencer, Iowa...

The Iowa Supreme Court wasn’t convinced that speculation about a town riot prevented an Estherville man from receiving a fair trial in Emmet County. In its ruling Friday, the state’s highest court restored the July 1, 2016, second-degree murder conviction for Lee Samuel Christensen. The 18-year-old fatally shot 19-year-old Thomas Bortvit about 13 months earlier, on June 6, 2015...

The recent release of a report by nonprofit research group TRIP focused on the nation’s rural roads and bridges and came to a similar conclusion as the report from 2017: Iowa has one of the highest percentages of rural bridges in poor or structurally deficient condition in the nation. ...

After a drop in honey production and crop value observed across the state of Iowa last year, local honey producers are hoping the recent changes in weather will continue and their hives will flourish. One of those producers is Jim Kraninger of Milford. Kraninger and his partner Marlene Boernsen have been equal partners in Sioux River Bees for almost two years. Kraninger said he hopes that each of the operation’s 400-some hives average about 60 pounds of honey...

An Iowa woman accused of helping a man choke a woman to death and dispose of her body has taken a plea deal. Webster County District Court records say 27-year-old Mackenzie Knigge pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted murder and two other crimes. Prosecutors say Knigge and Phillip Williams, of Lafayette, Indiana, killed 26-year-old Jessica Gomez in Knigge’s Clare apartment in August 2017. Her body was found in a field near Clare...

The Iowa Supreme Court has denied a request by the attorney for former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad to stop a civil trial in which Branstad is accused of discrimination against a gay former state worker’s compensation commissioner. Branstad and two former staffers were sued by Christopher Godfrey, who was pressured to quit after Branstad took over as governor in 2010 and received a pay cut. Godfrey claims it was because he’s gay. Branstad denies he knew that Godfrey is gay...

The city of Quimby contracted with a manure hauler Thursday to transport wastewater from a pump station to the city’s wastewater lagoon. The city plans to haul wastewater until the broken sewer force main that runs under the Little Sioux River can be repaired or replaced. The city is working with an engineering firm to determine the best option...

The Bridge of Storm Lake is holding its 7th Annual Run For Our Future on Saturday, June 22 to help raise funds for its Summer Youth Program. The 2019 Summer Youth Program includes a team of four AmeriCorps Summer Associates, six RefugeeRISEAmeriCorps Members, and one Tyson summer interns serving at The Bridge with the AmeriCorps-given goal of “preventing summer learning loss.” These programs also provids transportation to the school district’s free lunch program, the second year of middle school lunch program, summer camps, educational oppoliunities in the Cultivate Training Gardens, and regular activities at The Bridge Neighborhood Centers.. ...

The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce extended its congratulations to Steve Neyens, of Rushmore, Minnesota, on catching one of the 10 tagged walleyes during the Iowa Great Lakes Walleye Weekend’s extended contest. Neyens was also the winner of the Charlie Shuck Memorial Award for the heaviest stringer of walleye during the 37th Annual Iowa Great Lakes Walleye weekend. ...

One day before her graduation from BVU, Molly Johnson found herself at Better Day Café in downtown Storm Lake, enjoying lunch with her children, Isabel and Xander. “They’re going to King’s Pointe Waterpark this afternoon to play,” Johnson said. “That’s where we’re staying tonight.”...

Twenty-five-year-old Jaci Hermstad is taking her battle with a rare form of Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS, to New York City. Friends, medical personnel and flight staff surrounded Hermstad and her family as they departed from Spencer Municipal Airport by medical flight Wednesday morning. ...

Clay Central-Everly students gathered with teachers, school staff and members of the community for one final farewell to the high school in Everly Monday. Four students and two teachers shared memories, words of wisdom and encouragement as students prepared to say goodbye before joining a new school district next fall during the “What it Means to be a Maverick” program. ...

A northwest Iowa man has been sentenced in a second county for an insurance scheme. Clay County District Court records say 41-year-old Scott Leininger pleaded guilty last week to theft. He was given a suspended prison sentence of five years and placed on probation for five years...

The calls have been coming in to field offices and conservation officers for the past few weeks and will only increase as the calendar flipped to June - the peak fawning season is right around the corner. Callers report finding an “abandoned” fawn in an unusual place, like a flowerbed or small patch of cover. Rest assured this is normal deer behavior...

How to pronounce Beto O’Rourke’s first name — “Is it BET-oh or BAY-toe?” — is debated nearly everywhere the 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful goes in Iowa. But Rich Salas doesn’t hesitate. “BET-oh,” the chief diversity officer at Des Moines University says correctly while introducing O’Rourke at a recent gathering of an Asian and Latino political action committee. “What a really great name.”...

One hundred years after Iowa ratified the constitutional amendment allowing women to vote, the state’s first female governor will participate in the Iowa Suffrage Centennial Gala, hosted by the Iowa Federation of Republican Women, on Saturday, June 22, at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines...

Today Western Iowa Energy announced it is moving forward with the establishment of a Monarch Fueling Station at its plant near Wall Lake. The monarch habitat will span roughly four acres. The plant will start the process by spraying to eradicate non-native grasses this June and in late fall. They plan to do a dormant seeding of native plants and milkweed in the field in early November...

Governor Kim Reynolds has declared May 27-31 “End Distracted Driving Week in Iowa,” joining the efforts of Farm Bureau Financial Services and the Iowa State Patrol to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and to promote safe driving behaviors across the state. An official proclamation signing took place at the State Capitol on May 28...

Due to the damage sustained to the Elderbridge Agency on Aging offices, located in the Mohawk Square building at 22 N. Georgia Avenue, Mason City, Iowa 50401, Elderbridge Agency on Aging is postponing their Fundraiser “A Hot Night in Havana” to Sunday, September 15. The event will still take place at The Surf Ballroom...

By RUSS MITCHELL Special to The Pilot OKOBOJI — The founder of Templeton Rye hopes another mix of Iowa geography and distilled spirits will be the cocktail for success. Foundry Distilling Co. owner Scott Bush on Thursday launched Okoboji Vodka at a Pearson Lakes Art Center event in Okoboji. He describes his brand of vodka as “100% corn, pot-distilled and gluten free.”...

Freshly-minted Storm Lake High School grad Paola Salcedo Garcia is congratulated by sisters Esmeralda and Jade moments after receiving her diploma during tye recent graduation.

DES MOINES - Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has vetoed a bill that would have lifted a cap on the potency of medical marijuana products available in the state. Reynolds vetoed the bill Friday afternoon, saying the state must proceed cautiously in any expansion of its medical marijuana program. Reynolds says she could support future more limited effort to increase the potency of products...

Spencer High School graduate and Mercyhurst University religious studies professor Rich McCarty has been advocating for LGBTQ rights at the intersection of religion and civil discourse since he realized the Bible “did not condemn mutual and or loving same sex relationships.” McCarty shared at the Des Moines Art Center Thursday, May 23...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds all boaters and anglers to “Clean, Drain, and Dry” their boats and equipment this Memorial Day weekend to protect Iowa lakes and rivers from aquatic hitchhikers. Aquatic hitchhikers are invasive species – everything from zebra mussels to Eurasian watermilfoil – that move from one waterbody to another by hitchhiking on boats, in bait buckets and on other equipment used in the water. ...

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Black Crappie - Fair: Try a live minnow under a bobber in areas around docks and along shallow rocky shores. Anglers have picked up crappie in the marina and near the inlet. White Bass - Fair: Use leeches, crawlers and twisters. ...

Monarch butterflies are fluttering this way, and, with some luck, they’ll be more plentiful than in previous years when they reach Iowa later this spring. During the winter months, scientists observed the largest overwintering monarch population in Mexico since 2007, said Steven Bradbury, a professor of natural resource ecology and management at Iowa State University. ...

Sioux City officials have approved nearly $15 million for a new expo center with 80,000 square feet of exposition space that they hope will attract events to the city, including trade shows and youth sports tournaments. The City Council awarded the contract to L&L Builders on Monday for the Siouxland Expo Center project, the Sioux City Journal reported. The contract bid was more than $2 million higher than initial projections...

During the last week of the legislative session we continued our work towards adjournment for the year. We spent much of our time waiting for bills to come to us from the other chamber, waiting on amendments, and debating some of the last proposals we will discuss this year. ...

May 8 marked the end of Storm Lake United’s #MyPicturePerfectMom Photograph Contest. We had over 50 entries of mothers from all walks of life and are happy to announce that Audrey Wiley’s submission was chosen as the winner! With the photo submitted Audrey wrote, “My #mypictureperfectmom is also my favorite breast cancer survivor! Throwback to the first time she saw me in my wedding dress! My mom would go to the end of the earth for her kids and grandkids and I am so lucky to have her! She has the biggest heart and such a carefree spirit! My mom is my angel on earth!” Congratulations to Audrey’s mother Sherry Allen who is receiving a one-night stay at King’s Pointe Resort, four waterpark passes and a free brunch at Regatta on Sunday, May 11.. ...

At least two counties are generating some pushing back against a bill Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed at the beginning of the month. House File 690 established a children’s behavioral health system and requires certain core services among the state’s mental health regions. ...

An accident investigation is ongoing regarding a Wednesday afternoon incident where a Clay Central-Everly school bus slid into a ditch. A news release provided by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office stated at approximately 4:23 p.m. Wednesday Dean Stein, 55, of Fostoria, was driving the 2019 Thomas school bus eastbound in the 1200 block of 280th Street when the muddy road conditions caused the bus to lose traction and enter the south ditch. ...

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Fishing has been productive; recent cold weather and rains may slow the action temporarily, but expect the bite to pick back up once water temperatures warm up throughout the next week. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie fishing is usually best around the middle of May. ...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ spring fish spawning season is over and Iowa’s two walleye hatcheries are filled to capacity. Netting crews collected enough walleye to produce 1,082 quarts of walleye eggs at the Spirit Lake hatchery and 963 quarts at the Rathbun hatchery...

Friends and family members were concerned about Kolton Dicus when he disappeared on foot from Milford more than two weeks ago. Their worst fears were realized on Saturday. Milford Police and the family confirmed Kolton was located by a private investigator and York, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois K9 who specializes in missing persons searches. Memorial services for Kolton are still pending in Sioux City...

There was plenty of boat traffic on the lake with beautiful spring weather last weekend. Canoes patrolled off Scout Park beach, sharing the lake with kayaks, power boats, pontoons and sailboats.

Low commodity prices and delayed fieldwork due to precipitation have many Iowa farmers feeling the effects of stress. While some stress is normal, too much can lead to physical, mental and emotional problems, according to Larry Tranel, dairy specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach...

Iowa outdoor enthusiasts will soon have an option to place an organ donor sticker on their hunting and fishing licenses under a new law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. It’s called Logan’s Law after Logan Luft, of Charles City, who died at age 15 in 2017 after an all-terrain vehicle crash...

Inside Century Farms Distillery, located at 2304 Highway Boulevard in Spencer, the husband and wife team of Ryan and Amanda Bare have been hard at work to make their microdistillery dream a reality. The two recently achieved one of their first benchmarks by having the distillery’s first product, “Open Gate Vodka,” released and available on store shelves in Spencer. The duo said there are big plans in the works for the distillery...

The eighth annual World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute brought together 304 students from 130 high schools at Iowa State University to explore critical global food security issues and discover academic and career paths in STEM fields. The Iowa Youth Institute has hosted participants from over 71 percent of Iowa high schools since its inaugural event in 2012 and has been referred to as the most unique and innovative event that inspires Iowa high school students to become global leaders...

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is mulling key decisions on several divisive bills that have been approved by the Legislature. Among the issues to be decided are sports betting, limiting duties of the attorney general, prohibiting the use of Medicaid funding to pay for sex-reassignment surgery, and outlawing the use of government funds for sex education courses offered by Planned Parenthood...

We are in “shutdown” mode in the Iowa Legislature. There only a couple of budget bills left that have not been agreed upon. When the last of those clears both chambers and heads down stairs to the Governor’s office, there will be little incentive to stick around to work on policy. I am hoping that as I head home after adjournment, that field conditions will be favorable for me to start planting corn...

A Spirit Lake man is scheduled to appear May 16 on charges that he violated terms of the Iowa Sex Offender registry 13 months ago. Jason A. Krayenborg was on the offender registry for a Dec. 12, 2007, conviction for assault with the intent to commit sexual abuse involving a minor girl under the age of 13...

For mental health and substance abuse therapist Ryan Jensen, offering his expertise to those in need is a personal mission which started as he moved past his only battles with addiction. Jensen is looking to continue to pay forward the help he received...

The 143rd walleye fishing season officially opens May 4 at Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji lakes. “Annual broodstock netting is complete and the walleye spawn is coming to a close,” said fisheries biologist Mike Hawkins. “Walleyes will start the recovery process by consuming a lot of calories. This brings good fishing.”...

The final Eggs and Issues of 2019 brought the Spencer City Council chambers to maximum capacity as politicians and constituents met for the triannual political forum. Six elected officials from the state and federal level were present, including U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron; state Sen. Zach Whiting, R-Spirit Lake; state Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids; state Rep. John Wills, R-Okoboji; and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig...

Public Safety is frequently one of the top things that Iowans identify as something the Legislature needs to address. We have taken this topic seriously, passing many bills this session that will keep students, motorists, and senior citizens safe across our state...

Week 14 of this session is finished and lawmakers are heading home to celebrate the Easter holiday. We are scheduled to adjourn in about two weeks, but most people would like to make a run for the finish line next week. This will be difficult, but it is possible. We have an agreement with the Senate on how much money the State will spend next year, so that is a big step. Budget chairs will most likely reach agreements on individual budgets yet this week...

Iowa law enforcement officials have announced they will conduct a Drug Impaired Driving specialized enforcement campaign throughout the state April 19 and 20. Drive High, Get an OWI is an intensified effort to fight drug-impaired driving in correlation with the 4/20 ‘holiday.’ Similar efforts are occurring across the region in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Up and down the highways of these states, officers will be arresting anyone caught driving impaired...