Iowa DOT to begin work on Highway 30 near Atkins Turnoff

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
June 23, 2025 12:08 pm

Highway 30 is expected to have construction on portions of the road in Benton County this week.Construction will be on the turn lane making improvements at the intersections of Highway 30 with 32nd Avenue and 33rd Avenue according to the Iowa Department of Transportation will begin The project will help to improve traffic in and out of the city of Atkins.

Benton Community among 33 Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Grant Recipients

IOWA SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
June 23, 2025 11:58 am

Pilot program enables students to enjoy fresh, local food sourced from Choose Iowa members’ farms and small businessesIowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced 33 schools or school districts have received grants to participate in the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Program for Schools.

Secretary Pate Praises New Election Laws Strengthening Iowa's Election Integrity

SECRETARY OF STATE
June 23, 2025 11:57 am

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is celebrating the passage and signing of two important election-related bills. Governor Kim Reynolds officially signed Iowa House Files 928 and 954 into law on June 2.

Impactful Heat Through Thursday

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
June 23, 2025 10:52 am

Impactful heat and humidity will continue through Monday and may persist through Thursday.Periodic rain chances Monday night through Thursday could impact temperature forecasts at times Tuesday through ThursdayThere is a severe weather risk with the storms that develop late Monday afternoon and evening.

Apply for Theisen's More For Your Community grants

VINTON TODAY
June 22, 2025 2:17 pm

Through its corporate giving program, Theisen's will award a total of $400,000 to nonprofits in 24 store communities.Theisen’s Home•Farm•Auto invites nonprofits in its Iowa and Wisconsin store communities — including Vinton — to apply for its 2025 More For Your Community grants now through July 31.

Improved accessibility to Hannen Lake Park Beach with a new sidewalk.

BENTON COUNTY CONSERVATION
June 22, 2025 1:17 pm

Benton County Conservation (BCC) is proud to announce the installation of a new accessible sidewalk at the Hannen Lake Park beach—another step forward in making outdoor recreation more inclusive and enjoyable for all.

Move Over! It's the law.

GOVERNOR’S TRAFFIC SAFETY BUREAU (GTSB
June 19, 2025 9:02 pm

 The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with the Central Iowa Traffic Safety Task Force (CITSTF), and law enforcement across Iowa June 17-19 to educate drivers about the importance of yielding to vehicles on the shoulder displaying flashing lights.

Heat Advisory - updated

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
June 19, 2025 3:23 pm

UPDATED:A quick note that confidence has increased in heat this weekend and as such we have issued an Extreme Heat Watch for that period for all of eastern Iowa and Rock Island and Mercer Counties in Illinois.

Belle Plaine Pharmacists convicted of Stealing Opiods for his own use

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
June 19, 2025 2:36 pm

A Belle Plaine pharmacist was convicted of diverting oxycodone for his personal use and replacing the opioids with an over-the- counter pain reliever.Thomas Kelly, 55, of Cedar Rapids, was charged with four counts;In counts 1 and 2 he was charged with Prohibited Act - SCH I, II, or III Controlled Substance, a Class B Felony.

There will be no email on Juneteenth

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
June 18, 2025 11:34 am

Due to the federal holiday, there will be no outbound email on Thursday, June 19.If there is any urgent news, or time-sensitive news, it will be posted on the website and an email will go out.