Iowa
Millie Youngquist wins race for mayor
WASHINGTON — Mayor Pro Tem Millie Youngquist can officially shorten her title, coming out of a special election Tuesday with 432 ballots in her favor. At 44.7%, she won the plurality of votes cast to choose Washington’s next mayor in a four-way race.
Reached for comments after unofficial election results were announced, Youngquist said she was, “Pleasantly surprised.“
“I’m pleased and flattered that the citizens of Washington have put their vote of confidence in me,“ she said. ”I’ve done a lot of hard working meeting people and knocking on doors and shaking hands, and talking to people, and hopefully that helped get some of the vote out.“
The longtime council member and Washington’s acting mayor for the last 14 months campaigned on a simple message: she’s practical. She’s patient. And she already knows how to do the job.
Those talking points proved more persuasive than those from skeptics, some of whom argue she’s not as assertive a leader as recently resigned Mayor Jaron Rosien, or blaming her for recent sewer and water rate hikes.
Runners-up in the race were council members Elaine Moore (171 votes,) and Ivan Rangel, (240 votes,) as well as challenger candidate Rob Meyer (130 votes.)
Special elections — which happen outside of regularly scheduled primaries and general elections, involving high-profile state or federal offices — are not known for generating much voter interest. With that in mind, a considerable number came to the polls April 30, totaling 978 ballots.
The number dwarfs the last citywide special election in 2017, which saw just 507 voters turn out for a public measure on hotel/motel taxes.
But it falls short of other off-season citywide elections in recent memory, like a contentious bond referendum in 2016, which brought 1,712 voters to the polls before it ultimately failed. And Washington’s last contested mayoral election, a two-way race between Jaron Rosien and Pete Schaefer in 2017, brought 1,308 ballots, considerably more than Tuesday night’s totals.
Even for a special election, the latest race happened on unusually short notice, and for the first time used a polling place at Dallmeyer Hall on the Washington County fairgrounds, rather than a retirement home closer to most residents’ doorsteps. Both factors may have suppressed turnout for demographics that rely on the convenience of a longer mail-in absentee window, or access to a ballot box within walking distance.
After winning what was effectively a re-election bid, Youngquist is poised to remain in the mayor’s chair once unofficial results are finalized by County Supervisors next week. That gives her a green light to direct council members toward her priorities, a list that includes infrastructure maintenance, communication with the public and enforcement of the city’s nuisance and property maintenance codes.
The mayor-elect previously said she thought of the race as a referendum on her own leadership over the last several months. Tuesday’s vote appeared to confirm Youngquist still has the public’s blessing to stay at the helm, at least from the plurality of Washington’s voters.
“For me, knowing that I’ve been duly elected by the citizens of Washington, would be like a vote of confidence,“ Youngquist said in an earlier interview with SEIU. ”I could move forward with my ideas. I always want to remain open for citizens, for them to come to me.“
On Tuesday night, the Mayor-Elect said she was excited to continue her role, and thanked opposing candidates for running.
“I look forward to working with Ivan and Elaine on city council, they have not lost their position on council and their voice, and they are passionate about Washington,” she said. “And I also thank Rob for putting himself out there as a candidate, and wish him the best.”
Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com
POMEROY, Iowa (KTIV) – A college’s bus traveling on a Northwest Iowa highway crashed Wednesday morning, sending dozens of people to the hospital and resulting in one student’s death.
The Iowa State Patrol says shortly after 11 a.m. on Feb. 11, the bus crashed on Iowa Highway 4, near 220th Street, just west of Twin Lakes.
According to ISP, the bus belonged to Iowa Lakes Community College, a Northwest Iowa-based college, and had gone off the highway and overturned in a ditch. Authorities say only the bus was involved in the crash.
ISP says there were 33 people on the bus, with injuries ranging from minor to serious. Officials at the scene say one of the bus’s occupants was declared dead, they were later identified as 19-year-old Carter Johnson.
The other 32 bus occupants were assessed by medical personnel and sent to various hospitals.
“Due to the number of individuals and the extent of reported injuries, a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) was declared,” stated the Calhoun County Emergency Agency. “Given the seriousness of injuries, multiple medical helicopters were requested to assist with patient transport. Ground ambulances from surrounding jurisdictions also responded to provide additional medical support and transportation.
Authorities say there was an Iowa Lakes Community College van in the area as well, with six occupants, but it was not involved in the crash.
Iowa Lakes Community College has canceled classes for Thursday, Feb. 12, and Friday, Feb. 13, after the deadly bus crash involving the college’s baseball team.
In an email to students, ILCC confirmed that a student-athlete was killed in the crash. According to various Facebook posts, that student has been identified as 19-year-old Carter Johnson of Rapid City, SD.
Previous Coverage
A college’s bus traveling on a Northwest Iowa highway crashed Wednesday morning, sending dozens of people to the hospital and resulting in one death.
The Iowa State Patrol says shortly after 11 a.m. on Feb. 11, the bus crashed on Iowa Highway 4, near 220th Street, just west of Twin Lakes.
According to ISP, the bus belonged to Iowa Lakes Community College, a Northwest Iowa-based college, and had gone off the highway and overturned in a ditch. Authorities say only the bus was involved in the crash.
ISP says there were 33 people on the bus, with injuries ranging from minor to serious. Officials at the scene say one of the bus’s occupants was declared dead after rescue personnel arrived, but did not go into further detail on their identity.
The other 32 bus occupants were assessed by medical personnel and sent to various hospitals.
“Due to the number of individuals and the extent of reported injuries, a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) was declared,” stated the Calhoun County Emergency Agency. “Given the seriousness of injuries, multiple medical helicopters were requested to assist with patient transport. Ground ambulances from surrounding jurisdictions also responded to provide additional medical support and transportation.
Authorities say there was an Iowa Lakes Community College van in the area as well, with six occupants, but it was not involved in the crash.
Bus was carrying members of NW Iowa baseball team
Officials with Iowa Lakes Community College have confirmed that members of their baseball team were on the bus. A student also confirmed to KTIV that the bus was taking the team to Arkansas for a game. The student said some of the people on the bus were flown to a Des Moines hospital.
Iowa Lakes Community College was scheduled to play against North Arkansas College in Harrison, Arkansas, on Thursday, Feb. 12.
On Facebook, North Arkansas College released a statement about the crash, saying they would be praying for the team.
“Our hearts are heavy as we grieve alongside the Iowa Lakes College community. The loss of a life is a tragedy that reaches far beyond one campus. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the individual who passed away, and we are lifting up in prayer those who were injured and all who are affected,” stated Dr. Rick Massengale, North Arkansas College President. “During moments like this, we are reminded that the higher education community is a family, and we stand ready to support Iowa Lakes Community College in any way we can.”
Iowa Lakes Community College is located in the Iowa Great Lakes region. It has campuses in Algona, Emmetsburg, Estherville, Spencer and Spirit Lake.
Crash closes highway for hours
Northbound and southbound lanes on Iowa Highway 4 were closed a little after 11 a.m. due to the crash. By 2:45 p.m., the road had reopened.
While responding to the crash, the Iowa State Patrol was assisted by the Calhoun County Sheriff and EMS, Rockwell City Police Department, Calhoun County Emergency Management, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and other supporting agencies.
The crash remains under investigation.
A bus from a local public school district was at the crash scene as well. Officials with Pocahontas Area Community School District say their bus was there to help authorities.
The district wanted to make it clear that their bus was not involved in the crash itself.
“Earlier today, a bus was involved in an accident on Highway 4, south of Pomeroy. This was not a PACSD bus. Pocahontas Police Chief Leu asked Jeff Halder, PACSD transportation director, to help at the site of the accident by bringing a bus to the location. That is the only reason why one of our buses is at the site. Again, our bus was not involved in the accident; it is only there to provide support,” stated officials in a post on Facebook.
Candlelight vigil in Estherville
A candlelight vigil has been scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 11. The vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Iowa Lakes Community College’s Estherville campus, inside the choir room.
Copyright 2026 KTIV. All rights reserved.
A bus carrying the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team crashed in a rural part of the state on Wednesday, killing one and injuring 32 others.
The bus overturned into a ditch on a highway near Twin Lakes, which is roughly 110 miles northwest of Des Moines, at 11 a.m. local time, according to the Iowa State Patrol.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash, according to authorities.
None of the crash victims has been publicly identified, and authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.
“The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority,” Iowa Lakes Community College said in a statement, according to KCCI8. “The College is actively supporting those affected and communicating directly with families.”
Iowa Lakes’ season kicked off last week with a four-game series against Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa.
The team was set to play a four-game set against North Arkansas College on Thursday and Friday.
“Our hearts are heavy as we grieve alongside the Iowa Lakes College community,” North Arkansas told the outlet in a statement. “The loss of a life is a tragedy that reaches far beyond one campus. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the individual who passed away, and we are lifting up in prayer those who were injured and all who are affected.
“During moments like this, we are reminded that the higher education community is a family, and we stand ready to support Iowa Lakes Community College in any way we can.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also shared her condolences to the team, writing in a social media post that she and her husband were “heartbroken” by the news.
“Kevin and I are heartbroken by the horrible news of a deadly crash involving an Iowa Lakes Community College bus transporting student athletes,” she posted to Facebook on Wednesday. “We are praying for all affected by this tragedy and their families.
“Please join us in keeping Iowa Lakes Community College in our hearts.”
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