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Iowa newspapers get second chance after publisher closure

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Iowa newspapers get second chance after publisher closure


Iowa newspapers get second chance after publisher closure

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WELCOME BACK. SEVERAL SMALL TOWN IOWA NEWSPAPERS ARE ON THE BRINK OF SHUTTING DOWN. WILL NOW GET A SECOND CHANCE. 18 PAPERS ACROSS THE STATE WERE SET TO GO OUT OF PRINT AT THE START OF THE MONTH, WHEN MID-AMERICA PUBLISHING CLOSED. NELSON MEDIA COMPANY, A VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY BASED IN NORTHEAST IOWA, BOUGHT FOUR OF THOSE PAPERS. THE ACQUISITIONS INCLUDE THE WINNEBAGO COUNTY TRIBUNE, PARKERSBURG ECLIPSE NEWS REVIEW, BUTLER COUNTY TRIBUNE, AND THE REGISTER. CEO CHRIS NELSON SAYS LOSING THE NEWSPAPERS WOULD PUT LOCAL COMMUNITIES AT RISK. JOURNALISM WAS THE FOUNDATION OF THIS COUNTRY, SO IF WE LOSE THAT IN THE SMALL COMMUNITIES, THAT’S A BIG DEAL. WE WANT TO MAKE THESE PAPERS GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITIES AND SHOW THE NEWS AND THE CONTENT THAT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE WEEK IN THESE CITIES AND TOWNS. 13 OF THE 18 NEWS

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Iowa newspapers get second chance after publisher closure

Updated: 10:44 PM CDT Apr 12, 2026

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Eighteen Iowa newspapers faced closure this month after MidAmerica Publishing shut down, but several have been saved by new ownership. Nelson Media Company, a video production company based in Northeast Iowa, purchased four of the papers. The acquisitions include the Winnebago County Tribune, Parkersburg Eclipse News Review, Butler County Tribune and the Grundy Register. “Journalism is the foundation of this country. So, if we lose that in the small communities, that’s a big deal,” CEO Chris Nelson said. “We want to make these papers great for these communities and show the news and content that happens every week in these cities and towns.”Thirteen of the 18 newspapers that were at risk of closing have been sold and will continue printing.

Eighteen Iowa newspapers faced closure this month after MidAmerica Publishing shut down, but several have been saved by new ownership.

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Nelson Media Company, a video production company based in Northeast Iowa, purchased four of the papers. The acquisitions include the Winnebago County Tribune, Parkersburg Eclipse News Review, Butler County Tribune and the Grundy Register.

“Journalism is the foundation of this country. So, if we lose that in the small communities, that’s a big deal,” CEO Chris Nelson said. “We want to make these papers great for these communities and show the news and content that happens every week in these cities and towns.”

Thirteen of the 18 newspapers that were at risk of closing have been sold and will continue printing.

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Iowa

April rains ease drought across Iowa, Drought Monitor map shows

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April rains ease drought across Iowa, Drought Monitor map shows


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The last few weeks of rain have alleviated some drought conditions in Iowa, though some areas of the state are still experiencing a moderate drought.

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The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday. What are the current drought conditions in Iowa?

US Drought Monitor map: How much of Iowa is in a drought?

The latest Drought Monitor report, released on April 16, indicated that roughly 22% of the state is experiencing some form of drought. It includes observations as of 8 a.m. April 14, so even more rain has fallen since then.

This is an improvement from the last report, released on April 9, which showed that 73% of Iowa was experiencing some form of drought.

Here is the breakdown of drought conditions in Iowa as of April 16:

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  • 83% of the state of Iowa is experiencing no drought conditions
  • 17% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions
  • 5% of the state is experiencing moderate drought conditions
  • 0.02% of the state is experiencing severe drought conditions

The April 16 map shows abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions mainly in western and southern Iowa. Parts of northwest Iowa are in moderate drought, while a separate stretch of dry conditions runs across south-central into southeast Iowa.

Polk County is not experiencing any dry conditions. Des Moines has recorded 5.06 inches of rain so far in April, well above the normal monthly total of 1.70 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Current conditions are an improvement from a year ago, when 86% of Iowa was abnormally dry, and 30% was in moderate drought, according to the Drought Monitor.

All 99 counties in Iowa were categorized as drought-free last August thanks to record-setting rainfall totals during the summer. It held this designation for several weeks before the first reports of abnormally dry conditions returned at the beginning of September 2025.

Iowa Drought Monitor tracks conditions weekly

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The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday.

The intensity levels range from abnormally dry, or D0, to exceptional drought, or D4.

Typically under D0 conditions, corn can show drought stress. Pond levels start to decline under moderate drought conditions and soybeans abort pods, according to the Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor also has a look-back chart that compares drought conditions from 3 months ago up to 1 year ago.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.



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Iowa

Iowa City PD searching for missing man with dementia

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Iowa City PD searching for missing man with dementia


The Iowa City Police Department is asking for the public’s help finding a man who hasn’t been seen since Wednesday morning.

Kalenga Byondo, 60, has dementia and was last seen leaving his home along Broadway Street around 7:00 a.m. ICPD lists him as 5’10”, and 160 pounds – and he was wearing all-black clothing when he went missing.

Anyone who knows where Byondo could be is asked to call 319-356-6800.



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Iowa

Nominations open for Iowa’s best breaded pork tenderloin contest

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Nominations open for Iowa’s best breaded pork tenderloin contest


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The race to crown the state’s best breaded pork tenderloin is back again!

The Iowa Pork Producers Associated has opened nominations for the 2026 Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest.

Nominations opened Wednesday and will close on June 1.

You can vote for your favorite sandwich here.

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The annual contest spotlights some of the state’s best restaurants and sparks some friendly competition, the IPPA said.

IPPA picks the top 40-voted spots across Iowa. Undercover judges will eat at each location and rank the sandwiches on on taste, quality, physical characteristics, presentation and experience. The top five picks will be revealed in October, with the winner receiving a $500 prize and bragging rights.

Last year’s winners, Hometown Heroes in Grinnel, said their pork tenderloin sales were 20 times more after their win.

“Once we made the judging, we did what we do best,” Co-owner Kalyn Durr said in a statement, “we tried to put out a consistently great tenderloin sandwich for each and every order,”

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