Author: Kadie Johannson

Drivers across Iowa are seeing some relief at the pump this week.

According to AAA, the average price of regular unleaded gasoline in Iowa has fallen four cents from last week, now averaging $2.47 per gallon. That’s 43 cents lower than this time last year.

The national average gas price stands at $2.83, down one cent from last week.

Crude oil prices also moved lower. West Texas Intermediate crude fell by just over a dollar this week and is currently priced at $60.42 per barrel. Brent crude dropped more than a dollar as well, now sitting at $64.92. Both remain well below prices from one year ago.

Diesel fuel prices moved in the opposite direction. Retail diesel in Iowa rose 12 cents this week, with a statewide average of $3.32 per gallon. Despite the increase, Iowa diesel prices remain 21 cents lower than the national average.

For home heating fuels, natural gas prices increased at the Henry Hub reporting site and are now priced at $4.87 per million BTUs. Propane is averaging $1.57 per gallon across Iowa, while home heating oil is averaging $2.75 per gallon.

Energy-saving tips for drivers and homeowners are available at fueleconomy.gov and energy.gov

Drivers in Henry County are advised to plan for a long-term road closure beginning next week.

The Henry County Engineer’s Office has announced a culvert replacement project on Fremont Avenue. Starting Monday, January 26th at nine a.m., Fremont Avenue will be closed north of Graham Avenue. The closure is expected to last six to eight weeks, weather permitting.

Officials say the work is necessary to replace an aging culvert, and motorists should seek alternate routes during the construction period. Anyone with questions about the project can contact the Henry County Road Department at 319-385-0762.

The Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Citizen of the Year and Community Impact Awards.

Chamber members are invited to nominate an individual for Citizen of the Year. Nominees must live or work in Henry County and should be recognized for making a significant impact through volunteerism and charitable activities.

Nominations are also open for the Community Impact Award, which honors a business, non-profit organization, or event that has helped make Henry County a better place to work, live, and play over the past year.

Both awards will be presented at the Chamber’s annual banquet, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 26th at Airport Road Vineyard. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, February 20th.

Fill out the 2026 Citizen of the Year Nomination Form here. Click here for the 2026 Community Impact Award.

Mount Pleasant High School recently announced their November and December Portrait of a Panther students: Alivia Lake, Zoey Johnson, Ethan Peck and Emma Humble.

Seven other outstanding students were also nominated: Helen Schnicker, Brynnlin Rodibaugh, Alayna Wagner, Chayzlee Johnson, and Caleb Shepherd.

Students were nominated by staff members for demonstrating one or more of the following qualities: resilience, integrity, compassion, responsibility, communication, and problem solving. All part of Panther PRIDE.

If you see these students at school or in the community, please congratulate them and encourage them to keep up the great work. We are proud of our Panthers!

Today marks Founder’s Day for P.E.O., Philanthropic Educational Organization, as members across the country celebrate the group’s founding and its long-standing mission of supporting women through education.

P.E.O. was founded on January 21st, 1869, by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant. What began as a small group focused on friendship and personal growth has grown into an international organization with thousands of chapters dedicated to providing educational opportunities for women.

Over the years, P.E.O. has established scholarships, grants, and loan programs that help women pursue higher education, complete degrees, and achieve career goals. Locally, P.E.O. chapters continue that mission through fundraising, community involvement, and direct support of educational initiatives.

Founder’s Day is an opportunity for members to reflect on the organization’s history, honor its founders, and reaffirm their commitment to promoting educational advancement and positive change.

For many in southeast Iowa, today also serves as a reminder that a global organization with lasting impact began right here in Mount Pleasant 157 years ago.

State Senator Mark Lofgren recapped the first week of the 2026 legislative session at the Iowa Capitol.

Lawmakers convened last week for the start of the second session of the Iowa Legislature, including swearing-in ceremonies and remarks from Governor Kim Reynolds, legislative leaders, and the Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice.

Lofgren highlighted recent policy outcomes, including improvements in school performance and attendance, economic growth rankings, and a record-low number of traffic fatalities in Iowa last year.

Looking ahead, property tax reform is expected to be a major topic this session, as lawmakers work on proposals aimed at easing the burden on homeowners and businesses.

Lofgren says he looks forward to continued work on behalf of Senate District Forty-Eight and encourages constituents to stay engaged. View the full recap of Senator Lofgren’s legislative update here.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting and trapping rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.

“We want people to come out to these meetings, listen to the seasons reviews, ask questions and hear directly from our staff,” said Todd Bishop, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Wildlife Bureau. “Part of the meeting will be devoted to discussing potential rule changes and collecting feedback as we work through the rules process.”

The meetings are open to the public. Comments collected from these public meetings will be considered along with other related comments received by the Iowa DNR prior to proposing changes to hunting rules and regulations. Proposed rules will be presented to the Natural Resource Commission during a regular public meeting for consideration and additional public comment.

Comments received during previous listening sessions have resulted in regulation changes, including modifying and removing areas closed to Canada goose hunting, establishing later goose season dates and increased bag limit, expanding the raccoon hunting and trapping season on private land, modifying Iowa’s antlerless deer quotas in north central and western Iowa, and extending the regular trapping season through the end of February.

Meeting date, time and location:
• Waverly, March 2, 6 p.m., Waverly Public Library, 1500 W. Bremer Avenue
• Bloomfield, March 3, 6 p.m., Pioneer Ridge Nature Center, 1339 Hwy. 63
• Boone, March 3, 6 p.m., Wildlife Research Station, 1436 255th Street
• Burlington, March 3, 6 p.m., Burlington Public Library, 210 Court St.
• Chariton, March 3, 6 p.m., Pin Oak Lodge, 45996 State Hwy. 14
• Creston, March 3, 6 p.m., Performing Arts Building multi-purpose room (124), 1201 West Townline Street
• Decorah, March 3, 7 p.m., Franklin W. Olin Building, Room 102, Luther College, 700 College Drive, next to the Prues Library
• Des Moines, March 3, 6:45 p.m., Des Moines Izaak Walton, 4343 George Flagg Parkway
• Maquoketa, March 3, 7 p.m., Hurstville Interpretive Center, 18670 63rd Street
• Spencer, March 3, 6:30 p.m., Iowa Lakes Community College, 1900 Grand Ave. Suite B1, Entrance #1-West side of the North Mall
• Iowa City, March 4, 5:30 p.m., Johnson County Extension Office, 3109 Old Hwy 218 South
• Charles City, March 4, 6:30 p.m., Public Library Zastrow Room, 910 Clark Street
• Okoboji, March 4, 6 p.m., Maser Monarch Lodge, 22785 Nature Center Road
• Perry, March 4, 6 p.m., Dallas County Conservation Board, Forest Park Museum administration building, 14581 K Avenue
• Algona, March 5, 7 p.m., Tietz Entrepreneurial Center at the Algona campus of Iowa Lakes Community College, 2111 Hwy 169 North
• Council Bluffs, March 5, 5:30 p.m., Bass Pro Shops, 2901 Bass Pro Drive
• Hinton, March 5, 5 p.m., Dennis L. Sohl Center for Outdoor Learning, Hillview Recreation Area, 25601 C60
• Lake View, March 5, 6:30 p.m., Speaker Park Shelter House, 418 North Blossom Street
• Toledo, March 5, 5:30 p.m., Tama County Nature Center at Otter Creek Lake Park, 2283 Park Road
• Ventura, March 5, 6 p.m., Clear Lake Wildlife Unit Office, 15326 Balsam Ave.

Any person attending the public meeting that has special requirements, such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments, should contact the Iowa DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.