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Secretary Pate reminds state and federal candidates of the filing window to appear on Primary Election ballot

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES – The filing period for Iowa candidates seeking to appear on the ballot for the June 2 primary election begins Monday, February 23 and runs through Friday, March 13 at 5:00 p.m. Primary candidates must submit the necessary paperwork to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.

Candidates running for their party’s primary election for federal offices (U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative), state executive offices (Governor & Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of State, Treasure of State, Secretary of Agriculture, and Attorney General), and candidates for the Iowa General Assembly (State Senator and State Representative) must submit both an affidavit of candidacy and nomination petitions during this period in order to qualify for ballot access in the June 2 primary.

The February 23-March 13 filing window is only applicable to candidates seeking the Democratic or Republican nomination for the November 4 general election. Candidates with no party affiliation or affiliated with a non-party political organization (NPPO) cannot appear on a primary election ballot. These candidates must file during the general election filing period to have their names placed on the general election ballot. These candidates may file for the general election between February 23 and June 2. Primary candidates running for county office must file their paperwork with their local County Auditor between March 2 and March 20.

“Running for office is one of the most important ways Iowans can actively participate in our democracy,” said Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate. “We take the responsibility of receiving and accepting candidate paperwork very seriously. Our team is committed to assisting all candidates with integrity – ensuring elections in Iowa are accessible, transparent, secure, and fair.”

State and federal primary candidates can submit their paperwork to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Note, the Lucas Building Office will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13):

  • The Iowa State Capitol Building, First Floor Room 105, 1007 E Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA
  • The Lucas State Office Building, First Floor, 321 E. 12th, Des Moines, IA

Additional information on the number of signatures needed for petitions for each state and federal office, and other information on filing candidate paperwork is available at sos.iowa.gov/voters/candidates.

Candidates whose papers are received and accepted by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office will be added to a list on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website. Candidates who submit their paperwork may also have their pictures taken with Secretary Pate or his staff at the Capitol Office after delivering their petitions.  These pictures are posted on the Secretary of State’s social media channels. Photos with candidates do not indicate endorsements.

Oskaloosa Main Street’s Community Input Survey Remains Open Through Sunday

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — Oskaloosa Main Street is conducting a community input survey aimed at gathering valuable feedback from residents and business/building owners in the Main Street district. The survey will help shape the strategic plan for the Main Street program, ensuring it meets the needs and aspirations of the community.

The survey is available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Oskaloosa_CommunitySurvey and will be open until February 22nd. We encourage everyone to participate and share their thoughts on how we can improve and revitalize our Main Street district.

Following the survey, a public input session will be held at Bridget’s Public House on March 30th at 5:30pm. This session will provide an opportunity for the community to hear about the survey results and offer further input on the strategic plan.

“We believe the best way to create a vibrant and thriving Main Street district is by involving the community in the planning process,” said Angella Foster, Oskaloosa Main Street Director. “Your feedback is crucial in helping us define a strategic plan that reflects the community’s vision and priorities.”

For more information, please contact Angella Foster at mainstreet@mahaskachamber.org or 641-672-2591.

Rose Man Arrested Following Oskaloosa Burglary Investigation

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA – A Rose Hill man is behind bars following an investigation into a burglary that occurred in Oskaloosa last weekend.

According to court documents, the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office investigated a burglary that was reported on Sunday, February 15, in the 2000 block of Highway 92 in Oskaloosa. Authorities say that 41-year-old Jacob Lowe of Rose Hill forced entry into a residence there with the intent to steal various items. Several items in the residence had been gathered and placed in the kitchen, and police say that this was most likely done to make it easier to remove them from the residence and take them to a vehicle.

Some of the items involved in the incident included a compound bow valued at roughly $150, camera equipment valued at roughly $300, a cell phone that was removed from the basement and was later found outside the residence, and an iPad that was reported missing.

Lowe allegedly admitted during a phone call that he had been inside the residence, and multiple witnesses corroborated him being in or near the home.

Deputies were initially unable to locate Lowe, but after an arrest warrant was issued, he was found and arrested. Lowe remains in custody in the Mahaska County Jail and he faces a charge of 3rd Degree Burglary, a class D felony, as well as Parole Violation.

Mahaska Health Invites Community to Attend Free Heart Health Event Tomorrow

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — In recognition of American Heart Month, Mahaska Health invites the community to attend a free health event on Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Mahaska Health through entrance #4.

This annual event shines a spotlight on knowing your numbers and taking proactive steps toward better heart health. Adults of all ages are encouraged to attend.

The free screening event will include cholesterol checks, blood pressure screenings, sleep quality assessments, healthy cooking tips, and additional important health screenings. Mahaska Health experts and providers will be available to offer guidance and education to help participants better understand their results and next steps for maintaining a healthy heart.

This annual screening is an opportunity for community members to gauge their heart health and take the appropriate steps to stay healthy. Using state-of-the-art technology, including a highly advanced CT scanner for Calcium Scoring tests, Mahaska Health Cardiology Center of Excellence offers echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and other essential diagnostic cardiac tests.

“Knowing your numbers can make a big difference in your life,” shared Dr. John Pargulski, Director of Cardiology at Mahaska Health. “This event gives our patients, families, and neighbors the opportunity to better understand their heart health in a supportive and accessible setting. Prevention and early intervention are key to long-term wellness.”

Screening participants will receive their results by mail, along with an analysis and recommendations for necessary follow-up care. 

Registration is encouraged but not required. Walk-ins are welcome. Fasting 8-12 hours prior to the event is recommended. To register, visit mahaskahealth.org/2026health.

Former Prince Andrew arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, in photos

Posted on by Sam Parsons

LONDON (AP) — U.K. police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Thames Valley Police, an agency that covers areas west of London, including Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home, said it was “assessing” reports that the former Prince Andrew sent trade reports to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.

The assessment followed the release of millions of pages of documents connected to a U.S. investigation of Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor features a number of times in the documents.

The police force did not name Mountbatten-Windsor, as is normal under U.K. law. But when asked if he had been arrested, the force pointed to a statement saying that they had arrested a man in his 60s. Mountbatten-Windsor is 66.

“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,’’ the statement said. “We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”

Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein. Last fall, King Charles III stripped Andrew of his royal titles, including the right to be called a prince, as he tried to insulate the monarchy from the continuing revelations about his younger brother’s relationship with Epstein. Those revelations have tarnished the royal family for more than a decade.

Images circulated online appeared to show unmarked police cars at Mountbatten-Windsor’s home, Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, with plainclothes officers appearing to gather outside.

Spring-like weather bringing Iowa’s ice fishing season to early end

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — Ice fishing for winter 2026 is rapidly coming to an end in Iowa, including at traditional late season lakes across the far north part of the state.

In the past two days, a UTV broke through the ice on East Okoboji Lake and a pickup truck broke through to its frame on West Okoboji Lake. Earlier on Wednesday, a wheel house-style ice fishing shelter broke through on West Okoboji Lake.

The UTV has been fished out; the pickup removal will happen soon; and the wheel house is being removed.

“The quality of ice is deteriorating quickly in a lot of places,” said Capt. Greg Harson, Law Enforcement supervisor for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources covering northwest Iowa. “For anyone coming up here looking for ice, the conditions are not great. Ice could be good in one place, then poor in another.

“Most of the locals have put their gear away for the season.”

Much of the north side of Spirit Lake is ice free and the ice heaves near shore on Clear Lake have opened. All other north Iowa lakes are losing ice as well, and while the spring like temperatures are forecast to retreat to more seasonal for middle February, the nightly lows will not be low enough to reset the ice.

Anyone planning to go ice fishing should do so on foot, with a spud bar to check ice thickness often, and plan to bring a throwable flotation cushion with at least 50 feet of rope.

Fairfield Man Arrested for Making Threats, Brandishing Knife

Posted on by Sam Parsons

FAIRFIELD – A Fairfield man was arrested yesterday morning after allegedly threatening multiple people while wielding a knife.

The Fairfield Police Department reports that officers were dispatched to the 1300 block of West Jackson Avenue for a report of a male subject who was threatening residents located in one of the trailers on the property. The caller told police that the man was outside of the trailer and had a knife in his hand.

Officers were able to detain the man when they arrived on scene. A knife was found around the area where the man was located; officers conducted a preliminary investigation and took statements from witnesses, and eventually arrested the man, who was identified as 41-year-old Adam James Schafer of Fairfield.

Schafer is charged with Going Armed with Intent, a class D felony, as well as three simple misdemeanors, including Interference with Official Acts, 5th Degree Criminal Mischief, and Disorderly Conduct. He was lodged in the Jefferson County Correctional Facility pending an initial court appearance.

Oskaloosa to Host Junior League Softball Central Region Tournament

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — For the first time ever, Oskaloosa, Iowa, will host the Junior League Softball Central Region Tournament from July 23 – 29, 2026. This will be the qualifying tournament for the 2026 Junior League Softball World Series (JLSWS) to be held at Everest Park in Kirkland, Washington. One of seven World Series events held by Little League® International each summer, the JLSWS is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for players to represent their communities on the global stage. The games provide an opportunity to build teamwork, friendships, and memories.

“From my first visit to the Lacey Recreation Complex, it was clear Oskaloosa is well suited to host a tournament of this caliber,” said Assistant Central Region Director Cody Shimp. “The facilities are first class, and the combination of a strong and welcoming community will create an outstanding experience for the players.”

“We’re so excited to host the players and their families in Oskaloosa,” said Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt. “The welcome ceremony will be on our historic square the same night as our annual Sweet Corn Serenade, which makes the experience even more special for both the players and our community.”

The Central Region Tournament is one of 12 tournaments – eight in the U.S. and four internationally – to qualify teams for the JLSWS. Little League estimates the tournament will include about 150 players with about 500 additional family and friends attending the tournament. From regular season community games to the World Series, the experiences as part of the Little League program teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and communities.

Mark Zuckerberg set to testify in watershed social media trial

Posted on by Sam Parsons

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mark Zuckerberg will testify in an unprecedented social media trial that questions whether Meta’s platforms deliberately addict and harm children.

Meta’s CEO is expected to answer tough questions on Wednesday from attorneys representing a now 20-year-old woman identified by the initials KGM, who claims her early use of social media addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which TikTok and Snap have settled.

Zuckerberg has testified in other trials and answered questions from Congress about youth safety on Meta’s platforms, and he apologized to families at that hearing whose lives had been upended by tragedies they believed were because of social media. This trial, though, marks the first time Zuckerberg will answer similar questions in front of a jury. and, again, bereaved parents are expected to be in the limited courtroom seats available to the public.

The case, along with two others, has been selected as a bellwether trial, meaning its outcome could impact how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies would play out.

A Meta spokesperson said the company strongly disagrees with the allegations in the lawsuit and said they are “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.”

One of Meta’s attorneys, Paul Schmidt, said in his opening statement that the company is not disputing that KGM experienced mental health struggles, but rather that Instagram played a substantial factor in those struggles. He pointed to medical records that showed a turbulent home life, and both he and an attorney representing YouTube argue she turned to their platforms as a coping mechanism or a means of escaping her mental health struggles.

Zuckerberg’s testimony comes a week after that of Adam Mosseri, the head of Meta’s Instagram, who said in the courtroom that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms. Mosseri maintained that Instagram works hard to protect young people using the service, and said it’s “not good for the company, over the long run, to make decisions that profit for us but are poor for people’s well-being.”

Much of Mosseri’s questioning from the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mark Lanier, centered on cosmetic filters on Instagram that changed people’s appearance — a topic that Lanier is sure to revisit with Zuckerberg. He is also expected to face questions about Instagram’s algorithm, the infinite nature of Meta’ feeds and other features the plaintiffs argue are designed to get users hooked.

Meta is also facing a separate trial in New Mexico that began last week.

Eager paddlers encouraged to wait for warmer water temperatures

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — While the weather is starting to feel like spring, water temperatures are still dangerously cold.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends that paddlers wait for consistent warm weather to allow the water temperatures to rise slowly. It could be several weeks before water temperatures are ideal and safe as water and air temperatures continue to change.

“Air temperatures are warmer than normal this year, but the water is still dangerously cold,” said Todd Robertson, Iowa DNR River Programs Water Trails coordinator. “We have not had enough consistently warm days to raise water temperatures adequately. Cold water shock and hypothermia can set in quickly if you fall into the water at current temperatures.”

Safety Tips for Paddling in Cold Water Conditions

  • Always wear a life jacket. Not only does the life jacket help keep your head above water, it helps to keep your organs warmer.
  • Check your canoe or kayak and gear for any needed repairs or maintenance after being stored for several months.
  • Don’t paddle alone, especially in cold water, use a buddy system. Go with a small group of paddlers and know which paddler has the most experience.
  • Let a friend or loved one know where you are going and when you are expected to return. It will be easier to find you if you need help.
  • Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. Plan as if you were to be in the water at some point.  A wetsuit or drysuit is a must. Dress in layers so you can peel a layer off if you get overheated.
  • Bring along a dry bag with extra clothing to change into should you get wet. Get out of wet, cold clothing as soon as possible. Having the right gear and understanding the stages of hypothermia is crucial for remaining safe.
  • Stay away from strainers, wood/branch piles that can pull a paddler under. These are usually found on outside river bends where the current is going and are deadly hazards that must be avoided.

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