Kalen McCain

Washington County officials say the local government’s elections administrator resigned in lieu of termination Dec. 5, although the former employee did not sign paperwork confirming the reasons for her departure.

The Iowa Supreme Court has suspended a Washington attorney’s license for 30 days after oversight groups said she repeatedly failed to meet deadlines that jeopardized her clients’ positions in cases. Justices used the case to highlight a shortage of juvenile public defenders in the region.

A business in Washington will gladly take the packaging foam that comes with your bulkier holiday presents this year, repurposing the material for use in other products rather than letting it take up space in a landfill. Just don’t call it Styrofoam.

Washington’s police department has two new officers on the streets after they graduated with their certifications from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Dec. 13, and brought home awards for their performance in the 42-person class.

Second-term lawmaker also wins spots on key house committees, and says newfound role means constituents will “have the ear” of top Republican decision-makers.

The all-Republican Washington County Board of Supervisors on Monday voted unanimously to enact an ordinance that effectively bans commercial wind turbines in the area.

It’s not usually clear what Elley Mohling will do with the bulk of her day as she walks through the doors of the McCreedy Medical Clinic at WCHC. She usually has about three patients scheduled every morning. The rest of her itinerary is flexible, designed to adapt to any mental health crisis that may arise.

City officials also announce last-minute gift drive for four displaced children, days before Christmas.

A stretch of Iowa Highway 92 closed since mid-March has reopened, letting drivers return to their normal commutes between much of Washington County and Columbus Junction. Phase II of the project will close the route again for most of next year.

Washington County is one reading away from enacting a functional ban on commercial wind energy. Proponents of the ordinance say it’ll help with wildlife conservation and prevent wasteful subsidies, while critics say it risks unsustainable carbon emissions and impedes property rights.

A handful of Washington County elected officials swore their oaths of office Tuesday morning, before the start of the new year. While none ran contested races in November, the routine ceremony represented a change in status for two department heads in the local government.

But the numbers don’t tell the full story, and may be misleading in latest state report, measuring the 2023-24 school year.

Last week’s debate was the first of several in the coming budget season, which officials expect will prove contentious thanks to inflation, and state restrictions on local government revenue.

Outages lingered in Washington County for over 4,000 Alliant customers as evening approached Dec. 14. All but a few hundred were back online Sunday morning.

School district’s $15 million ballot issue may hang in the balance, as stakeholders form a “challenge court” and prepare to hold a trial deciding whether to overturn the election.