Kalen McCain

The Washington County Fair is in full swing, and with all the activity on the fairgrounds, it’s easy to miss any number of big changes, little victories or unexpected surprises.

A deceased Washington resident’s donation has helped fund renovations to a Scouting America dining hall in Central City.

Jaron Rosien was sentenced at a hearing Friday morning, two-and-a-half years after he was accused of sexually assaulting a man at the bar owned by Washington’s former mayor.

A bald eagle struck by traffic near Riverside over the holiday weekend has been humanely euthanized, according to volunteers at The Raptor Advocacy, Rehabilitation & Education Group, an area nonprofit that sought to rescue the animal.

A city employee of over 29 years, JJ Bell says he’s frustrated after his unexpected removal from office in June, when he was told to resign or be fired. Confirmed details about the reasons behind his departure are scarce.

When one of the state’s top pork producing companies built a baseball field in its front yard, the farmers acknowledged it was an unusual move.

Local education officials say they’re considering hiring a school resource officer as soon as the 2026-27 school year, as the Washington School district applies for federal funding assistance.

A rotating assembly of musicians known as “Big Band Theory” will play in Washington July 12, celebrating the group’s 18th year since it began as an informal get-together in one member’s basement.

On a former hog farm 900 miles from a coastline in Washington County, Iowa, one family family is growing Pacific whiteleg shrimp. Asked how it compares to pork production, Ken Reed says the work is “basically the same.”

Officials hope third try’s a charm, as the county seeks additional funding for its ambulances, quick response volunteers, and emergency communications infrastructure.

An assembly of protesters holding signs packed into the Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting room Tuesday morning, where they offered a petition with 376 signatures, asking the board to pass a civil rights ordinance that would, “restore legal protection to the transgender community.”

We asked over a dozen fans at TrekFest what made the show so special. Here’s what they said.

Washington County supervisors last week approved a handful of increases in the local ambulance agency’s service fees, raising the costs for most uses of emergency medical transportation.

To put it mildly, Kalona community member Annalee (Faris) Lynch was an avid collector of dolls, before her death in 2011.

TrekFest returns for its 40th year this weekend, as Riverside’s town festival draws crowds from near and far to the recently canonized future birthplace of Star Trek’s Capt. James T. Kirk.