Local News

Grassley bankruptcy bill passes Senate

A change in bankruptcy laws U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley said will benefit families and small businesses has been unanimously approved by the Senate. The Iowa Republican and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, wrote the bill. It is called the Bankruptcy Theshold Adjustment Act of 2026. The measure restores previous debt limits that were included in the complex federal bankruptcy laws. “Our nation’s bankruptcy code should work for Americans, not against them,” Grassley said in a written statement. “By eliminating barriers to reorganization and restoring modern debt limits , the ...

Street closures for Country Jam announced

Parts of several downtown streets will be closed before, during and after the Fort Dodge Country jam concert. Ninth Street between Central Avenue and First Avenue North will close at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and will remain closed until 3 p.m. Sunday. Central Avenue between Eighth and 10th streets will close at 8 a.m. Friday Ninth Street between Central Avenue and First Avenue South will be closed at 8 a.m. Friday and will reopen at 4 a.m. Sunday.

Intersection work begins

Iowa Central is first in the nation for new Pell grants

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon was in Fort Dodge Tuesday afternoon to announce that Iowa Central Community College is the first school in the nation approved to use a new form of student aid called Workforce Pell. These new grants will be available to students pursuing training as emergency medical technicians or paramedics.

150 years of corn

ROCKWELL CITY — It’s hard to know what to celebrate when both Sweet Corn Daze — Rockwell City’s annual community celebration — and the town’s sesquicentennial hit at the same time. The ready answer. You do both. At the same time. Gwen “Cpt. Corn” Hiler, 15, of Rockwell ...

It’s almost Country Jam time

By BILL SHEA bshea@messengernews.net Travis Tritt will bring his Grammy award winning country music to downtown Fort Dodge Saturday night. The singer known for hits like “Help Me Hold On,” and “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” will be the headliner for the Fort Dodge Country Jam at Central Avenue and Ninth Street. Local band Stadium Dr will get things started. Blake Jack & 35 South will also perform. Tickets, which cost $55, are still available. Jim Reed, president of Shellabration Inc., the non-profit group that organizes the Country Jam and Shellabration concerts, said there is ...