Good morning, Sioux City.

Diesel prices rose near Quimby, straining budgets as rates hit $6.06 per gallon Monday, Sept.

14. Gas prices also climbed, and farmers reported that hauling costs increased by $10 to $18 per trip (according to local estimates).

Iowa Department of Education opened federal water quality grant applications to help schools and childcare centers test drinking water for lead.

Priority is given to facilities built before 1985, centers serving kids under six, and schools with high free-lunch eligibility — applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sioux Center's Dordt University was named to Money magazine's Best Colleges 2026 list (based on educational quality, affordability, and student outcomes) as part of a ranking that evaluated over 700 four-year colleges nationwide.

Three Siouxland teachers were named 2027 Regional Teachers of the Year by the Iowa Department of Education, adding them as finalists for Teacher of the Year—Roselyn Schillerstrom of West Lyon High, Abby Goodlaxson of Okoboji, and Lynne Glackin of Woodbine Community Schools.

The award will be announced later this fall.

Sioux City Schools plans to purchase the closed Casey's General Store near Loess Hills Elementary at 1727 Casselman St, after it closed in August 2025.

Sioux City bought Verschoor Meats, the last operating slaughterhouse in the former Stockyards, and will demolish its aging structures on a 2.4-acre site adjacent to I-29 and south of the STF Expo Center (redevelopment expected soon).

The Army Corps signed an agreement with Union County to study flood risks along the Big Sioux River from Richland to where it meets the Missouri in Sioux City.

The three-year study will include open houses, with the first scheduled late next month in North Sioux City (email comments welcomed).

Crews will begin installing bridge beams for the new Southbridge interchange on I-29 near Sergeant Bluff next Tuesday and Wednesday (Sept.

22 and Sept. 23) during 20-minute overnight closures from midnight to 5 a.m., with the Iowa DOT and State Patrol managing traffic on both lanes.

Sioux City Council deferred the vote on a bid from Siouxland Developers to purchase land next to Cone Park for a new hotel + restaurant after receiving a competing proposal from Snydian Holdings Inc.; the proposals will be reconsidered at the Oct.

8 meeting.

Halbach|Szwarc Law Firm bought the historic Edgar H.

Stone Building at 421 Pearl Street downtown and will restore it while adding new tenants (including Perch Neighborhood Kitchen) as work is scheduled for 2026 and 2027.

The Mighty Mo Run concluded its three-day series on Sunday, Sept.

13 in Sioux City with half and full marathons that saw runners and supporters brave the rain. Proceeds benefited the HART Foundation (supporting athletes in training).

Gianna Bennett, a sophomore kicker at Northwestern College, has been named to the AFCA Good Works Team after raising $40,000 through Every Kick Counts to support stillbirth prevention & community service, making her the first woman to receive the honor.