AREA — Regular fuel prices climbed sharply this week, with prices topping $4 per gallon in some areas.
In Harlan, one convenience store listed regular gasoline at $3.77 per gallon Monday before raising the price to $4.29 by Tuesday morning.

SHELBY COUNTY — The Shelby County Board of Supervisors voted to repeal a zoning ordinance regulating hazardous liquid pipelines through strict zoning setbacks, following a final ruling from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that found the ordinance was preempted by federal law.

HARLAN — The Harlan Community Library’s Outdoor Revitalization Project is now underway.
Tara Painter, Harlan Community Library Director, said the library will remain open throughout the construction process. When work moves to the front of the building and the south entrance must close, the west entrance will remain open and operational for patrons.

AMES – Drones are emerging as a tool in Iowa agriculture, especially for crop monitoring and pesticide application, but many farmers are still unsure about their benefits and drawbacks, according to the 2025 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

STATEWIDE — Iowa drivers again saw a sharp increase at the pump this week as fuel prices climb alongside a significant rise in global crude oil markets.
According to AAA, the average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Iowa rose 33 cents from last week to $3.84 per gallon,  which is 86 cents higher than this time a year ago. Nationally, the average price reached $4.23 per gallon on Wednesday, up 21 cents from the previous week.

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Iowa State Rep. Josh Turek, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, has entered the 2026 race for the U.S. Senate, outlining a campaign centered on economic relief for working families, government accountability and support for rural communities.

SHELBY COUNTY —  A Harlan man died Wednesday evening, after a motorcycle struck a field sprayer in Shelby County.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident occurred at approximately 7:25 p.m. on County Road M16. Authorities reported 19-year-old Jacob Buman was traveling northbound on a 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle when he approached a northbound 2010 Apache 715 sprayer operated by 37-year-old Luke Applegate of Shelby.

AREA — Iowa Regional Planning Affiliations (RPAs) 13 and 18 have released a draft Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for public comment, outlining a goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities by 2050. The comment period is open from May 5 through May 31, 2026.

STATEWIDE — A new report on Iowa’s demographic trends shows the state continued to gain residents in 2025, but at a slower pace, raising concerns about long-term workforce growth and economic stability.