Belle Plaine News Hub

Belle Plaine softball swept Marshall 11-1 in both games of the April 11 doubleheader! Huge win for the Plains on the diamond.

Big win for Belle Plaine! Our community is among the recipients of the 2026 Paint Iowa Beautiful Grant, set to enhance local pride through beautification projects.

Iowa Newspapers Rescued

• 🔥 Several small-town Iowa newspapers facing closure have been bought by a Northeast Iowa-based media corporation,...

• Near 80° highs and SW winds 10-30 mph make for a breezy Sunday.
• Mostly dry in Iowa, but low chance of isolated thunderstorms southwest Iowa/northwest Missouri.
• Any storms carry severe risk; similar setup Monday-Tuesday with upper 80s.

Goat-powered wildfire prevention is booming in Iowa amid dry conditions:

• Demand surging for goats to graze prairie fuel as controlled burn...

Boost to Iowa local journalism: 10 small-town papers saved from closure by Northeast Iowa-based Nelson Media.

• Post-Mid-Am shutdown: Previous owner...

Weather Alerts

• 🔥 Flood Warnings Extended: Flood warnings have been extended by the National Weather Service for Benton County along with...

Benton County residents are speaking out against an ordinance aimed at boosting industrial and economic growth in the area – a key local debate.

Mark your calendars for Belle Plaine’s Downtown Festival – the only Chamber event this month:

• Fri, Apr 10, 5-11pm: Opening ceremonies, Talent Show,...

Local pride alert: Belle Plaine softball extended their streak to four wins with an 11-1 rout of Marshall Saturday.

• Standouts shone: Hailey Furrer...

Urgent weather heads-up for Belle Plaine – stay weather aware as severe storms ramp up:

• Today (Sun): Scattered showers late morning/afternoon,...

Stay plugged in: Belle Plaine's Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 6:30 pm in City Council Chambers at 311 Vernon Street. Essential for tracking local development agendas and minutes.

Iowa lawmakers are advancing House File 2580 to standardize regulations for wind, solar, and battery projects across the state's 99 counties,...

Mark your calendars for December 5, 2026 at Anamosa HS – 16 top Iowa girls basketball teams clash in the 22nd Rivalry Saturday.

Nearby rivalries to...

Urgent update for Belle Plaine and Benton County: NWS has extended flood warnings through mid-week.

• Iowa River at Marengo hits 16.1-foot crest...

Belle Plaine Schools

• 🔥 School Board Meeting: Belle Plaine Board of Education will hold a public hearing and regular meeting on Thursday, April...

Iowa proposal to hire a firm investigating local government spending raises eyebrows.

Critics say the data could be used to limit local spending in the future – a potential squeeze on Benton County and Belle Plaine budgets.

Heads up, Benton County hunters and anglers: Iowa Natural Resource Commission gave final approval this week to license fee increases, none exceeding...

Prepare now for multiple rounds of strong to severe storms in the Belle Plaine area:

• Monday: Afternoon/evening storms, best odds in northern...

Bridge E-243 on Van Lieus Road closes for construction starting on or about April 13, 2026, with detours remaining mostly unchanged (some modifications ahead). Benton County drivers: plan alternate routes now.