Jefferson County Leadership & Residents Concerned About Pleasant Plain Road and Data Center Issues

Eldridge City Council to Hire New Fire Chief and Oversee Fire Department Transition and Second-Story Expansion

On this VIDEO episode of Southeast Iowa Today, John Bain attends the Eldridge City Council meeting where long-standing questions about the future of fire protection and emergency medical services finally came to a head. After months of discussion—and repeated coverage on the podcast—the council unanimously voted to hire a new Fire Chief and move forward with the logistics of the transition, including construction of a second-story addition to the fire station. The decision prompted several members of the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company and some attending residents to leave the meeting. Their body language suggested clear disappointment with the outcome. It all happened July 20, 2026.

Hotrods & Hamburgers July 2026

On this VIDEO episode of Southeast Iowa Today John Bain is back at Your Choice Family Restaurant in Wayland, Iowa, for the Southeast Iowa Today with John Bain Cruise-In! It was a hot but great night with 27 cool rides on display in the 93-degree temperature with neat people, great food, neat door prizes and awesome music. It all happened July 14, 2026.

Jefferson County Leadership & Residents Concerned About Pleasant Plain Road and Data Center Issues

On this VIDEO episode of Southeast Iowa Today, John Bain joins the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors meeting in Fairfield, Iowa. The board room was packed as supervisors tackled ongoing problems with Pleasant Plain Road maintenance, efforts to correct recent errors, and critical zoning issues ahead of a proposed Data Center moratorium. It all happened on July 20, 2026.

America 250-Columbus Museum of Art

On this VIDEO episode of Southeast Iowa Today the America 250 Tour continues with John Bain as he visits The Columbus Museum of Art. It’s an art museum in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 1878 as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts (its name until 1978), it was the first art museum to register its charter with the state of Ohio. The museum collects and exhibits American and European modern and contemporary art, folk art, glass art, and photography. The museum has been led by Executive Director Brooke Minto since 2023.

Salem Elementary Fence Questions: The Real Reason Revealed

On this VIDEO episode of Southeast Iowa Today, John Bain reports from Salem Elementary School in Salem, Iowa. The school is set to close at the end of the 2026-2027 school year, meaning the students attending this year (August 2026–May 2027) will be the last ones in the Mount Pleasant Community School District to attend Salem Elementary. The closure decision was finalized on April 27, 2026, during a special school board meeting at Mount Pleasant High School. The board voted 4-3 in favor of closing the school in fall 2027. Voting yes: Angie Blint, Aaron Williamson, Josh Maher, Mark Hampton. Voting no: Craig Hurd, Mark Overberg, Kevin Schrader. Local taxpayers are now questioning why the district plans to install a new fence at Salem Elementary just before closing it. Critics call it a short-term waste of taxpayer dollars on a building that will soon no longer serve students. Many are calling for better planning, greater transparency, and decisions that prioritize students and the community over closing buildings. John Bain reached out to School Board President Angie Blint for comment on the fence issue. And her response is on this episode.