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    A: Federal law requires the U.S. fuel supply to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuel, which helps petroleum fuels burn more cleanly and replaces a petroleum-based substance that was used for that purpose, but was found to cause cancer. Nearly two decades ago, I fought to include the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and secured an annual expansion in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act...

Spirit Lake's defense struggled to contain No. 8 Estherville Lincoln Central's potent passing attack Friday night, but the Indians came up big when they needed to in double overtime. With a 34-27 lead in the second overtime, Spirit Lake's defense need to keep the Midgets out of the end zone to salt away the upset. ...

Citizen misunderstandings exist by the average person as it relates to serving as a local county supervisor. The purpose of this letter is to clarify these misconceptions. Misconception #1: When a person runs for election as county supervisor, they typically submit the needed signatures and file in the June primary listing a party affiliation...

  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public open house from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Gull Point State Park Lodge in Wahpeton. Discussion will center around the recently completed forest stewardship plan for Angler's Bay...

Motorists now have at least one more choice when it comes to their vehicle's license plate in Dickinson County, according to county treasurer Kris Rowley. "The 'Flying Our Colors' motor vehicle license plate is now available at the county treasurer's office for purchase," she said. "It features an eagle with an all-American red, white and blue color scheme. Special fees will be collected for this plate and credited to the Flood Mitigation Fund until July of 2023."...

A Carroll teen who drew attention from federal prosecutors after an incident in the parking lot of the Spirit Lake Walmart has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Case filings show 19-year-old Buomkuoth Lol entered his plea Aug. 24, and the plea was accepted by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand on Sept. 9 — the day after Lol's trial had been scheduled in Sioux City...

A report of smoke inside a home probably wasn't the most exciting call last week for the Spirit Lake Fire Department, but the lights and sirens provided plenty of awe for one young resident. Crews were called to the 800 block of Hill Avenue shortly before 5 p.m. ...

The Iowa Great Lakes Board of REALTORS was thrilled to present checks to four area school lunch programs last week, in partnership with the Iowa Association of REALTORS and the REALTOR Foundation of Iowa.

The air turned cool for a string of September days, and it caused some northwest Iowans to fire up their furnace for the first time after the summer season. That's about the same time Assistant Spirit Lake Fire Chief Chris Hoerichs' pager went off. The call came from a homeowner who had carbon monoxide — or CO — detectors in the home...

Both Dickinson County and Clay County are still free of the invasive emerald ash borer beetle, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. And while their beetle-free status means local residents there don't yet qualify to receive seedling trees funded through the U.S. Forestry Service...