Dordt University in Sioux Center is undertaking a broad slate of summer improvement projects including a cadaver lab expansion, residence hall bathroom renovations, new green space, 47 additional visitor parking spaces, and a new outdoor quad near Squares Apartments.
A powerful storm system moved through Northwest Iowa on Sunday evening, May 17, producing multiple funnel clouds, reported tornadoes, and wind gusts exceeding 70 mph — leaving widespread power outages and structural damage across Sioux County and neighboring Lyon County.
Iowa farmers recorded 6.5 suitable fieldwork days in the week ending May 17 — the longest stretch of the spring. Corn planting jumped from 42% to 72% complete, now even with last year and 9% ahead of the five-year average. Soybean planting reached 60%.
Sioux Center has again been ranked the safest city in Iowa, with Orange City placing second, according to SafeWise rankings based on national crime data. Mayor Dale Vander Berg credited the achievement to a shared commitment between residents and local leadership.
Dordt University students presented a rough draft of their flood plain plan for Rock Valley's FEMA buyout area in April, proposing 10 types of natural and recreational spaces along with additional trail connections. The plan is intended to guide how the city repurposes land vacated by the voluntary buyout program.
Construction is set to begin in 2026 on Sioux Center's new 11-megawatt electric generation facility, a $24 million project primarily funded by Missouri River Energy Services. The facility is designed to enhance local rate stability, provide emergency power, and reduce reliance on high-cost market electricity during peak demand periods.
The Sioux Center City Council was presented with a conceptual master plan for downtown development, developed by CO-OP Architecture. The plan focuses on making the downtown corridor more walkable, active, and a regional destination — with potential for dining, retail, housing, and public gathering spaces along the Highway 75 corridor.
A peaceful protest was held at Central Park in Sioux Center on March 28 as part of a nationwide 'No Kings' demonstration. Organized by local volunteers, the event drew participants opposing actions by the Trump administration perceived as unconstitutional, with organizers emphasizing a peaceful gathering to protect democratic institutions.
Sioux Center firefighters responded to a house fire at 103 2nd Avenue Southeast on March 16. Crews found smoke coming from the southwest corner of the structure, with the fire originating outside the home. No injuries were reported and damage was described as minimal.
The City of Rock Valley is collaborating with an Environmental Studies class at Dordt University in Sioux Center to develop proactive plans for properties on the city's north side that will be part of the FEMA Buyout Program. The partnership aims to envision how the land can be repurposed after buyouts are completed.
A fatal two-vehicle crash on Highway 18 west of Jay Avenue claimed the life of a Hull man and left a Sioux Center man injured. The Iowa State Patrol investigated the collision on the heavily traveled east-west highway corridor.
Governor Kim Reynolds held a pre-legislative roundtable at American State Bank in Hull on October 30, 2025, meeting with business owners, city officials, and legislators to discuss property tax reform. Reynolds called property tax relief the 'final piece' of her broader tax reform agenda.
