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Meet the first Black female referee in Big Ten footballMeet the first Black female referee in Big Ten football

Meet the first Black female referee in Big Ten football

News Jan. 13, 2022 10:23 am1410d ago

LaShell Nelson is the first Black woman to serve as a football official for the Big Ten Conference and officiated some major games in 2020 and 2021, including Iowa’s Oct. 9 home win against Penn State. She’s also a vice president at major financial services company in Dallas.

Iowa DHS can't read thousands of its own emailsIowa DHS can't read thousands of its own emails

Iowa DHS can't read thousands of its own emails

State Government Jan. 10, 2022 8:35 am1413d ago

The records are emails that were encrypted to protect their confidentiality. When Iowa Human Services changed computer software in 2018, it reportedly lost the ability to decrypt virtually all of the encrypted messages sent over the previous two years.

Iowa traffic deaths hit 5-year highIowa traffic deaths hit 5-year high

Iowa traffic deaths hit 5-year high

State Government Jan. 7, 2022 4:46 pm1416d ago

There were 353 traffic deaths in Iowa in 2021, according to a preliminary figure from the state transportation department. That is the highest number of traffic fatalities in Iowa since 2017, when there were 402, and a nearly 6 percent increase over the previous year.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Gazette strives to gather and share news using the best journalistic practices. We want to keep you informed and to make our region and state a better place.

Advances in technology and rise of social media has made it easier to publish information to broad audiences. Our goal is to provide relevant, accurate and timely information so that you know what’s happening and can make informed decisions.

Here are some common questions about who we are, why we do what we do and some of the factors that go into our decision-making about the news. To learn more about our news gathering process and code of ethics, visit our transparency center.


Local editors and journalists of The Gazette can be found on our newsroom page.

  • We have local and regional reporters who monitor state and local government, education, energy & environment, public safety and courts, entertainment and the arts, business and industry as well as high school and college sports, among other topics.
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A news story contains objective facts and does not take an opinion-based position on the facts. This does not mean there aren’t opinions in news stories. News stories often report newsworthy opinions of community leaders and members of the public because these opinions are often part of the news.

  • News reporters and editors strive to keep their opinions out of the reporting, and a reporter’s opinion has no place in a news report. Exceptions to this include reviews of restaurants or performances, in which the commentary about the restaurant or event is part of the coverage.
  • To make it easier for you to know when you’re reading opinion content, we label opinion content on social posts, in print and publish to our ‘Opinion’ section.
  • Opinion content, also known as ‘Editorial’ content, is not meant to tell you how or what to think, but to show a variety of perspectives on issues of importance. You are encouraged to participate in this discussion by submitting a letter or commentary.

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