Year in Review - Part II: Top local news stories printed from July-December 2025

The items below summarize the top news stories that appeared in The Standard during the second six months of 2025, July-December.

JULY
The City of Lansing is seeking assistance from downtown property owners in preparation for a significant infrastructure project slated for 2028. The upcoming full reconstruction of Main Street, designated as Iowa Highway 9 through downtown Lansing, includes not only roadway resurfacing but also the complete removal and replacement of sidewalks.

In preparation for the project, City of Lansing officials, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT), are requesting that property owners along Main Street, between Hale Street and Seventh Street, assist in identifying and documenting the presence of any underground coal chutes or structural voids beneath the existing sidewalks. This outreach is crucial to the successful implementation of the State-led resurfacing project, which is currently in its early planning stages and scheduled to be implemented in 2028.

Collaborative efforts between law enforcement in Iowa and Wisconsin have led to the arrest of a Waukon man and the return of a pick-up he is being charged with stealing from a Waukon business in the overnight hours of Saturday, June 21 into Sunday, June 22. Ryan Daniel Troendle, age 40, was arrested Monday morning, June 23 by deputies from the Richland County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin.

An older model black Chevrolet pick-up was first reported to the Waukon Police Department as being stolen from Lid’s Bar & Grill in south Waukon Sunday morning, June 22. Authorities say the truck had been reported as being seen in Prairie du Chien, WI later that same day, but ultimately the Richland County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a man sleeping in that truck Monday morning, June 23 at approximately 10:30 a.m. on U.S. Highway 14 between Gotham and Lone Rock, WI, 60 miles east of Prairie du Chien.

Brandon James Kasemeier, who was convicted May 27 of this year of first degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, Jami Kasemeier, by a jury in Allamakee County District Court, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Monday afternoon, July 7, with Iowa First Judicial District Court Judge Alan Heavens presiding over the sentencing. Kasemeier had been charged in the case following the discovery of Jami’s body January 22, 2024 in the home the two once shared in the 100 block of 1st Avenue SW in Waukon.

Although Kasemeier’s attorneys, Erin Carr and Raya Dimitrova, had filed for a new trial on his behalf, Judge Heavens denied the request prior to Monday’s proceedings. Prior to the formal sentencing, family members were given the opportunity to share victim impact statements with the court during the hearing.

The Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) are proceeding with a revised plan for the construction of the new Iowa 9/WIS 82 bridge over the Mississippi River between Lansing and Crawford County, Wisconsin. The revised plan requires closure and demolition of the existing bridge in fall of 2025 to ensure that the new bridge can be safely constructed and opened as planned in 2027.

Project engineers reached this decision after extensive discussions between both state DOTs, the contractor, and additional analyses. While recognizing the impact to the communities, this plan ensures safety for motorists, construction workers, rail traffic, and Mississippi River traffic.

The new bridge is being constructed alongside the existing bridge. Iowa DOT, WisDOT, and the contractor have determined that future construction stages could pose a risk to the safety of the existing bridge. This fall, the agencies will close the existing bridge to traffic. Crews will then demolish and remove the old structure so that full construction can continue to meet the planned 2027 opening for the new bridge.

The denial of motions made by the defense for a new trial and in arrest of judgment ordered July 7 of this year in Allamakee County District Court in the first degree murder conviction of Brandon Kasemeier of Waukon has been appealed to a higher court, according to court documents filed in the case July 10 by Kasemeier’s attorneys, Erin Carr and Raya Dimitrova of Carr Law Firm, P.L.C. in Des Moines.

In accordance with a defendant’s right to appeal within 30 days of sentencing, Notice of Appeal documents were initially filed for appeal to the Supreme Court of Iowa three days after Iowa First Judicial District Court Judge Alan Heavens denied those motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment before he sentenced Kasemeier to the mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole after an Allamakee County jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree. That conviction was handed down May 27 of this year following the shooting death of his estranged wife, Jami Kasemeier, that took place in January 2024 in the home the couple once shared in Waukon.

To read the full article, pick up the Wednesday, January 7, 2026 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.