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Long-time Lee Enterprises, Inc. board member and former chairman Mary Junck, whose tenure was defined by taking on enormous corporate debt to buy the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2005, has retired.

Lee – the Davenport-based company that owns the QC Times, Daily Dispatch/Argus and some 70 other news outlets – did not issue a news release about her retirement. The change to the board membership, effective July 31, was contained in a required filing July 10 with the Security and Exchange Commission.

Junck was CEO when Lee purchased the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for $1.46 billion and took on the huge debt that the company is still struggling to repay today.

by Kadin Luhmann, Iowa Capital Dispatch
July 27, 2026

FORT DODGE — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand discussed plans to combat Iowa’s water quality issues and advocated for more mental health funding Monday at a town hall in Fort Dodge.

Sand, who currently serves as state auditor, said he is “not satisfied” with Iowa’s efforts to address water quality. He  advocated for a data-driven approach to tackle the issue, and more wetlands that would improve soil health, water quality, biodiversity and recreational activities.

“I want us to have the single biggest expansion of wetlands and grazing land that we have ever seen in the state of Iowa,” Sand said. “You can fish, you can photograph, all kinds of fun stuff that you can do in wetlands. We want our kids to take part.”

Bettendorf's incoming interim superintendent has been operating a side business that sells consulting services to school districts, even while serving as second-in-command of the Iowa Department of Education overseeing all public schools.

John Elkin is founder and co-owner of PremierEdLeader.com, a company that conducts training seminars for educators both within and outside Iowa. The firm charges each seminar participant $300.

Asked in an email about the potential conflict of interest by Bettendorf.com, Iowa Department of Education General Counsel Thomas Mayes stated: "there is no evidence to suggest that Mr. Elkin or his consulting organization obtained any 'advantage or pecuniary benefit' from his organization's identification of him as a leader in the Department."

Mr. Elkin did not respond to voicemails asking him for direct comment on his business operations.