2025 In Quick Review: What a Doozie of a Year!

SOO LINE By Soo Greiman  

Wow, 2026! That has a real ring to it, doesn’t it? We’ll be there in just a couple of days.  The first quarter of the twenty-first century will be over, and we’ll be welcoming in 2026.  But wait—before we ring in the new year, it’s time to take stock of the past year and reflect. Here at the Hudson Herald, there’s plenty to look back on—both in our local 2025 issues and from other state and national news sources.  

Ready to dive in? Grab your coffee, tea or Mountain Dew, cozy up, and give yourself the  gift of reflection. There were many unforgettable happenings that took place during the extraordinary year of 2025.  

January  

• Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. 

• A U.S. Army helicopter crashed into a commercial jet during night training near D.C., killing all 67 aboard.  

• The Hudson Fire Department named Tina Peterson and Jarod Sadler as Firefighters of the Year. Leo Caloud retired after dedicating 31 years to the department. 

• Hudson senior Addie Rhoades broke the school’s all-time girl's basketball scoring record, surpassing the 1,194-point record set by Casey Miles.  

February  

• Aubrey Wulf was named 2024 Rookie of the Year in the Corn States Rodeo Alliance. 

• The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 40–22, in Super Bowl LIX, held in New Orleans—denying KC’s bid for a historic three-peat.  

• Longtime Hudson resident (now of Waterloo) June Daringer celebrated her 100th birthday!  

• World leaders from over 100 countries gathered in Paris to promote responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI).  

• Hudson Pirates sent Mason Fogt and Alston Loeb to the State Wrestling Tournament. 

March  

• Bill Colwell Ford raised $4,420 for Hudson Schools’ Athletic Booster Club through Drive 4 UR School.  

• Canada swore in Mark Carney as Prime Minister, ending Justin Trudeau’s 9-year run. 

• Hudson 6th graders dominated the county, Math Bee.  

• Concern grew among local residents over Hudson’s financial situation. 

• Don Schmidt was recognized with the Lions Lifetime of Service Award. 

• Mila Ingles, 10, won her weight class in the AAU Girls State Wrestling.  

April  

• Inventors of the weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy were awarded $3 million for  the Breakthrough Prize.  

• Hudson junior Ken Kane earned honors at the Iowa FBLA State Leadership  Conference, qualifying for Nationals.  

• Pope Francis died at age 88 in Vatican City.  

• Braden Rogers was named Bill Colwell Ford Salesperson of the Year.  

• Asia-Pacific stock markets plunged after President Trump announced tariffs of up to 46%.  

May  

• Hudson junior Kate Holton (competing for Waterloo Columbus) won the NICL Tennis Championship in both Singles and Doubles.  

• Cardinal Robert Provost was elected the 267th pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.  He hails from Illinois.  

• Hudson Boys Soccer was crowned NICL Champions.  

• Several Hudson Track athletes qualified for the State Track Meet at Drake University. 

June 

• Throwing Coach Dick Helling was honored by the Iowa Track Coaches Association for 25 years of service.  

• Tate Entriken and Jackson Selenke, members of the Iowa National Guard, were deployed to the Middle East.  

• 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed in Los Angeles in response to anti-ICE protests.  

• Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds vetoed a bill that would have restricted the use of eminent domain for energy infrastructure projects.  

• Hudson Herald owners Bonnie Williams and Soo Greiman published a notice stating the paper could be on its final issue. They called for anyone willing to take over. 

July  

• Two men answered the call—Derek and Cord—and took ownership of the Hudson Herald. “We’ll keep our paper going,” they said. We think they’re hometown heroes and plan to feature them in a story soon.  

• Bruce Johnson was named Grand Marshal of Hudson Days 2025.  

• France banned smoking in public outdoor spaces.  

• Hudson AMVETS installed a proper U.S. flag disposal site outside their building.  • English singer Ozzy Osbourne died in Birmingham, England.  

• Hudson Days was a hit. Hillary Jacobs won the Pie Baking Contest.  

August  

• Clara Hamer qualified for the Sprout division of the Bill Riley Talent Search at the Iowa  State Fair.  

• Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with  “Golden”—the first time an all-female group topped the chart since Destiny’s Child in 2001. 

• Ron and Mary Esther Pullin received the “Heart of Gold County Fair” lifetime achievement award.  

• The Iowa State Cyclones played Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, to kick off the college football season.  

• Jay and Jeanne Hansen were inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame.  

• A silly new school-year phrase emerged: “6–7.” Adults still have no clue what it means. If you find out, please tell us!  

September  

• Political activist Charlie Kirk died at age 31 in Utah.  

• Matt “Bob” Pedersen, Hudson football great and UNI standout, was inducted into the UNI Hall of Fame.  

• Charlene Ackerman won the Chili Cook-Off during Cattle Congress.  

• Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to TV after a brief suspension following comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.  

October  

• Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.  

• Anderson Yoder and Maggie Haskovec were crowned 2025 Homecoming King and Queen.  

• Thieves dressed as construction workers stole over $100 million in Napoleonic jewels from the Louvre in just eight minutes.  

• A vehicle pursuit from Grundy Center ended in a crash near Hudson when ISP Trooper Josh Meggers stopped the suspect.  

• Rex Boatman of Waterloo celebrated his 100th birthday.  

• Hudson Football was named District Champions.  

• Mollie Hansen and Ella Steele were named NICL First Team All-Conference in Girls Cross Country.  

November  

• Zohran Mamdani was elected the 111th Mayor of New York City.  

• Field of Dreams opened in Hudson—an indoor golf simulator business and the first of its kind locally. 

• Eric and Amy Henry of Eagle Center showed their Clydesdales at the World Clydesdale Show.  

• The U.S. Mint produced its final penny for general use.  

• Hector Baldiviezo was elected Mayor of Hudson. Marcus Bowman and Steven  Kramer were elected to City Council.  

• Lions Jim Phares and Bruce Johnson were honored for their KidSight service. 

• Waylon Noteboom, born prematurely in 2024, celebrated his 1st birthday at a healthy  17 pounds!  

December  

• Australia became the first country to ban social media use by kids under 16. 

• Two gunmen killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia.  

• Dawn and Dennis Young shared scenes of their miniature Christmas village collection, started in 1992.  

That’s a wrap, 2025!  

Here’s to a great finish to the year and to all the people who made it unforgettable.  Wishing everyone a fresh, meaningful start to 2026. Cheers to the mix of what’s ahead!