The Today's News-Herald (commonly searched as the Lake Havasu News Herald) is the daily primary newspaper serving Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and greater Mohave County. Established alongside the city's founding, it delivers print and digital coverage of local government, community events, regional business developments, high school athletics, and public legal notices across the Colorado River region.
The Role of the News Herald in Mohave County Journalism
Local news outlets serve as vital democratic infrastructure, and in the tri-city area of Mohave County—comprising Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, and Kingman—the publication acts as the local journal of record. Founded in 1966 during the rapid development of Lake Havasu City under industrialist Robert P. McCulloch, the publication has documented the area's transformation from a planned desert community into a bustling tourist hub famous for the historic London Bridge.
Over decades of regional growth, the newsroom has maintained continuous reporting on critical desert southwest issues, including Colorado River water allocations, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land usage policy, city council decisions, and regional economic shifts.
In 2023, Wick Communications, an Arizona-based family-owned news organization founded in 1926, acquired the publication alongside related desert titles from Brehm Communications. This transition reinforced the publication's regional reporting network across southern and western Arizona, ensuring localized coverage tailored to both permanent residents and seasonal winter visitors (snowbirds).
Key Coverage Areas and Editorial Focus
The publication's newsroom concentrates on issues directly affecting residents living along the Lower Colorado River. Rather than duplicating national wire stories found in major metropolitan outlets, the daily editorial agenda prioritizes local accountability and community reporting.
Local Government and Civic Affairs
Reporting covers the administrative decisions made by the Lake Havasu City Council, Mohave County Board of Supervisors, and local municipal boards. Key topics include:
- Zoning decisions, commercial real estate development, and municipal water management strategies.
- Annual municipal budget approvals, property tax rates, and infrastructure bonds.
- Local law enforcement updates from the Lake Havasu City Police Department and the Mohave County Sheriff's Office.
Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Reporting
Given Lake Havasu's geography as a public water body managed by federal and state entities, civic coverage extends to environmental and recreational land management:
- Water quality monitoring, blue-green algae advisories, and lake level reporting managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Arizona Game and Fish Department.
- Lake event safety, boat ramp management, and public access regulations at Lake Havasu State Park and surrounding BLM lands.
- Bureau of Reclamation policy updates regarding Lake Mead, Lake Powell, and Colorado River drought contingency plans affecting western Arizona.
School District and Local Youth Athletics
The paper maintains dedicated reporting on the Lake Havasu Unified School District #51, tracking district board policies, school performance ratings, and campus developments. The sports section highlights Lake Havasu High School Knights athletics, tracking football, basketball, track and field, and aquatic sports across Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) competitions.
Access Tiers, Delivery Options, and Digital Features
Subscribers and casual readers can access reporting through several print and digital formats. The publication operates a digital paywall system to support local journalism while providing flexible delivery methods for both full-year residents and seasonal visitors.
| Access Tier | Included Formats | Primary Features & Benefits | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-Access Print & Digital | Home Delivery + Digital Pass + E-Edition | Physical print delivery on publishing days, full web platform access, interactive digital PDF replica (E-Edition), full access to digital archives. | Full-time local residents preferring traditional print combined with mobile access. |
| Digital-Only Subscription | Web Access + Mobile App + E-Edition | Real-time breaking news alerts, ad-lite browsing experience, early morning access to the daily digital PDF replica, accessible globally. | Seasonal residents (snowbirds), out-of-state property owners, and digital-first readers. |
| Single-Issue Newsstand | Physical Daily Print Issue | Purchased at local retail partners, gas stations, grocery stores, and newspaper racks throughout Lake Havasu City. | Casual readers, tourists, and short-term visitors. |
| Public Library & Academic Access | On-site Print & Archive Terminals | Microfilm archives, physical back issues, and electronic database access available at the Mohave County Library Lake Havasu City Branch. | Historical researchers, genealogy scholars, and non-subscribers performing occasional lookups. |
Navigating the E-Edition
The E-Edition is an exact digital replica of the printed daily newspaper, accessible through desktop web browsers and dedicated iOS/Android tablet applications. It provides full-page visual navigation, zoom capabilities for fine print, searchable text, and article clip-and-share tools. Subscribers who travel outside Arizona during summer months frequently utilize the E-Edition to stay current on local tax assessments and civic matters without needing physical mail holds.
Community Announcements, Classifieds, and Legal Notices
Beyond daily news reporting, the publication serves as the statutory public forum for official civic and commercial announcements in Mohave County.
Statutory Publishing Role Arizona Revised Statutes require local governments, legal entities, and private businesses to publish official legal notices in a newspaper of general circulation within the affected county. The Today's News-Herald acts as an official publishing entity for Mohave County public hearings, estate probate notices, tax sales, and corporate formations.
Classified Advertising and Local Marketplaces
The newspaper operates a classified ad section available in print and online. Common categories include:
- Real Estate & Rentals: Long-term residential rentals, commercial space leasing, and residential property sales.
- Marine & Recreational Vehicles: Used boats, personal watercraft, off-road vehicles (UTVs/ATVs), and RV sales tailored to the local desert/boating economy.
- Local Employment: Regional job postings spanning hospitality, healthcare (such as Havasu Regional Medical Center), construction, and municipal job openings.
Submitting Obituaries and In Memoriam Notices
Obituaries are submitted directly by families or through partnering funeral homes. The editorial office accepts standard obituary text, photographs, and service details. Submissions can be processed online or via the local newsroom office, with publications appearing both in print and within an online permanent memorial archive.
How to Submit News Tips, Letters, and Press Releases
The editorial department welcomes community contributions, photo submissions, and opinion pieces from readers across Lake Havasu City and surrounding communities like Desert Hills and Parker Dam.
Guidelines for Submitting Content
- News Tips and Breaking Coverage: Direct breaking news alerts, emergency notifications, or story suggestions to the metro news desk. Include specific locations, times, contact details, and any photographic evidence if available.
- Letters to the Editor: Readers may submit short opinion pieces reacting to recent local news or civic policies. Letters typically carry a strict word limit (around 250–300 words), must include the author's real name and city of residence for verification, and are evaluated based on community relevance and civil discourse standards.
- Press Releases and Event Listings: Local non-profit organizations, businesses, and civic groups should submit press releases at least 7 to 10 business days prior to an event. Releases should follow standard AP style format, detailing who, what, when, where, and why, alongside direct public contact information.
Archival Research and Historical Record Access
Researchers, property historians, and genealogists frequently seek access to past reporting from Lake Havasu City. Since the community was officially incorporated in 1978 after its initial planned development in the 1960s, newspaper archives offer a complete chronological history of the region's modern development.
Digital Archives vs. Physical Archives
- Online Digital Archives: Recent articles (typically from the late 1990s through 2026) are searchable directly via the official newspaper website search interface or through aggregated digital news databases. Subscriptions or pay-per-article fees may apply depending on the archive partner.
- Mohave County Library System: The Lake Havasu City Library branch holds historical microfiche and microfilm reels containing early editions of the newspaper. Members of the public can view, enlarge, and print historical front pages documenting milestones such as the 1968 purchase of the London Bridge, its 1971 rededication, and early city incorporation debates.
- Lake Havasu Historical Society & Museum of History: For localized historical inquiries regarding early desert pioneers, land developer Robert P. McCulloch, or industrialist C.V. Wood, the local museum archives preserve clipped news scrapbooks and special historic anniversary editions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official name of the Lake Havasu news publication?
The publication is officially titled Today's News-Herald. However, it is widely referred to locally and online as the Lake Havasu News Herald or simply The News-Herald.
Who owns and operates the newspaper?
The newspaper is published by Wick Communications, a family-owned media organization headquartered in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Wick Communications acquired the publication in 2023 along with several regional titles across the desert southwest.
How do I access the newspaper's digital E-Edition?
Subscribers can log in to the official website using their account credentials to view the E-Edition. The digital replica can be read directly on standard web browsers or via dedicated iOS and Android apps designed for tablet and mobile screens.
How can I publish a legal notice or business announcement in Mohave County?
Legal notices—such as LLC formations, probate notices, and public land hearings—must be submitted to the advertising and legal notices department. Submissions require verified copy text and are published according to Arizona state statutory deadlines, with affidavits of publication provided upon completion.
Can seasonal residents pause physical newspaper home delivery?
Yes. Subscribers who spend part of the year outside Arizona can temporarily suspend physical print delivery through their online subscriber account portal or by contacting local customer service. During a print hold, digital access to the website and E-Edition remains fully active.
Accessing Local Coverage and Subscription Support
To manage an active subscription, submit a community press release, or browse breaking news stories from around Lake Havasu City and Mohave County, visit the publisher's official platform online at news-herald.com. For in-person inquiries, customer service assistance, or archive lookups, visit the local publication headquarters located in Lake Havasu City, Arizona during regular business hours.
