Larry Dale Smith, 71, passed away on January 27, 2026, surrounded by loved ones at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Formerly a resident of Fremont, Neb., his final wish for cremation was respectfully carried out.

Mercy Medical Center is introducing contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM), a pioneering technology designed to increase the accuracy of breast cancer detection. By using contrast to capture clearer images, especially in women with dense breast tissue, CEM is poised to make early diagnosis more achievable and precise.