An effort by Republicans in the state legislature to eliminate tenure at Iowa’s three public universities advanced this week, as the House Education Committee passed a bill to end tenure at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, and a Senate subcommittee approved the Senate version of that bill. […]
Articles by Paul Brennan
Gov. Reynolds uses elimination of COVID-19 restrictions in fundraising pitches

Gov. Kim Reynolds is fundraising off her elimination of Iowa’s few COVID-19 restrictions, telling supporters she is standing up to “radicals on the Left” who “want to shut Iowa down.” The governor tweeted out that message on Thursday morning, and asked “Are you with me?” Iowa is coming back and we are coming back strong. […]
Coast Guard to honor Hawkeye football great Emlen Tunnell for his bravery in WWII
‘Absolutely mind-boggling’: Gov. Reynolds didn’t ask for the IDPH’s opinion before eliminating statewide mask mandate

Gov. Kim Reynolds did not consult with the Iowa Department of Public Health before eliminating the limited statewide mask mandate that had been in place since mid-November, according to state Sen. Claire Celsi. The Des Moines Democrat tweeted on Monday that she “listened in on a phone call” between interim Iowa Department of Public Health […]
Gov. Reynolds eliminates Iowa’s few significant COVID restrictions

Gov. Kim Reynolds is eliminating the state’s few remaining significant COVID-19 restrictions, even though the Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed earlier this week that a more contagious variant of the virus is circulating in the state. On Sunday, the state’s limited mask mandate will end, and the restrictions on the size of gatherings and […]
Companies have one day to apply to build state’s vaccine website; Iowa surpasses 5,000 deaths from COVID-19

Fifty-two days after the first COVID-19 vaccines were administered in Iowa on Dec. 14, and four days after eligibility for vaccination expanded to cover approximately 20 percent of the state’s population, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced her administration had taken “the first step” to creating a website to make it easier for people to set an […]
Bill that would allow landlords to refuse to rent to people on federal assistance approved by Iowa Senate subcommittee

A bill advancing through the Iowa Senate would strike down ordinances in Iowa City, Marion and Des Moines that prevent landlords from discriminating against people who receive federal housing assistance. SSB 1079 would strip all local governments in the state of the power to enact or enforce ordinances that prohibit landlords from rejecting potential renters […]
Biden administration teaming up with pharmacies to get vaccines to underserved populations

The Biden administration announced a new partnership between the federal government and retail pharmacies on Tuesday, which will provide vaccines directly to selected pharmacies. This is a different program than the one that has been used to vaccinate residents and workers at long-term care facilities, and is intended to increase access to vaccines in a […]
Curbside collection of compostable waste canceled in Iowa City on Thursday due to anticipated winter storm

Iowa City is canceling curbside pick-up of compostable waste on Thursday due to the anticipated winter storm. Normal service for customers affected by the cancellation will resume on Thursday next week. Garbage and recycling collection will proceed on their normal schedule. “Please place carts in your driveway or on a cleared, flat spot,” the department […]
Johnson County Public Health offers advice regarding B117 variant of COVID-19

Following the Iowa Department of Public Health’s announcement on Monday that three cases of the B117 variant of the coronavirus had been detected in Iowa — two in Johnson County and one in Bremer County — Johnson County Public Health put out a brief statement. “This particular variant has been detected in a number of […]
ICCSD families will have to choose all in-person or all online instruction as new state law limits district’s options

Following Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signing of a new law requiring school districts to offer an all in-person class option, the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) announced it will discontinue the hybrid model of education it implemented when limited in-person instruction resumed last fall. “Effective February 15, 2021, the District will no longer offer the […]
RAGBRAI organizers release 2021 route, hoping virus spread will be controlled by July

Normally, the route for RAGBRAI remains a secret until it is revealed at the end of January. But not this year. RABBRAI XLVIII’s route across northern Iowa had been know for a year before the official announcement on Saturday night. That’s because RAGBRAI 2021 is using the route that was announced for last year’s ride, […]