On the same day a judge in one of Donald Trump’s ongoing federal criminal trials imposed a limited gag order to stop the former president from making further statements attacking prosecutors and court personnel, or attempting to intimidate witnesses, Iowa’s top law enforcement officer endorsed Trump for president. “I am proud to announce my endorsement […]
Paul Brennan
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa Dept. of Education doesn’t know how much the new school choice program will cost this year, but it’ll exceed estimates by millions
A total of 18,893 applications for Gov. Reynolds’ new school-voucher-style education savings account (ESA) program were approved this year, the Iowa Department of Education disclosed on Thursday. That’s far more than the enrollment estimate provided to lawmakers by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA) when the bill creating the program to divert public school funds […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City to start charging a fee at its EV charging stations
Next week, Iowa City will begin charging the public to use its electric vehicle charging stations in the city’s parking ramps. Starting Monday, EV drivers topping off their batteries will have to pay 16 cents per kilowatt/hour. The city estimates the average EV driver will pay $4 for a four-hour charging session. “Payment should be […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Mercy Iowa City bought in bankruptcy auction by Texas-based finance company
Preston Hollow Community Capital, the Texas-based specialty finance company that is Mercy Iowa City’s largest creditor, was the winning bidder in the bankruptcy auction of Mercy’s assets, which include the 234-bed Iowa City hospital, as well as the Mercy Family Medical Centers in Kalona, Tipton, West Liberty and Williamsburg. Mercy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Laura Bergus and Pauline Taylor finish first and second in District A primary, will be on November ballot in Iowa City
Current Iowa City councilmembers Laura Bergus and Pauline Taylor will be on the ballot for the council seat in District A in the November election after finishing first and second, respectively, in Tuesday’s primary election. Bergus finished far ahead of Taylor and the other candidate in the race, Tim Borchardt. Bergus received 58.4 percent of […]
Posted inCommunity/News
The 148-year-old building that’s home to Pagliai’s Pizza is up for sale; Iowa City officials to consider granting it landmark status
The address 302 E Bloomington St may not sound familiar to many, but almost everyone living in Iowa City, and generations of students and visitors, know Pagliai’s Pizza. The 19th century building in Iowa City’s Northside Neighborhood has been home to the iconic pizzeria since the ’70s, and its future is a topic for discussion […]
Posted inElection Coverage
Iowa Democratic Party gets ‘conditional’ approval of its new caucus plan
After two years of having plans for its 2024 presidential caucus rejected, the Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) has succeeded in winning approval for its latest plan from national party leaders. Early Friday afternoon, the Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) voted unanimously to declare the plan outlined by IDP representative […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Shelter House seeks assistance helping people affected by fire in Iowa City
A fire on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 4, destroyed much of an encampment near the Iowa River as it approaches the 1400 block of Gilbert Street in Iowa City. The individuals living there lost much of their possessions, and Shelter House is working to replace what was lost in the fire. “These people need new tents, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Donna Reed and her Iowa science teacher sought to spotlight the horror of the atomic bomb. Then the White House got involved.
The studio promised it would be a prestigious motion picture, with big stars and stunning visual effects. The movie would tell the true story of the creation of the atomic bomb, and give people a fuller understanding of what it means to live in a world with such weapons. It was 1947, 76 years before […]
Posted inCommunity/News
About 60% of CRCSD students returned to class Tuesday as social media threats remain under investigation
Classes resumed at public schools in Cedar Rapids Tuesday after being canceled on Monday due to threats made on social media over the weekend. Students were not allowed to bring bags into the schools, except for clear backpacks, and the number of entrances to buildings left unlocked were restricted. During a news conference on Tuesday […]
Posted inStatewide
Report: Black Iowans are incarcerated at nine times the rate of white residents
Iowa has one of the country’s worst rates of racial disparities in prison and jail populations, according to a new study from a think tank focused on criminal justice issues. The analysis by the Prison Policy Initiative (PPI), a nonpartisan Massachusetts-based nonprofit, found Iowa in a four-way tie as one of the states with the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids Police, FBI investigating threats that caused closure of CRCSD schools on Monday
All Cedar Rapids public schools were closed on Monday as a response to threats posted on social media. The Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) informed parents and staff of the closure in an email sent shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Sunday night. “This closure is for the safety of all students and staff,” CRCSD […]
