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The derecho destroyed one-fourth of the trees in Iowa’s forests

The Aug. 10 derecho destroyed approximately a quarter of the trees in Iowa’s forests, according to Pete Hildreth, administrator of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Conservation and Recreation Division. Hildreth told the Natural Resource Commission during its Thursday meeting that the hurricane-force winds of the storm felled or irreparably damaged 724,000 acres of trees […]

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‘It’s a means to an end’: CR City Councilmember Ashley Vanorny shares experience in Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial

Cedar Rapids City Councilmember Ashley Vanorny said her decision to participate in Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial was “a very calculated risk but one that was good and necessary to take.” Vanorny is one of 270 volunteers enrolled at the University of Iowa’s study site. Overall, there are more than 40,000 people participating in the international […]

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Illinois businessman charged with stealing more than $1.6 million from UIHC in PPE scam

An Illinois businessman has been charged with wire fraud after stealing more than $2.6 million from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and a Chicago hospital that was supposed to pay for “scarce personal protective equipment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago announced on Tuesday. According to the complaint filed […]

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‘We are hanging by a thread’: Cedar Rapids officials call on governor to issue mask mandate; CRCSD gets waiver to move classes online

“Everything is increasing — the spread, the positive COVID cases, the hospitalizations, the deaths,” State Senator Liz Mathis said at the start of a virtual news conference on Thursday, the same day Linn County surpassed 10,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Mathis’ district, which includes Cedar Rapids, Marion, Robins, Hiawatha, Bertram, Ely and southern Linn County, […]

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Republican Miller-Meeks declares victory in 2nd District, even as one county prepares to recount votes on Thursday

Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks declared victory in the race for the open seat in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday, even though there is a recount already scheduled for Thursday in Lucas County. Lucas County put Miller-Meeks ahead of her Democratic opponent Rita Hart by a few dozen votes, when its auditor’s office posted new results […]

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As COVID cases surge, Gov. Reynolds introduces minor new restrictions and pledges to keep Iowa ‘open for business’

On Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported 4,441 people statewide tested positive for COVID-19 during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. The department has reported more than 4,000 new cases on five of the last six days. The new cases on Tuesday included 219 residents of Johnson County and 424 residents of […]

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ICCSD gets to move all classes online as cases of COVID-19 surge in Johnson County (Updated)

Update: The Iowa City Community School District Board of Directors approved moving the district’s school to all online instruction at its meeting on Tuesday evening. The change will take place on Monday, Nov. 16, following the recommendation of the district’s administration. Interim Superintendent Matt Degner said waiting until Monday would give parents a chance to […]

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Republican Miller-Meeks takes the lead in the 2nd District as Lucas County changes its vote totals

Republican Marianette Miller-Meeks regained the lead in the race for the open seat in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, after Lucas County updated its election results on Monday night. As of noon on Tuesday, the Iowa Secretary of State’s unofficial vote tally had Miller-Meeks ahead of Democrat Rita Hart by 50 votes, with 196,823 votes to […]

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