The surge in new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa continued over the weekend, and the state set yet another record for the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Between 10 a.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Monday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported 3,897 Iowans had tested positive for COVID-19, which include 103 residents […]
Community/News
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Hy-Vee CEO tells employees he’s concerned about the tax policies of ‘some of the candidates’ this election cycle
Hy-Vee CEO Randy Edeker sent a video about the upcoming election to his company’s more than 245 stores, Iowa Capital Dispatch reported. In the video, which is being played in store breakrooms, Edeker tells employees that current tax policies are in the best interest of the West Des Moines-based chain and warns about social unrest […]
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Cedar Rapids launches online climate survey, seeks members for the city’s Climate Advisory Committee
The city of Cedar Rapids launched an online survey for residents to provide input about the city’s climate action plan. The survey, which is online until Nov. 20, will be used to make the city’s Community Climate Action Plan. The survey is available in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Swahili and Kirundi. In February, the […]
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Early voting: Iowa sets a new record, locations open through the weekend in Johnson and Linn
As the final week of early voting begins, Iowa is in the process of setting a new record. On Friday afternoon, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate tweeted that 708,899 voters had already cast a ballot for the Nov. 3 election, breaking the previous record set in 2012, when 679,118 Iowans voted early. Democrats are […]
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COVID-19: CDC has a new definition of ‘close contact,’ Iowa has another new record for hospitalized patients
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its definition of what constitutes “close contact” with someone who has COVID-19. Previously, the CDC had defined close contact as being within six feet of a person who has tested positive for 15 consecutive minutes. But under the revised definition issued on Wednesday, being within six feet […]
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Field to Family will keep the online farmers market open until mid-December
As the weather turns colder, farmers markets traditionally close down, but Field to Family announced on Friday the online version of the Iowa City Farmers Market with drive-through pick-up will be open through the middle of December. “As an organization committed to expanding access to local foods and supporting our farmers, we want to do […]
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The Cedar Rapids convention center and arena is now the Alliant Energy Power House
People driving along First Avenue in downtown Cedar Rapids will soon see a new name on the city’s convention center and arena — Alliant Energy Power House. City officials announced the 12-year naming rights agreement at a press conference Friday morning. The agreement, which became effective on July 1, starts at $300,000 per year, with […]
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Disease experts urge Reynolds to ‘turn off the faucet’ and take aggressive COVID-19 mitigation efforts
Iowa had the eighth highest rate of new cases of COVID-19 in the country last week, according to the most recent White House Coronavirus Task Force report. The report, delivered to the state on Sunday and obtained by ABC News on Wednesday, warned that 90 percent of Iowa counties are experiencing “moderate or high levels […]
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NewBo City Market hosting first Black-owned business guest vendor market this Saturday
NewBo City Market is celebrating Black-owned businesses in Cedar Rapids with two upcoming guest vendor markets. The first shopping event is on Saturday, Oct. 24, and the second event will be on Saturday, Nov. 14. Both events will be held at the market, 1100 3rd St SE, and run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. […]
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Reynolds’ use of CARES Act funds to pay for software contract came after the Iowa House rejected her request for the money
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ decision to use $21 million of federal COVID-19 relief funds on a new computer system she awarded a no-bid contract last year came after the Iowa House of Representatives rejected her request to use $21 million in state gambling revenue to pay for the system, Iowa Capital Dispatch reported on Thursday. The […]
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Drop off old or unwanted prescription drugs as part of Take Back Day on Saturday
Law enforcement agencies in Johnson and Linn counties are again partnering with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for this year’s nationwide Take Back Day. Individuals with expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs can use the agency’s online search tool to locate a collection site near them. All sites will be open from 10 a.m. to […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Cedar Rapids Public Library continues to provide crucial services from a distance
If there is one small sliver of a silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that it has highlighted to our society who and what is truly essential to the lives we lead. Doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, public transit drivers, teachers, daycare — we feel a new sense of reverence for the people […]
