Cedar Rapids’ bike-share program is returning for the summer. Bikes and scooters will arrive within the first two weeks of June, the city announced on Friday. There will be 150 electric-assist bikes and 70 electric scooters around the city, as well as 90 designated bike racks. The city launched the bike-share program in May 2019 […]
COVID-19
Posted inCommunity/News
Johnson County government buildings will start to reopen on June 8, but officials decide against mandatory temperature checks
Johnson County government buildings will begin to reopen to the general public on June 8. The buildings were closed to public starting on March 18, as part of the county’s effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. During the first phase of reopening, appointments will be necessary to conduct any business. “People accessing County buildings […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa marks 500 COVID-19 deaths as virus reaches all 99 counties, Reynolds acknowledges ‘substantial spread’
In an unusual move, Gov. Kim Reynolds began her press conference on Thursday by turning the podium over to Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter. At Wednesday’s press conference, Reisetter had revealed it is department policy not to confirm the existence of a COVID-19 outbreak at a business, unless directly asked about […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Heritage Specialty Care in Cedar Rapids has recovered from COVID-19 outbreak, according to Linn County Public Health
Heritage Specialty Care, a long-term care facility in Cedar Rapids, has recovered from an outbreak of COVID-19, Linn County Public Health announced on Thursday. The department defines “recovery” as no new cases for 28 consecutive days, which is two incubation periods. Heritage was the first long-term care facility in Linn County to experience an outbreak […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Hinterland cancels 2020 festival, but plans to bring headliners back next summer
After three days of rousing, high-profile performances from the likes of Hozier, Kacey Musgraves and Brandi Carlile in 2019, the Hinterland Music Festival had momentum going into their sixth-annual fest. Then COVID-19 happened. Like the organizers of Mission Creek Festival, Iowa City Jazz Fest, Camp Euforia and dozens of other Iowa concert events before them, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
HACAP is holding a drive-through food pantry at Mercer Park on Friday
Hawkeye Area Community Action Program — better known as HACAP — will be holding a pop-up drive-through food pantry in Iowa City’s Mercer Park on Friday, between noon and 2 p.m. The pop-up pantry was originally scheduled for Thursday, by with forecasts calling for bad weather, HACAP pushed it back one day. The nonprofit serves […]
Posted inCommunity/News, COVID-19
Parking fees return to downtown Cedar Rapids on Monday, but city buildings will remain closed
Parking fees are returning to downtown Cedar Rapids on Monday, June 1, Park Cedar Rapids announced on Facebook. In response to COVID-19 and the closure of various businesses, downtown parking enforcement during April and May was limited to “public safety concerns” and situations where businesses or city services were impeded. Monthly permit parking fees were […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Some counties see sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, but Iowa’s top health official ‘continues to be fine with what we’re seeing,’ Gov. Reynolds says
Despite sharp increases in COVID-19 case numbers in some parts of central and western Iowa — Wright County went from 25 cases last week to 124 by Wednesday morning, and the Iowa Department of Public Health has reported more than 400 new cases in Buena Vista County since Tuesday — IDPH Medical Director Dr. Caitlin […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Linn County supervisors extend telework policy for county employees, discuss employee testing and Test Iowa
As the state continues to reopen, Linn County officials are thinking about ways to protect their employees, including extending telework policies and looking into testing county employees for COVID-19. Most county buildings are closed to the general public through June 15. Earlier this month, the Board of Supervisors discussed installing Plexiglas barriers and signs on […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Fareway stores are distributing free cloth face masks
Fareway Meat & Grocery announced on Wednesday its stores will be distributing free cloth face masks on a first-come, first-served basis. Like the ones distributed by Hy-Vee on Tuesday, these masks were made by Hanes and provided to the company for distribution by the state of Iowa. It’s a reusable three-ply cotton mask that can […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Adventureland announces its reopening
A few hours after Gov. Kim Reynolds announced at her Tuesday press conference that amusement parks, arcades, bowling alleys and pool halls will be permitted to reopen starting on June 1, Adventureland announced its reopening plans. “We want to phase in our opening to ensure our protocols are solidly in place and our team members […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Reynolds allows almost all businesses and outdoor venues to reopen, eliminates 10-person cap on gatherings
Gov. Kim Reynolds said the state won’t “prioritize” the lives of Iowans over their “livelihoods,” just before announcing her latest relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. According to the governor, “Iowa is on the road to recovery.” “For our state, recovery means striking a balance between getting life and business back to normal, while continuing to manage […]
