“As difficult as it feels to acknowledge it, I have not fared well through the pandemic,” Iowa musician River Glen Breitbach said in an email. “I have been a hard working musician for over 25 years and in that time I have established annual routes that have me touring throughout Iowa and the neighboring states, […]
COVID-19
Posted inArts & Entertainment
FilmScene to reopen theaters in time for ‘A Quiet Place Part II’
Within six months of their grand opening in the new Chauncey Building, FilmScene closed its doors in response to the pandemic. But after more than 14 months of private screenings, virtual screenings and Friday night concession pick-ups — and, last month, the debut of their outdoor cinema — the Iowa City nonprofit theater is ready […]
Posted inCommunity/News, COVID-19
More than a year after closing their buildings to the public, Linn County and Cedar Rapids prepare to re-open doors
The City of Cedar Rapids and Linn County governments are preparing to re-open their facilities to the public after more than a year of being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Linn County Board of Supervisors voted on Wednesday to open county buildings to the public on Monday, June 7. County buildings have been […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City and Coralville lift their mask mandates
Iowa City and Coralville announced on Tuesday an end to their city-wide mask mandates. In written statements, both cities cited the revised guidance issued by the CDC last week stating that people who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks or engage in social distancing even while indoors to mitigate the spread of […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market returning this summer with in-person season
The Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market is returning this summer for its 16th season with an in-person market featuring nearly 100 local vendors selling fresh produce, cinnamon rolls, honey, flowers and other goods. Like many in-person events last year, the downtown farmers market had to adjust its operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Despite pandemic deficit, Kirk Ferentz collected full salary, bowl-game bonus for 2020
As the University of Iowa Athletics Department was facing a massive financial shortfall due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020, a number of the department’s employees accepted, voluntarily or otherwise, reduced salaries and bonuses. Among these employees were head coach of men’s basketball Fran McCaffrey (who volunteered for a $255,000 salary cut), […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Mayor Brad Hart again modifies mask mandate in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart has further eased the mask mandate in Cedar Rapids to align with updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC announced on Thursday that fully vaccinated individuals can stop wearing their masks indoors. This guidance comes two weeks after the CDC issued recommendations that relaxed […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Biden partners with Uber and Lyft to provide free rides to get vaccinated, as rates continue to slow
As the rate of COVID-19 vaccination slows across the country, President Joe Biden announced a new partnership between the country’s two largest ride-hailing services and the federal government to make it easier for people to reach sites where they can be vaccinated. The partnership was announced Tuesday as part of a set of new initiatives […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids high schools holding vaccine clinics this week for students 16 and older
Cedar Rapids high school students who are 16 years or older have the opportunity to get vaccinated this week during school-day hours at their high school. The Cedar Rapids Community School District, in partnership with Linn County Public Health, will hold COVID-19 vaccination clinics at Kennedy, Jefferson, Washington and Metro high schools. The two-dose Pfizer […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Dear Kiki: So you’re thinking of popping your lockdown bubble
Kiki gets it. Spring has sprung after a long, lonely winter and you, reader, are tired and antsy. You’re vaxxed and ready to show the world your shine. But you’re also confused! You feel like someone with anxiety who just dropped a dose of ecstasy: truly desperate to interact but lacking the necessary skills. Rest […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The Coralville Community Food Pantry offers music, poetry and dance in exchange for support fighting food insecurity
Over the last several years, the food insecurity rate in Johnson County was dropping. According to interactive maps from the organization Feeding America, it went from 13.9 percent in 2016 down to 8.2 percent in 2018 and maintained that in 2019. But a projection the site ran for the impacts of COVID-19 predicted a rise […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘If we can help one kid figure it out, that’s good’: Cedar Rapids nonprofit wants to help young adults as they enter the workforce
The saying “early bird gets the worm” serves as the namesake for Early Bird CR, a nonprofit with a mission of helping young adults figure out what career to pursue, gain experience and make adulting a little less daunting. Founder and entrepreneur Sabrina Collins-Atkinson was motivated to start Early Bird CR after talking with parents […]
