The University of Iowa began its Friday COVID-19 update with an optimistic-sounding statement. “Following a disappointing spike in COVID-19 cases last week, both Johnson County and the University of Iowa are seeing an improvement in the number of daily positive cases,” the statement on the UI COVID-19 information page said. “UI Health Care administrators say […]
COVID-19
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Two grassroots groups are fighting against the odds to save The Mill, Iowa City’s ‘cultural crossroads’
If three months into Iowa’s COVID-19 pandemic there were some locals who still hoped life might return to normal someday, the announcement that The Mill restaurant and music venue was being sold off was likely a wake-up call. The Mill, 120 E Burlington St, was a stomping ground for generations of townies and a destination […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa Secretary of State limits use of drop boxes for absentee ballots, leaving Linn County with only one
County auditors in Iowa are allowed to collect absentee ballots using drop boxes, as long as they follow the new guidance from the Secretary of State’s Office that limits where those drop boxes can be placed. The Secretary of State’s Office previously said Iowa law does not allow county auditors to use drop boxes to […]
Posted inCommunity/News
City of Cedar Rapids announces changes to transit system
Cedar Rapids Transit will make changes to its schedules and routes starting Tuesday. The changes are intended to improve bus service by “streamlining routes, reducing travel times, shifting service from lower-use to higher-use areas and adding service frequency,” according to the city. The change will include additional morning and afternoon weekday peak service on hourly […]
Posted inCommunity/News
More than 1,100 UI students have tested positive for COVID-19
Another 220 University of Iowa students self-reported positive COVID-19 tests between Monday and Wednesday, according to the latest update to the UI COVID-19 information page. Three more staff members also self-reported positive test results. The new cases bringing the number of UI students who have self-reported COVID-19 to the university since Aug. 18 to 1,142. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds defends ISU plan to have 25,000 fans at football opener just before ISU reverses decision
Iowa State University announced on Wednesday afternoon it will not be permitting spectators to attend its first home football game on Saturday, Sept. 12. The university had been widely criticized for its previous decision to allow 25,000 spectators to attend the game despite a spike in COVID-19 cases in Ames. The change in policy was […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart issues face covering mandate
Nearly everyone in Cedar Rapids is now required to wear a face covering in public, according to a proclamation signed by Mayor Brad Hart on Wednesday. “For several months, I have been encouraging, even begging, for the voluntary use of masks by all residents in public in order to protect our residents and get us […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Yeah, 2020 sucks — but is that idea part of the problem?
Here’s a wacky idea: Our concept of a “year” is blocking our effectiveness in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. OK, bear with me. One of the most common expressions I’ve seen and heard — on social media and in real-live conversations — is that 2020 sucks. In a lot of ways that of course is true, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Joni Ernst suggests doctors are faking COVID-19 deaths to make money
Sen. Joni Ernst told supporters in Black Hawk County on Monday she thinks the country’s COVID-19 death count is being inflated by unscrupulous doctors who have a financial motive to lie about patients dying from the virus. “These healthcare providers and others are reimbursed at a higher rate if COVID is tied to it, so […]
Posted inCOVID-19
White House Coronavirus Task Force: Iowa has the country’s highest rate of new COVID-19 cases, and should have statewide mask mandate
Johnson County had another triple-digit increase in its number of COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with the Iowa Department of Public Health reporting 138 residents had tested positive for the virus during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. The department’s official 14-day average daily positivity rate for Johnson County increased to 23.4 percent on Tuesday. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Another 329 cases of COVID-19 reported at the University of Iowa since Friday
The surge in COVID-19 cases in Johnson County continued on Monday, with the Iowa Department of Public Health reporting another 122 positive test results for county residents between 10 a.m. on Sunday and 10 a.m. on Monday. The department’s official estimate of the county’s 14-day positivity rate for its COVID-19 tests at 10 a.m. was […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids Community School District resuming grab-and-go meals
The Cedar Rapids Community School District is resuming its grab-and-go meal distribution on Wednesday. The program will run for about two weeks before it’s limited to students participating in virtual learning. From Sept. 2 to 18, the free meals will be available to all children 18 years old or younger from 10:30 a.m. to 1 […]
