On Thursday, the Iowa Department of Education (DOE) rejected a request from the Iowa City Community School District to allow its schools to start the new school year with two weeks of all online instruction. In its application, ICCSD said it was concerned about the health and safety of students and staff if it began […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa is no longer the only state to disenfranchise all people convicted of felonies
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order that automatically restores the voting rights of almost all Iowans convicted of a felony, as well as their right to hold public office. The bill excludes people convicted of murder and manslaughter, although they can still individually apply to the governor for the restoration of their rights. “Iowa […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Reynolds warns schools not to switch to all online classes without permission, criticizes COVID-19 ‘scare tactics’ used by media
“I want to be very clear,” Gov. Kim Reynolds near the beginning of her press conference on Tuesday. “Schools that choose not to return to school for at least 50 percent in-person instruction are not defying me, they’re defying the law.” The governor said that if a school moved to all online instruction without first […]
Posted inCommunity/News, COVID-19
Cedar Rapids families have until Wednesday to decide on in-person or virtual instruction for upcoming school year
Cedar Rapids families have until Wednesday to decide whether their students will start the upcoming school year online or in person. Families were sent the final version of the Cedar Rapids Community School District’s (CRCSD) Return to Learn plan on Friday. The plan includes information about the options for students in elementary, middle and high […]
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COVID-19: Doctors rally to ask Gov. Reynolds for a mask mandate; experts warn about school reopenings
Doctors from across the state gathered on the steps of Iowa State Capitol on Saturday to call on Gov. Kim Reynolds to issue a statewide face covering mandate or allow local governments to issue mandates in their communities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Our message is clear,” Dr. Brian Privett, an ophthalmologist in […]
Posted inCommunity/News
COVID-19: Another 463 Iowans test positive; Minnesota school districts will be able to choose how to reopen
On Thursday, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the standards that will determine whether schools must have all in-person instruction, can use a hybrid model incorporating both in-person and online instruction, or move all classes online. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a former school teacher, announced his state’s school reopening plan that same day. The two states are […]
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Cedar Rapids law firm offers to prepare living wills and other health care documents for teachers for free
A Cedar Rapids law firm has announced it will help teachers prepare living wills and other legal health care documents for free during a pop-up event in Bever Park on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Teachers are invited to come to this outdoor, socially distanced event where they will receive attorney […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds sharply limits ability of schools to respond to COVID-19
During a press conference on Thursday, Gov. Kim Reynolds unveiled the standards her administration is imposing on school districts as those districts begin a new school year during the COVID-19 pandemic. School districts are expected to hold on-site classes until their county sees a 14-day rolling average positivity rate of 15 percent, and there is […]
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Iowa to strengthen enforcement of social distancing at bars and restaurants, as 582 more Iowans test positive for COVID-19
Social distancing and other mitigation measures at Iowa bars, restaurants and other food establishments will have stronger enforcement from the state starting this week. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), along with the Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD), will issue infractions for businesses not complying, according to a news release. Iowa businesses — including […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids schools will send the district’s Return to Learn plan to families on Friday
An updated version of the Cedar Rapids Community School District’s (CRCSD) Return to Learn plan was shared during the Board of Education’s special meeting on Tuesday. The final version of the plan will be made public on Friday. The updated draft and additional details come after the district received feedback from staff and families through […]
Posted inCommunity/News
White House task force leader warns Iowa needs to do more to mitigate the spread of COVID-19
During White House Coronavirus Task Force conference call with governors on Tuesday, Dr. Deborah Birx singled out a group of states seeing increases in COVID-19 cases and test positivity rates, and advised their governors to take new mitigation steps, including mandating face coverings and closing bars. Iowa was one of those states. The 13 “yellow […]
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COVID-19: Groups representing more than 12,000 Iowa medical professionals ask Gov. Reynolds for a statewide mask mandate; 253 more Iowans test positive
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 253 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, increasing the total number of Iowans who have tested positive to 42,738. The newly confirmed cases were part of the 3,052 test results reported by IDPH between 10 a.m. on Monday and […]
