The iconic Iowa City venue The Mill closed in 2020 after 58 years of hosting music, literary readings, political events and more. And after plans to possibly revive it fell through, the building on Burlington Street that was home to The Mill for 48 year has stood empty for a year and a half, and […]
Iowa City News
Posted inCommunity/News
After more than a century serving Iowa City, Varsity Cleaners is closing
After 106 years in Iowa City, Varsity Cleaners is closing. “Obviously COVID is one of the deciding factors here,” owner Dave Geasland told Little Village. “It’s totally destroyed the dry cleaning business, and the dry cleaning business had already been in decline for the last 10 years.” Indeed, dry cleaners across the country and around […]
Posted inCommunity/News
COVID-19: Iowa surpasses 8,000 deaths; Gov. Reynolds says Iowa is ‘better off’ because of her policies
Johnson County Public Health suspended its routine case investigation and contact tracing for newly reported cases of COVID-19 because the ongoing surge in virus spread has overwhelmed its ability to conduct those investigations and tracing in an effective manner. “During the past week, there has been a 250% increase in cases from the previous week,” […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City Community School District cancels classes for Thursday due to extreme cold
The Iowa City Community School District announced on Wednesday evening it had canceled all classes for Thursday “due to extremely cold temperatures.” The district also canceled its grab-and-go meal service for the day. Iowa City Schools will cancel all classes for Thursday, January 6, 2022, due to extremely cold temperatures. Please note, there will be […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘A loaded gun in every aisle’: Hy-Vee is introducing a new retail security team
The shoulder patches say, “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle,” but the police-style uniforms, complete with belts with holstered taser and possibly handguns, may send a very different message as Hy-Vee deploys a new retail security team in its stores. The West Des Moines-based supermarket chain will begin introducing its own security force “as part […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Bruce Teague starts second term as Iowa City mayor, Megan Alter becomes mayor pro tem
Bruce Teague was sworn in for a second term as mayor of Iowa City and newly elected city councilmember Megan Alter was sworn in as mayor pro tem during the city council’s organizational meeting on Tuesday morning. “This is actually a great honor,” Teague said. “I don’t take it for granted.” Iowa City is one […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Royceann Porter appointed chair of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors
Supervisor Royceann Porter was appointed chairperson of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors for 2022 in a vote that took less than a minute at the board’s organizational meeting Monday. But the unanimous selection of Porter by her fellow supervisors was not a routine vote, as the county made clear in a news release issued […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Goodbye 2021: A brief look back at moments from a long year
Like 2020, this year was dominated by COVID-19 and bad decisions by state officials regarding the pandemic. Like last year, 2021 ends without the Iowa Department of Public Health hiring a full-time director, but now it is also lacking a medical director and state epidemiologist. Also like 2020, the year comes to end with the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Paris, Milan, New York … Iowa City? Designer Andre’ Wright works to establish Fashion Activism Institute in downtown IC
Fashion wasn’t the focus of last year’s racial justice protests, but what demonstrators wore — Black Lives Matter T-shirts, face masks reading “I can’t breathe” — became part of the message. Andre’ Wright understands the role of fashion in activism better than anyone, and now he’s teaching others how to use clothing to send a […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Rockin’ around the Christmas trash: A guide to recycling your holiday waste
Perhaps the worst part of Christmas is the inevitable clean-up afterwards: the mountain of empty boxes, shredded wrapping paper, string lights with burnt-out bulbs and the tree slowly going from beloved holiday symbol to fire hazard. But before you toss it all into the dumpster or stuff it into a garbage can, consider these ways […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City high school students rally to support abortion rights as the U.S. Supreme Court considers overturning Roe
Almost two hundred high school students rallied in the freezing cold at the Pentacrest on Thursday after walking out of school to show their support for abortion rights. The walkout was organized by City High students, but also attracted students from the city’s other high schools, as well as Southeast Junior High. They were joined […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Project Holiday is providing 1,500 families in Johnson County with holiday meals
Around 1,500 families will enjoy a home-cooked holiday meal this year thanks to CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank’s 34th annual Project Holiday. Families can receive their choice of entrée, sides, vegetables and other grocery items through this Saturday, Dec. 18, at Pepperwood Plaza, 1045 Hwy 6 East, during regular food bank hours. Shari Ellis […]
