Johnson County has officially “banned the box” by eliminating the requirement to disclose past criminal history on an initial county job application. The unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors (with Janelle Rettig absent) to adopt the measure on Thursday, June 14, happened four weeks after Linn County became the first county in Iowa to […]
A new program to help Johnson County and West Branch residents interested in adding solar power to their homes will hold its first public meeting on Thursday at Johnson County Health and Human Services Building. Solarize Johnson County is a collaboration between the county, six cities and the nonprofit Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA).
“First and foremost, it’s an educational effort so people can learn about solar,” said Becky Soglin, sustainability coordinator for Johnson County. “The focus is residential use.” […]
The morning after winning a seat on the Iowa City Council, Mazahir Salih was up early working to support one of the causes she believes in. She testified before the Johnson County Board of Supervisors on community IDs, even though she’d barely had any sleep.
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July 17, 2015 marked the first day that community IDs were available in Johnson County. In celebration of that milestone, and to encourage people to renew those first-issued children’s IDs, which expire on that date this year, the Johnson County Auditor’s Office is hosting a party at the administration building. […]
I love a restaurant that doesn’t need a gimmick: one where the food is good and you can hear the person you’re speaking with—and it’s always nice when you can get a good beer or a milkshake with whiskey in it. Beer Burger in North Liberty is just such a joint. No pretense, just tasty […]
The Community Foundation of Johnson County awarded more than $252,000 in grants to 72 local non-profits for the 2016-17 year. The awardees were announced on Oct. 19 at the annual Community Foundation’s Grant Award Luncheon. Local non-profits are able to submit proposals which explain the specific programs for which they are seeking funding. The foundation […]
Tax season is reaching its peak and Johnson County is here to help with free assistance offered in Iowa City and North Liberty through Apr. 13 — right before this year’s Apr. 18 filing deadline. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), which celebrated its 10th year of services last week, offers a series of […]
Update: On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Iowa City Council indicated that while they plan on allowing the county ordinance to go into effect, leading to a minimum wage increase to $8.20 in Iowa City next month (the first of several wage increases through 2017), councilors stressed the need for a comprehensive analysis of the ordinance […]
At least 60 cases of mumps have been reported in the state of Iowa since July 1, according to the Johnson County Public Health Department. Of those 60 cases, 50 were reported in Johnson County, and 40 of those cases involved students at the University of Iowa, says JCPHD Deputy Director Tricia Kitzmann. While the […]
Johnson County beach bums and pool-goers hoping to beat the heat in the last days of summer should be wary of the microscopic company they keep. “August is the peak month for the blue-green algae blooms that are an increasingly common threat to Iowa Lakes during the summer,” The Press-Citizen reports. Caused in part by […]