Linn County now has the largest number of residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. On Monday, the Iowa Department of Health reported 29 new confirmed cases in Linn, bringing the county’s total to 71. Johnson County, where the first three diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in Iowa were reported on March 8, had previously been […]
Johnson County
Posted inCommunity/News
COVID-19 cases in Linn County jump to 36, as the total number of cases in Iowa rises to 298
On Saturday, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 64 more Iowans have tested positive for COVID-19, including three in Johnson County and 14 in Linn County. • Benton County, 1 adult (18-40 years) • Boone County, 1 adult (18-40 years) • Buchanan County, 1 older adult (61-80 years) • Cedar County, 1 middle-age […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Rep. Abby Finkenaur, Johnson County supervisors call for statewide shelter-in-place
At her press conference on Friday, Gov. Reynolds noted how quickly the COVID-19 emergency has evolved in Iowa. “It was 10 days ago that the first public health emergency declarations I signed went into effect,” she said. “We continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of the actions we’ve taken, as well as additional steps […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds orders retail businesses closed, changes position on whether counties can order shelter-in-place
Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered the closure of more businesses on Thursday, as well as the cancellation of non-essential medical and dental procedures in Iowa. At her Thursday afternoon press conference on the state’s response to COVID-19, Reynolds also said she was pushing back by a week the date businesses closed by executive order can reopen. […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Shelter-in-place? Gov. Reynolds opposes mandatory restrictions, and Johnson County health leaders worry about ‘panic’
At her Wednesday afternoon press conference, Gov. Kim Reynolds reiterated her belief that voluntary efforts by Iowans are the key to combating the spread of COVID-19 in the state. “Now is the critical time, when each of us can make a difference on the impact that COVID-19 will have in Iowa,” Reynolds said. “We all […]
Posted inCommunity/News
What you need to know about the 2020 Census, as the nationwide count begins (Updated)
Iowans will begin receiving information in the mail starting on Thursday telling them how to respond to the 2020 Census. While that sounds simple enough, understanding the census can be difficult — especially with information and misinformation floating around. The Pew Research Center found that most people know the census is coming and are ready to answer it — but don’t know key details, like how citizenship will not be asked and how this is the first count that will be done primarily online.
Posted inCommunity/News
Johnson County Democrats’ Fall BBQ Fundraiser to have lots of food, two (or possibly three) candidates for Congress and one presidential hopeful (Updated)
The Johnson County Democratic Party will hold its annual Fall BBQ Fundraiser on Sunday at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. State Sen. Kevin Kinney of Oxford will be handling the grill, and Johnson County Supervisor Royceann Porter is making the sides. Food will be plentiful, but somewhat surprisingly, presidential candidates won’t be.
Posted inCommunity/News
Hundreds march in Iowa City for the Families Belong Together rally
The heat index hovered near 100 degrees, and the most direct routes were blocked by the Iowa City Jazz Festival and the Iowa City Farmers Market, but that didn’t stop an enthusiastic crowd of hundreds from marching to College Green Park from the terrace of the Old State Capitol on Saturday morning for Iowa City’s Families Belong Together rally.
Posted inCommunity/News
Johnson County joins Linn County in ‘banning the box’
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
New program will help reduce the cost of solar power for Johnson County homeowners
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.”
Posted inCommunity/News
The 2017 elections brought a historic win, a surge of write-in votes, a mayoral runoff and more to Johnson and Linn counties
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.
Posted inCommunity/News
Johnson County Community ID Two-Year Anniversary Party on Monday
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.
