Izabela Zaluska

The Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel and Conference Center is getting a refresh as part of a multimillion dollar renovation, which includes renovated guest rooms, a new restaurant and expanded gym.

The “Building North Liberty’s Next Stage” campaign has a goal of raising $1 million from the community to push forward plans that would transform Centennial Park into a regional attraction and venue. The project is estimated to cost $16 million.

Guillermo Morales spoke with The Gazette about his career experience, time in Iowa and what he is looking forward to most in his new role with Johnson County.

The new partnership is one step the city’s taking to promote equity in access to the pools and break barriers community members have to safely using the public facilities.

The city will be working with OPN Architects over the next six months on reviewing the current and projected space and needs of city departments — including if it would be possible to relocate the police department to a stand-alone building.

David’s Bridal will lay off nearly 100 employees across its four Iowa stores — and potentially thousands of employees across the country — after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday.

The starting bid for the hotel is $3.2 million with bidding running from May 2 to May 4.

After collecting close to 1,000 responses, a public input survey showed 73 percent of respondents support keeping the Senior Center at its current location on 28 S. Linn Street.

The North Liberty City Council at its meeting this week didn’t take a formal vote but did give city staff the green light to begin drafting an ordinance and offer a recommendation to the council.

A facility condition audit completed last year for Johnson County buildings will serve as a “road map” as county officials and staff explore capital needs and long-term plans. Among the buildings in greatest need of a plan is the Johnson County Jail and Sheriff’s Office, which officials have said is at the end of its useful life.

Coralville’s Fifth Street reconstruction project — which was expected to begin this month — will be delayed a year after bids came in over budget. The project will likely be rebid this fall.

Average increase across Iowa was 22 percent, but assessors say property taxes will not increase at same rate.

The demand for veterinary services in Iowa — and across the country — grew during the pandemic as adoptions and the pet population increased. This demand has outpaced the number of graduating veterinarians, causing strain on a system that was already facing challenges pre-pandemic, various professionals told The Gazette.

The shortage of veterinarians is being felt across the industry, but some clinics — such as specialty and emergency practices — “have been particularly challenged.”

Workers at the Starbucks in downtown Iowa City are the first in the state to begin the process to unionize.