Local Government

Thousands took to the streets in 2020 to push for racial justice and equity, but area activists say the work didn’t stop there.

Johnson County filed an injunction against Hawkeye Waste Systems to stop operating the business and its affiliated companies because none of the companies have workers’ comp insurance. The owner and managers were charged last month in the case following an investigation of an employee being crushed by a skid loader in 2024.

Board chair Brandy Z. Meisheid presented the annual State of the County address Thursday to highlight past success and future projects.

The Urbana City Council held a special meeting Monday to vote on whether to terminate the contract of Police Chief Josh Baker, who has been on paid leave for more than a year and has sued the city.

As summer weather is starting to arrive, the city of Cedar Rapids has brought back rental electric bikes and scooters to downtown streets for the seventh year in a row.

Public meeting tonight comes as NextEra begins process of restarting the Duane Arnold nuclear plant.

Speaking to a crowd of nearly 800 people Wednesday, Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell highlighted recent accomplishments like two new data centers; previewed coming improvements like public art on May’s Island and a new roundhouse in Czech Village; and encouraged attendees to support the proposed Cedar Rapids school bond.

The city of North Liberty is looking to move forward from a mistake that missed the deadline to publish notice of a public hearing and ultimately prevented the city from certifying its Fiscal Year 2026 budget and approving next year’s tax levy.

The City of North Liberty is looking to Iowa lawmakers for help after its Fiscal Year 2026 budget missed being formally approved because a public hearing notice wasn’t published in time. If it can’t correct the mistake, the city would fall $1.3 million short of its planned property tax revenue next year.

Marion officials are mulling several high-profile upgrades to Lowe Park after an analysis of existing park amenities identified nearly $8 million in potential improvements.

Also, the Marion City Council is considering listing 988, the mental health crisis line, on some city vehicles to increase awareness

The Gazette talks with Iowa City Transportation Director Darian Nagle-Gamm about the city’s fare-free program, electric buses and the future of the transit system.