Skip to content
The Gazette. Learn something new today and every day.
USDA has loaned seven Iowa universities millions over decadeUSDA has loaned seven Iowa universities millions over decade

USDA has loaned seven Iowa universities millions over decade

Higher Ed May. 20, 2023 5:00 am915d ago

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office over the years has lent billions to colleges and universities — including at least seven in Iowa since 2013 — often because it wants the smaller communities in which they reside to thrive. Now, with Iowa Wesleyan — one of those loan recipients — closing, the community and the USDA are working to decide the best future use for the campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Gazette strives to gather and share news using the best journalistic practices. We want to keep you informed and to make our region and state a better place.

Advances in technology and rise of social media has made it easier to publish information to broad audiences. Our goal is to provide relevant, accurate and timely information so that you know what’s happening and can make informed decisions.

Here are some common questions about who we are, why we do what we do and some of the factors that go into our decision-making about the news. To learn more about our news gathering process and code of ethics, visit our transparency center.


Local editors and journalists of The Gazette can be found on our newsroom page.

  • We have local and regional reporters who monitor state and local government, education, energy & environment, public safety and courts, entertainment and the arts, business and industry as well as high school and college sports, among other topics.
  • Reporters and editors pursue stories based on impact, relevance and uniqueness. We focus on stories that impact our core communities of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City metro areas, and look to identify stories of major statewide importance. We strive to understand national and international events through a lens for Iowa impact.
  • There are more stories happening in eastern Iowa than we have the resources to cover. This leads to some pretty hard decisions. Things like staff schedules, event timing and expected outcomes at the events can also be factors in the decisions.
  • Have a news tip or correction? Please let our newsroom know about it


A news story contains objective facts and does not take an opinion-based position on the facts. This does not mean there aren’t opinions in news stories. News stories often report newsworthy opinions of community leaders and members of the public because these opinions are often part of the news.

  • News reporters and editors strive to keep their opinions out of the reporting, and a reporter’s opinion has no place in a news report. Exceptions to this include reviews of restaurants or performances, in which the commentary about the restaurant or event is part of the coverage.
  • To make it easier for you to know when you’re reading opinion content, we label opinion content on social posts, in print and publish to our ‘Opinion’ section.
  • Opinion content, also known as ‘Editorial’ content, is not meant to tell you how or what to think, but to show a variety of perspectives on issues of importance. You are encouraged to participate in this discussion by submitting a letter or commentary.

Date Time Location Previous Next chevron-circle-right Funeral Home Facebook Bluesky X/ Twitter Linkedin Youtube Instagram Tiktok Reddit Email Print Buy RSS Feed Opens in new tab or window PDF
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters