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ONGOING COVERAGE
Johnson County reports three additional deaths due to coronavirus
Three Johnson County residents died of the novel coronavirus in the 24-hour period ending at 11 a.m. Saturday, bringing the death toll in the county to 19. ...
Amid pandemic, Legion Arts stages comeback
CEDAR RAPIDS - Legion Arts, the pioneering arts and culture organization that owns CSPS Hall in NewBo, had a 'vibrant and exciting' spring season planned before COVID-19 swept across the world. ...
In open letter, Kim Reynolds urges Iowans to keep up fight against COVID-19
DES MOINES - Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday urged Iowans to stay vigilant in their efforts to keep coronavirus in check and prevent a resurgence in COVID-19 infections that forced her to close schools, businesses and many activities for about 11 weeks earlier this year. ...
Iowa kids skipped vaccines during pandemic
The number of Iowa children receiving vaccinations dropped by more than half during the novel coronavirus pandemic when compared to last year, prompting concern among officials for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease. ...
Iowa State finds 66 students with COVID-19 upon move-in
Of the more than 3,000 students Iowa State University has tested for COVID-19 in its first week of residence hall move-in, 66 have tested positive - half of whom are isolating in reserved space on campus and half of whom opted to return home to complete their period of isolation. ...
Linn County sees another 60 new virus cases
Linn County reported 60 new coronavirus cases Friday, the second straight day of more than 60 new cases. ...
University of Iowa student governments urge fall shift to virtual learning
IOWA CITY - Despite the oft-cited sentiment driving a fall return to campus that students are pining for the traditional college experience, the University of Iowa undergraduate and graduate student governments are asking administrators to make a late change and shift all non-essential lea ...
$21 million in COVID-19 aid goes toward Iowa computer system
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has transferred $21 million intended for Iowa coronavirus relief to help pay for a computer system already in the works before the pandemic. ...
Iowa City schools' request to begin virtually denied by Department of Education
IOWA CITY - The Iowa City Community School District was denied its request to begin the school year virtually by the Iowa Department of Education. ...
Cedar Rapids district considers one-week delay for first day of school
CEDAR RAPIDS - The Cedar Rapids Community School District is considering delaying the first day of school one week to Aug. 31. ...
Linn County sees highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases
Linn County reported 68 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, its highest single-day total since the COVID-19 pandemic began. ...
Masks will be required in Johnson County, with fines issued for violators
IOWA CITY - Johnson County supervisors have made clear they want county residents and visitors to mask up in public - and Thursday they declared they now have the authority to enforce the rule. ...
Reynolds: Schools on track for in-person learning
JOHNSTON - Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday efforts are proceeding for Iowa schools to resume primarily with in-person learning, but she acknowledged instruction may have to be temporarily moved online due to changing COVID-19 realities. ...
College Community School District plans 10-day rotating hybrid schedule
CORRECTION: The first version of this story incorrectly stated that the College Community School District submitted a request to the Iowa Department of Education to begin the academic year online. The district did not submit a waiver and will have in-person classes. Families have the optio ...
Coronavirus testing declines in United States as cases increase
Testing for the coronavirus in the United States is dropping even as infections remain high and the death toll rises by more than 1,000 a day. ...
Grassley rips Democrats for blocking extension of jobless benefits
Compromise can't be one-sided, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley, who is accusing congressional Democrats are playing election-year politics with coronavirus relief. ...
Linn reports 45 new virus cases, Johnson 36
Iowa on Wednesday reported 509 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 46,490 since the pandemic began in March. ...
Linn County leaders call on Kim Reynolds to allow local control for mask mandates
Underscoring calls from public officials and medical professionals for mandatory mask policies, Linn County leaders issued a proclamation Wednesday calling on Gov. Kim Reynolds to allow local control of issuing the rules. ...
K9COLA's annual doggy dip moving from Bever Pool to virtual plunge
Canines and their companions won't be making a splash in Cedar Rapids' Bever Pool this weekend, but that doesn't mean they can't get wet elsewhere. ...
Some school districts reject Iowa in-class requirements
JOHNSTON, Iowa - At least two school districts in Iowa are refusing to follow the governor's demand that they return students to classrooms, rebuffing the idea that the state can override what local officials believe is the safest way to educate their children as coronavirus spreads in the ...
Records reveal chaotic start to Test Iowa effort
IOWA CITY - On the April morning Gov. Kim Reynolds unveiled a $26 million Test Iowa Initiative she envisioned running 3,000 COVID-19 tests a day with support from the State Hygienic Lab, officials at the University of Iowa-based laboratory expressed confusion. ...
Gazette Daily News Podcast, August 5
Be sure to subscribe to The Gazette Daily news podcast, or just tell your Amazon Alexa enabled device to "enable The Gazette Daily News skill" so you can get your daily briefing by simply saying "Alexa, what's the news?" ...
Abby Finkenauer calls more coronavirus relief 'imperative'; criticizes Reynolds pandemic response
DES MOINES - Iowa Rep. Abby Finkenauer hopes to convince congressional leaders of the urgency of another coronavirus relief package by sharing stories about how COVID-19 has affected her constituents' families, health, jobs and businesses. ...
Johnson County Board of Health approves mask regulation
IOWA CITY - Johnson County is one step closer to enacting a countywide face mask mandate. ...
Iowa City schools delay start date until September
IOWA CITY - The Iowa City Community School District's first day of school will be delayed two weeks until Sept. 8 as it awaits word from the state on its request to begin the academic year entirely online. ...
Seconding University of Iowa instructor concerns, local leader airs fears over 30,000-person influx
IOWA CITY - A Johnson County supervisor Tuesday - in discussing University of Iowa teacher demands the campus pivot immediately to virtual instruction for fall given pandemic conditions - voiced fear of the looming population surge and what it could mean for her 'red zone' community. ...
Johnson and Linn counties report double-digit coronavirus case count
Johnson and Linn counties reported the highest daily COVID-19 case counts of Iowa's 99 counties in a 24-hour period ending at 11 a.m. Tuesday. ...