Cedar Rapids, Linn County | featured news

For anyone curious to know if they’ve had the coronavirus but were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, there’s a way to find out that also can help save lives.

As health care providers were finding some medicines ineffective in treating COVID-19, they turned to a method long used in treating viruses: convalescent plasma.

Four of the five state-operated Test Iowa drive-through sites will adjust their hours today due to a winter storm set to affect a large part of the state. Individuals whose appointments are canceled due to the change in hours can bring their QR code to any site during regular hours to be tested. There is no need to take the assessment again or schedule a new appointment time.

Over the past year, many people have joked about getting through a stressful day or week with a drink or two. But for some people, this common coping mechanism is no joke.

As the pandemic forges on and flu season peaks, many people are hoping to focus on one of the few things they can control — and that is what they eat. If you’re hoping to boost your immunity and stay healthy, experts have some advice on what foods may help.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. Thursday. Watch it live in the video player above, broadcast by Iowa PBS. 

IOWA CITY — The city of Iowa City helped 27 small businesses — a majority of them owned by women or people of color — stay afloat during the pandemic.

Iowa Workforce Development reported an increase in new and continuing unemployment claims between Jan. 24 and Jan. 30.New claims increased from 5,251 to 5,938, and continuing claims rose from 46,303 to 46,708.About 36.5 percent of claims were related to coronavirus, IWD said. It’s an increase from 35.4 percent between Jan. 17 and Jan. 23.

Iowa’s renewable fuels industry accounted for almost $4 billion or about 2 percent of Iowa’s gross domestic product in 2020, according to a report commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.The report, written by Agriculture and BioFuels Consulting’s John Urbanchuk, shows the industry also provided $1.8 million in household income and 37,000 jobs.

Iowa’s business climate is “competitive” but not “overperforming” in five categories, according to the Iowa Business Council’s annual Iowa Competitive Dashboard.