Cedar Rapids, Linn County | featured news

DES MOINES — Nearly $775 million in federal relief soon will be available to Iowa schools to help cover costs incurred from the COVID-19 pandemic, officials in the Iowa Department of Education said Friday.

For the second day in a row, no COVID-19 outbreaks were reported Friday in any of Iowa’s 429 long-term care facilities.An outbreak is defined as three of more COVID-19 cases among facility residents and staff. At the peak of the winter surge in virus cases, outbreaks were reported at 170 Iowa nursing homes on Dec. 3.

IOWA CITY — An Iowa City man faces charges for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old and giving marijuana to two other teens, police say.

CEDAR RAPIDS — Fire up the grill, the meat war is on.Gov. Kim Reynolds has declared April as Meat on the Table month to promote the Iowa meat producers meats “packed with wholesome and nutritious protein (that) play a critical role in combating hunger and fighting food insecurity throughout Iowa, America and around the globe.”

The Iowa Economic Development Authority approved an additional $300,000 in tax credits Friday for General Mills’ $57 million expansion in Cedar Rapids.

Alliant Energy is “picking up the pace” on moving power lines in Iowa underground, the president of Alliant’s Iowa company told The Gazette.“There’s much more of a focus on it now than there even was in the past decade,” Terry Kouba said.

The occasional car-rattling jolt motorists are experiencing these days is a reminder that both spring — and pothole season — are here.

Usually Steve Smyka wouldn’t be the one pressing linen at the Cedar Rapids Marriott every day. He’d be a little busy running the hotel.But during coronavirus pandemic, even the general manager has his hands on the laundry.“Now we’re doing 10 jobs as opposed to the normal five,” Smyka said.

CEDAR RAPIDS — Nick McGrath, 32, was a middle school choir teacher when his career took a surprise detour after he had worked a seasonal job at a Marion gardening center.

A roundup of news from across Iowa in the past week.