Cedar Rapids, Linn County | featured news

CEDAR RAPIDS — The night he was killed, David Nguyen was out with his older brother and three friends they had grown up with to celebrate a birthday.The older brother, Daniel, parted ways with the group about 11 p.m.

For the first time in a year, no COVID-19 outbreaks were reported in any of Iowa’s 429 long-term care facilities Thursday.The milestone caps a devastating year for residents and staff of long-term care facilities — and came on a day when other virus numbers hit new lows in Iowa.

CEDAR RAPIDS — Local vaccine distribution efforts will not change significantly as a result of the governor’s decision to open vaccine eligibility to every Iowan starting next month.

DES MOINES — Momentum for tax cuts is building at the Statehouse, but Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley says his Republican caucus is maintaining a “cautious approach” until some unknown factors get resolved.

CEDAR RAPIDS — A former Four Oaks youth counselor pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually abusing and exploiting a 14-year-old boy in 2018.

IOWA CITY — For the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, browsing is returning to the Iowa City Public Library.The library announced the latest phase of its reopening plan Thursday. Among the new services:— Indoor browsing for up to 30 minutes.— Holds pickup inside the building.

Iowa saw an increase in new unemployment claims for the second consecutive week for the week ending March 13, but total unemployment claims decreased for the third consecutive week.New claims rose from 5,182 to 5,973 while continuing claims fell from 44,013 to 40,699.

OMAHA, Neb. — The economy in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states, including Iowa, appears to be on record pace, according to a monthly survey of bankers released Thursday. That survey saw individual indicators soar and the overall index rocket to its highest reading since the survey began in 2006.

A new sub sandwich franchise is expanding into the Cedar Rapids metro area.Brian and Lisa Ridge opened a Jersey Mike’s Subs on Nov. 18 at 6095 Carlson Way in Marion. Now a second shop will open March 24 in Cedar Rapids.

For more than four decades, the name of former Cedar Rapids utility executive Duane Arnold has been synonymous with nuclear power in Iowa. Now it could have a new connotation: a massive solar energy project planned for 2023 near the now-idle Duane Arnold Energy Center.