Cedar Rapids, Linn County | featured news

CORALVILLE — Over 100 students are in quarantine at Northwest Junior High School after four students and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.In an email to families Wednesday, Northwest Principal Elizabeth Bruening shared that four students and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 and were contagious while at school.

IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa this semester has investigated, or is continuing to investigate, more allegations of hazing at two of its fraternities — one of which nearly faced additional reprimand for hosting a gathering “at which llamas were present.”

IOWA CITY — In hopes of easing toward retirement, the University of Iowa’s long-serving Graduate College Dean and Associate Provost John Keller on Thursday announced he’s stepping down July 31 — although he’ll remain on faculty as a tenured professor and as a “special assistant to the provost.”

Iowa added 567 new COVID-19 cases and 35 new, confirmed deaths Thursday.The new numbers bring the state’s total number of cases to 338,161 and the number of confirmed deaths to 5,536, according to Iowa Department of Public Health data.As of Thursday at 11 a.m., Iowa’s seven-day average was 486.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office has identified the driver and passenger who were involved in a fatal wreck early Wednesday morning following a high-speed chase with Linn County deputies.

CEDAR RAPIDS — Residents may apply for current and upcoming openings on city boards, commissions and advisory committees.The advisory groups are “valuable community assets and effective partners” with the mayor, city council and city staff on issues affecting the community’s future, according to a news release.

Everyone loves the person behind the barbecue grill. That lesson has stuck with Dan Hamilton since his childhood on the southside of Chicago. Every two or three days, his mom would fire up the barbecue grill in some capacity, Hamilton said. When Hamilton was 11 or 12, an aunt married and his new uncle took over.

IOWA CITY — As part of an equity initiative, the Iowa City Community School District is implementing a health and puberty curriculum that’s inclusive of LGBTQ and nonbinary students.

CEDAR RAPIDS — Sports and activities will continue at the Stoney Point YMCA that the YMCA of Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area just sold to Antioch Christian Church.The organizations announced the partnership in a joint statement Wednesday.

Iowa had more than 50,000 total unemployment claims between Feb. 21 and Feb. 27 for the ninth consecutive week, according to data released Thursday from Iowa Workforce Development.New claims dropped from 5,192 to 4,452 while continuing claims rose from 48,758 to 49,140.