Cedar Rapids, Linn County | featured news

DES MOINES — Lawmakers are being encouraged to push forward legislation to address the needs of Iowa’s aging population and those with disabilities who rely on the direct care workforce.

DES MOINES — As Iowa officials work to speed up inoculations in hopes of halting the COVID-19 pandemic, a lawmaker Tuesday subjected one of the state’s top health experts to a series of questions skeptical of vaccinations.

IOWA CITY — Years of government corruption preceded the arrests of five officials from a small northwestern Iowa city, including the mayor and police chief, according to prosecutors and a state audit.

DES MOINES — An election watchdog group has filed a federal lawsuit that claims an Iowa-based nonprofit violated election laws by failing to register as a political committee that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Republican Sen. Joni Ernst’s re-election.

DES MOINES — As many times as she has recited it, Rep. Christina Bohannan still loves to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

IOWA CITY — After getting a chance to review the investigation into the use of tear gas and flash bangs against protesters last summer, the Iowa City Council now wants to hear from law enforcement and the city manager.

Iowa reported 398 new COVID-19 cases and 26 new, confirmed deaths on Tuesday.The new numbers bring the state’s total number of cases to 329,813 and confirmed deaths to 5,263, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Iowa’s seven-day average for new cases is 633, the lowest number since 605 on Aug. 25.

IOWA CITY — Iowa City police have identified the victim in Friday’s homicide.Police said Quincy H. Russom, 19, of Iowa City was shot and killed in the 600 block of South Governor Street. Police were called to an apartment building around 7:54 p.m. Friday for a report of a shooting. There, officers found Russom’s body.

DES MOINES — Parents of elementary school students would have to be notified and provide written permission if instruction related to gender identity were included in a curriculum offered in accordance with the state’s educational standards under a bill that cleared a Senate subcommittee Tuesday.

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Dubuque woman was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison last week for sexual exploitation of two children. Gina C. Urbain, 37, previously pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count each of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.