Cedar Rapids, Linn County | featured news

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to 793,000, evidence that job cuts remain high despite a substantial decline in new viral infections.Last week’s total declined from 812,000 the previous week, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. \That figure was revised higher from the previously reported figure of 779,000.

Hormel Foods agreed to buy the Planters snack brand from Kraft Heinz for $3.35 billion in cash, expanding the Skippy peanut butter maker’s portfolio of pantry staples as the pandemic drives demand for packaged food.The transaction provides a tax benefit of about $560 million, Hormel said in a statement Thursday.

IOWA CITY — Area hospitals are split on the University of Iowa Health Care’s plans to build a new multimillion dollar health care complex in North Liberty, with some voicing their support, but with more in opposition — and with some even claiming the Iowa City-based system of proposing an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds.

Iowa community health centers, which reach underserved and vulnerable populations, should be included in the Biden administration’s distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson said in a letter to federal health officials.

CEDAR RAPIDS — As a freshman at Washington High School, Daysha Gibson said she felt confused about her future. Should she go to college? Enter the workforce?Some would say to her, “Follow your dreams,” but she hadn’t yet identified hers.

Days before former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial began, more than 100 former GOP officials reportedly hopped on a Zoom call. The topic: how to best rally whatever anti-Trump momentum is left in the party.

Iowa Workforce Development plans to implement extensions of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance next week, the agency said Thursday morning. Unemployed Iowans will then receive the benefits after another five to seven business days.The PEUC implementation will be Feb. 16, and the PUA implementation will be Feb. 17.

Former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial will continue on Feb. 11. He is accused of “incitement of insurrection” after the deadly Capitol riot.

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids firefighters who were seriously injured over the weekend when a hose line ruptured have been released from the hospital while fire officials investigate what happened.

A surge of expected store closings early this year hasn’t materialized after strong holiday sales prompted retailers to hold on to their leases in hopes of a shopping rebound.“It wasn’t the wave everyone thought it would be,” said Ryan Mulcunry, a managing director at B. Riley Financial who advises retailers.