IOWA CITY — State Board of Regents officials agree with many suggestions in a statewide efficiency report, but called others extreme or not feasible. Regents officials also question if savings from some of the suggestions would be as great as paid consultants suggest they would be. For example, one of the 19 regents-related suggestions in the report [...] Full Story »
CEDAR RAPIDS — Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom. Steve Gelner leaned into the wind, trudged up the hill through the shin-deep snow and did the United States Postal Service proud. He delivered the mail. Wenig Road NE was empty except for a man clearing his driveway with a snowblower, and the wind whipped down [...] Full Story »
Although Coral Ridge Mall plans to open at noon Thursday, shoppers will find only a few anchor stores open at other area malls. The status of area malls for Thursday is: Lindale Mall, Cedar Rapids: Closed, except for Sears, Younkers and Hy-Vee. Coral Ridge Mall, Coralville: Sears, Younkers, and Target open regular hours. Rest of mall opens at [...] Full Story »
CEDAR RAPIDS – Cedar Rapids Police shut down the on ramp from Highway 30 eastbound onto Interstate 380 southbound late Wednesday afternoon after a semi truck lost control and jack-knifed across the road. Full Story »
CEDAR RAPIDS — Necessity, boredom and opportunity drove shoppers to Lindale Mall on Wednesday afternoon. They roamed freely through Sears and Younkers — the mall’s two open stores — snatching up bargains, Christmas presents, coats, snowblowers and appliances to replace items that had conked out. Most lived in the vicinity, and even those who had a ways [...] Full Story »
CEDAR RAPIDS - A few thousand people are currently without power in Linn County. Nancy Craig with Alliant Energy says around 1,350 customers in Southeast Cedar Rapids are without power. The problem is believed to be weather related. A crew is searching for the cause of the outage or downed line now. Full Story »
IOWA CITY - Hundreds of University of Iowa students took part in a snow ball fight on the Pentacrest Wednesday night. Students organized the entire snowball fight on Facebook. Full Story »
CEDAR RAPIDS - Schools inevitably close when winter weather strikes, but it's not often that many businesses follow suit. If you happened to be out and about Wednesday, you probably noticed more "closed" signs on businesses than normal for the mid-week. Full Story »
CEDAR RAPIDS - The City of Cedar Rapids has received roughly 10 inches of snow between December 8th and 9th. It is currently under a blizzard warning from the National Weather Service. Extensive white out and drifting conditions are being seen in the more rural sections of the city. Full Story »
DUBUQUE - School and church cancellations are pretty common when the snow falls. But as you've seen scrolling on the bottom of the screen, the storm forced hundreds of businesses to close. That includes businesses that aim to entertain. Full Story »
The Iowa City School District has canceled classes for the second consecutive day due to continuing inclement weather. Full Story »
Some students miss out on review time for finals while others appreciate the canceled classes. Full Story »
Lorenz 2.0, formerly known as Lorenz Boot Shop, has set up shop downtown. Full Story »
Officials are still advising that drivers stay put unless absolutely necessary, but if you must hit the roads, here are some tips from Mark Cox, director of the Bridgeston Winter Driving School. Full Story »
A man was arrested for public intoxication and throwing snowballs at moving cars. Full Story »
STEAMBOAT ROCK - Pine Lake Corn Processors acquired twoimportant assets last week when it emerged from bankruptcy:stability and strength. Full Story »
NEW ALBIN - A Lansing man died Tuesday after a four-hourstandoff with the Allamakee County Sheriff's Office and New Albinpolice. Full Story »
WATERLOO - Across the region, snowplow crews will be pulled offroads around 5 p.m. Full Story »
HUDSON --- Snow drifts have closed off U.S. Highway 63 justsouth of Hudson where it meets up with Iowa Highway 58. Full Story »
CEDAR FALLS -- The Cedar Falls Recreation Center has canceledclasses for the rest of the day. Full Story »
Marion Police are investigating the death of a man they found hanging from a tree. Full Story »
"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds", but in the case of this latest dose of winter, it may make them a little late. Full Story »
The blizzard caused many schools and businesses to close for the day. Many will also close Thursday. Wednesday night, eastern Iowa's cities and towns were pretty much ghost towns. Full Story »
Crews in Waterloo are working 24/7 to try and get city streets clear for residents. Full Story »
While the blizzard we've been hit with is starting to wind down, the City of Cedar Rapids wants to remind residents that there is still a residential snow emergency in place and some roads are still impassable. Full Story »
The blizzard that was predicted for Washington County Tuesday night lived up to expectations. Roughly 10 inches of snowfall was recorded Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, to go along with wind gusts as high as 50 mph. The inclement weather forced the closure of several area schools and prevented the Washington minibus from operating at all. A tow ban was also issued for Wednesday because ... Full Story »
The draft county zoning ordinance will be discussed during the Washington County Board of Supervisors next regular session on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Board Chairman Jim Miksch directed County Auditor Bill Fredrick to put the draft on next week’s agenda during the board meeting Tuesday morning. Full Story »
During a blizzard such as the one that’s been hitting the area for about the last 18 hours, law enforcement personnel have one piece of advice for people who want to drive somewhere — don’t. When people have to, law enforcement advises extreme caution. Full Story »
Washington Schools Superintendent David Sextro announced this morning that the regular school board meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. this evening has been postponed until 7 p.m. next Wednesday, Dec. 16. Full Story »
The Christmas season is a time for family members to come together and enjoy each other’s company. That is, unless you’re stuck in the Black Forest of Germany trying to dodge bullets and survive the frigid cold. That was what Christmas time was in 1944 for World War II veteran George Grove, now a resident of the United Presbyterian Home in Washington. Full Story »
HAWKEYE – The city council Monday discussed hiring a part-time police officer on an as needed basis. Council person Angie Weidemann said she agrees with the purchase of a used police car for $1,400. “We’ve got a car, now what are we doing?” she asked. Full Story »
ELGIN – MSA city planners told the city council Monday, Community Development Block Grant funds have yet to be released so work on the project can begin. Full Story »
RANDALIA- After a week of investigation four residents of a rural Randalia farm home were arrested on drug charges. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a farm home on M Avenue. They discovered a methamphetamine production lab, with assistance from the Oelwein Police Department and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), four people were taken into custody. Full Story »
WEST UNION –After 35 years spent in conservation, Jerry Muff, District Conservationist for the NRCS will be retiring Jan. 2, 2010. Full Story »
Nearly everyone is on Facebook. Young or old, you are there. Businesses, fan clubs, even cities now have their own Facebook pages. Full Story »
School boards for the Mid-Prairie Community School District and Keota Community School District met in a joint meeting Monday, Nov. 23, to discuss their current sharing of a superintendent and business manager. Full Story »
The resolution approved by the Washington County Board of Supervisors at the Tuesday Dec. 1 meeting vacated the streets and alleys in the unincorporated Town of Paris, known locally as Valley. Full Story »
Pictured are:Jack Hill (IASB President), Maxine Kilcrease (IASB Executive Director), Randy Billups, Jeremy Pickard, Rob Stout and Superintendent Mark Schneider, George Schaefer, Jim Hussey (president), Jack Dillon (VP) and Stacia Bontrager. Full Story »
The Washington County Board of Supervisors at the Tuesday Nov. 24 meeting voted unanimously to take additional steps in planning for the Public Health building. Full Story »
Aidan OÕConnor tells Santa what heÕd like for Christmas when Santa made his visit to Kalona Saturday. Aidan is the son of Aaron and Anna OÕConnor of Cedar Rapids and nephew of Susan and Dave Finley, owners of the Kalona General Store. Full Story »
For those of you who do not know my background, I was born here and lived here for the first decade of my life. I have been back from time to time, both to visit and to live. Full Story »
Mayor vetoes DeVoe Street project After long and careful thought I have decided to Veto Resolution 2009 Y and 2009 CC. My reasons are the cost justification, financially irresponsible, project cost with probably cost over runs and Community not receptive to the expense or plan. Full Story »
The United Presbyterian Church in Lone Tree finally 'officially' received their new pastor this past Sunday, November 15, 2009, when Pastor Susan Barnes was installed as their new spiritual leader. Full Story »
VINTON – The Benton County Board of Supervisors met last Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the courthouse in Vinton. According to board minutes, the board accepted the resignation of Doris Trefz from the sheriff’s department due to retirement. Full Story »
Benco Manufacturing in Belle Plaine has been certified by the U.S. Department of Labor for retraining benefits under the Trade Act of 2009 (Petition #71819). If you were laid off during the time period of July 20, 2008, through the current date, you are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (Trade Act benefits). Full Story »
The Belle Plaine City Council wanted input on a proposed ordinance regarding rental property. Monday night they received it. Full Story »
The attorney for murder suspect Jessica Dayton has begun the process of attempting to move the trial out of Iowa County. Douglas Eichholz, Dayton’s attorney, filed a motion Nov. 23 to disseminate a juror questionnaire to potential jurors in Iowa County. Full Story »
Iowans learned last week that Iowa Telecom, based in Newton, will be sold to an Arkansas company. Iowa Telecom officials announced on Tuesday, Nov. 24, that they plan to sell the company to Windstream Corporation for $1.1 billion. Full Story »
Christmas decorations illuminate Berlin's main shopping streets. AP Photo/Franka Bruns
More Photos and Slideshow »
All Comics »
