Student government partners with city council for listening post on community policing
Natalie Dunlap, News Reporter
September 26, 2020
Members of the Iowa City City Council hosted a listening post focused on community policing, collaborating with the University of Iowa Undergraduate Student Government on Saturday in Hubbard Park. There were roughly 20 attendants, including Mayor Bruce Teague and City Councilors Janice Weiner a...
Iowa City Deer Friends file petition asking for stay of upcoming deer bow hunt
Brian Grace, News Reporter
September 26, 2020
The Iowa City Deer Friends are taking legal action against the City of Iowa City, filing a petition on Thursday asking for a stay of the upcoming fall bowhunt meant to cull deer as a part of Iowa City’s deer management plan, which would begin on Oct. 1 and end on Jan. 10. The petition argue...
Local disability support groups, ICPD working to implement de-escalation procedures
Rachel Schilke, News Editor
September 23, 2020
Local disability support organizations and Iowa City Police Department officers are working closely together to implement de-escalation processes for police who respond to residents with special needs in crises. During the second of six Iowa City community listening posts, members from Access 2 Ind...
City Manager seeks approval for new Iowa City police chief
Rachel Schilke, News Editor
September 17, 2020
Iowa City City Manager Geoff Fruin has recommended El Paso Police Department Lieutenant Dustin Liston as Iowa City’s next police chief, pending approval from the city council. In a memo sent to the city council on Thursday, Fruin said he is asking the city council to approve his appointment of Dusti...
City Council holds public forum to discuss mental health resources
Lauren White, Politics Reporter
September 16, 2020
The Iowa City City Council — joined by the Iowa Freedom Riders, Prelude Iowa, and CommUnity in Iowa City — held a public forum on Wednesday to discuss mental-health and addiction services, as well as restructuring the police department. Citizens gathered in Mercer Park to share concerns regar...
Iowa City City Council passes resolution to create Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Brian Grace and Rachel Schilke
September 16, 2020
Iowa City will create a Truth and Reconciliation Commission after weeks of discussion and revisions, despite vocal opposition from Mayor Pro Tem Mazahir Salih, who said “black voices were not being heard” and reflected in the commission’s approved resolution. The Iowa City City Council voted 6-1 to pass the r...
City Council closer to creating commission addressing racial injustice in Iowa City
Brian Grace, News Reporter
September 14, 2020
The Iowa City City Council may reach an agreement to create a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address past and future systemic racial inequalities in Iowa City at Tuesday night’s meeting. Creating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was something the council committed to in a 17-poi...
Iowa City extends mask mandate until November
Rachel Schilke, News Editor
September 14, 2020
The mask mandate for Iowa City has been extended into mid-November, almost two months longer than the original end date.Violation of the order is punishable by a simple misdemeanor. In a press release from the City of Iowa City on Monday, Mayor Bruce Teague extended the order on Monday until N...
Community member suggests creation of committee to continue supporting cyclists in Iowa City
Brian Grace, News Reporter
September 8, 2020
Iowa City resident Bob Oppliger is advocating for the creation of a bike advocacy committee for Iowa City to more effectively represent the interests of all ranges of cyclists in future city development and policymaking. Oppliger is a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson Count...
Video shows Iowa State Patrol ordering tear gas on protesters on June 3
Caleb McCullough, Politics Editor
September 3, 2020
Body camera videos of Iowa City protesters being tear gassed by police were released by the city Thursday, confirming what Mayor Bruce Teague said after the incident, that the Iowa State Patrol gave the order to use tear gas on the protesters. The two videos, each more than an hour long, offer ne...
City to contract with outside firm for investigation into June 3 tear gas incident
Caleb McCullough, Politics Editor
September 2, 2020
Iowa City will contract with an outside firm for an investigation into the events of June 3, when Iowa State Patrol and Iowa City Police Department officers used tear gas and flash-bangs on peaceful protesters. The city will also release a two-hour video including body camera footage from two di...
City Council holds off on taser purchase amid protests against police funding
Rachel Schilke, News Editor
September 2, 2020
The purchase of new tasers for the Iowa City Police Department, deferred at the last Iowa City City Council meeting, was deferred indefinitely as the council awaits an inventory of ICPD military-grade equipment, with community members calling the potential purchase of tasers as a show of “bad faith...