Iowa Freedom Riders seek to share personal stories of racial injustice with Iowa City City Council
Natalie Dunlap, News Reporter
July 9, 2020
The Iowa Freedom Riders (IFR) announced at a protest on Independence Day that they wanted Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) in the community to share their stories of racial injustice in Iowa with the Iowa City City Council. The organization followed up with an Instagram post on the same da...
Iowa City City Council lifts gun ban for public buildings, buses
Rachel Schilke and Riley Davis
July 8, 2020
The Iowa City City Council approved 5-2 to rescind a resolution that prohibited weapons inside public buildings and transportation in order to comply with Iowa law, despite citing danger to the community and concern over open carry. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed House File 2502, an amendment that prohi...
Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague against allowing Iowa Freedom Rider representatives a seat in City Council meetings
Caleb McCullough and Rylee Wilson
July 8, 2020
Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague said he’s hesitant to allow the Iowa Freedom Riders (IFR) to sit in on City Council discussions of their demands, saying they shouldn’t be the only voice for the Black community in Iowa City. The IFR, a group leading protests in Iowa City that pushed for the c...
Iowa City parking permit and agreement holders to receive refund credit
Riley Davis and Rachel Schilke
July 7, 2020
Parking pass holders and those with parking agreements for spaces in downtown Iowa City will receive a refund credit from the city for the 56-day period from March 23 to May 18 that hourly parking fees were suspended to the public amid the downtown’s pandemic-related closure. Iowa City Trans...
Johnson County residents urge Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to require face coverings
Lillian Poulsen, News Reporter
July 2, 2020
Amid a recent spike in coronavirus cases in Johnson County, community members and local officials are calling upon Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to require people to wear face coverings in public. The number of cases in Johnson County has reached new highs, especially among college-aged people. As of Thursda...
Iowa City City Council moves to establish truth and reconciliation commission
Caleb McCullough, Summer Editor
June 30, 2020
The Iowa City City Council took the first steps toward establishing a truth and reconciliation commission Tuesday to address past and current injustices highlighted by Black Lives Matter protesters in Iowa City. The council offered few details regarding what the commission will look like, but it pla...
City Council passes resolution addressing Iowa Freedom Riders’ demands
Rachel Schilke, News Reporter
June 17, 2020
In response to the demands of the Iowa Freedom Riders, the Iowa City City Council passed a resolution that will allow for more city involvement in reviewing police procedures and city policies on Tuesday, despite disagreement over the written language of the demands. The adopted resolution inclu...
Iowa City staff responds to Iowa Freedom Riders’ demands
Riley Davis, News Reporter
June 16, 2020
Iowa City staff responded to the 12 demands made by the Iowa Freedom Riders, stating which demands the Iowa City City Council has authority over and providing information on others that it does not have the power to address. The memo followed the June 9 work session and contained additional inf...
Iowa City’s oldest known residence to relocate
Rachel Schilke, News Reporter
June 15, 2020
Pending approval by the Iowa City City Council Tuesday night, the University of Iowa will spend about $1.23 million relocating and rehabilitating the Sanxay-Gilmore House, Iowa City’s oldest known residence, from its current location on Market Street to a nearby parking lot. The Iowa City City ...
Iowa City City Council discusses Iowa Freedom Riders’ demands for policy change
Riley Davis, News Reporter
June 9, 2020
The Iowa City City Council met with a spokesperson for the Iowa Freedom Riders to discuss the dozen demands the group has made to city councilors and the Iowa City Police Department. Mayor Bruce Teague said the work session, held Tuesday at 2 p.m., aimed to be a collaborative effort between the counc...
Final ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’ event held in Mercer Park
Josie Fischels, Summer Editor
June 7, 2020
Members of the community gathered in Mercer Park on Saturday to have their voices, ideas, and frustrations heard at the final “Speak Up, Speak Out,” listening session held by Mayor Bruce Teague and other Iowa City leaders. The event followed two prior sessions held on Wednesday and Friday in differe...
Student organizations urge University of Iowa to cut ties with local law enforcement
Rachel Schilke, News Reporter
June 6, 2020
University of Iowa and Iowa City leaders pledged Friday to review policing procedures after the Iowa City Police Department, under the direction of the Iowa State Patrol, used tear gas, pepper spray, and flash-bangs on peaceful protesters headed toward Interstate 80 Wednesday night. The actions of law enforcement on Wednesday prompted...