Businesses can reopen — but some in Iowa City are having second thoughts
Josie Fischels, Arts Editor
May 15, 2020
Iowa City businesses are split on the decision to reopen their doors after Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday that nearly all businesses in Iowa will be allowed to open at half capacity beginning May 15. Johnson County had previously been one of the 22 counties where restrictions still ...
Big Grove to donate proceeds from new beer to Iowa Restaurant Association Employee Relief Fund
Marissa Smith, News Reporter
May 13, 2020
Iowa City- and Solon-based brewery and restaurant Big Grove Brewery is set to donate proceeds from its newest beer to a relief fund for out-of-work Iowans. Funds from the new beer, called “All Together”, will go to the Iowa Restaurant Association’s Employee Relief Fund, designed to help ...
Happy Hollow Park’s “skinned” infield converted to turfgrass
Riley Davis, News Reporter
May 11, 2020
Community pushback to converting one of Iowa City’s “skinned infield” ball parks to turf grass is prompting an Iowa City city councilor to look into restoring the field. Between Brown Street Historic District and Oakland Cemetery on the northside of Iowa City, Happy Hollow Park is known...
UI student governments ask Iowa City to forgive utilities for unemployed students, residents
Riley Davis, News Reporter
May 6, 2020
The University of Iowa Undergraduate Student Government and Graduate and Professional Student Government wrote a joint letter April 29 asking the Iowa City City Council to consider forgiving utility fees for unemployed students and residents, amid financial uncertainty in the COVID-19 pandemic. The lette...
Downtown Block Party changed, Summer of the Arts programming cancelled due to COVID-19
Rachel Schilke, News Reporter
May 1, 2020
Summer in Iowa City is going to look a little different this year. Both the Iowa City Summer of Arts and the Iowa City Downtown District announced event changes this week to keep the community safe amid the spread of COVID-19. The Downtown District is breaking up the normally massive Downtown Block Party, whi...
Local parks departments discuss fate of summer programs, safety measures amid COVID-19 spread
Kelsey Harrell, News Reporter
April 30, 2020
With summer around the corner, local Parks and Recreation departments have canceled summer sports activities, and are discussing options for other summer youth and recreation programs. Iowa City Parks and Recreation will still have its summer day camp program for school-aged children since it se...
Food With Love project aims to serve freshly prepared meals to Johnson County residents in need
Marissa Smith, News Reporter
April 28, 2020
Iowa City restaurants are partnering with nonprofit food pantries and the Community Foundation of Johnson County to provide freshly prepared meals to those experiencing food insecurity amid community spread of the virus. Former Iowa kicker and NFL player Nate Kaeding and Deluxe Cakes and Pastr...
Iowa’s Ride cancels first statewide bike ride
Lauren White, News Reporter
April 28, 2020
Iowa’s Ride has canceled its inaugural bike ride across Iowa to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Iowa’s Ride, created in October by former RAGBRAI staffers, was scheduled for July 12-18 to go through eight towns across Iowa, but the team decided it would be in the best interest of riders and vo...
As Iowa’s bars and restaurants close, Hawkeyes are drinking from home
Charles Peckman, Senior Reporter
April 23, 2020
It was around 4 p.m. on a rainy Tuesday afternoon when I held the Kum & Go door open for a college-aged man holding a half-dozen cans of Four Loko, a caffeinated, liquor-infused concoction that remains a favorite among college students. “Stocking up?” I asked. “Yeah, man,” he re...
Congolese Health Partnership creates multilingual video series to educate immigrants, refugees on COVID-19
Will Fineman, News Reporter
April 22, 2020
An Iowa-based health partnership created multilingual video series to help inform immigrants and refugees about COVID-19 and curtail the spread of misinformation. The videos were produced by the Congolese Health Partnership, a collaborative effort established three years ago by University of Io...
Iowa City community reacts to Pride celebrations across the globe moving online
Riley Davis, News Reporter
April 21, 2020
After the cancellation of Pride events this summer, Iowa City and University of Iowa LGBTQ organizations are planning to move their celebrations online. Iowa City Pride canceled its in-person summer festivities in an announcement on Monday, but the organization’s leaders plan to join peer organ...
After 27 years, Iowa City party destination Union Bar to close its doors
Charles Peckman, Senior Reporter
April 10, 2020
Since 1993, generations of students have filtered through the doors of The Union Bar in Iowa City, located at 121 E. College St. But after a 27-year run, the party spot known for its bright lights, boisterous music, and crowds of Hawkeyes has closed its doors. Famous for its live music, birth...