Johnson County to change namesake after UI alum Lulu Merle Johnson
Caleb McCullough, Politics Editor
September 23, 2020
Johnson County will have its namesake changed to honor Lulu Merle Johnson, an alum of the University of Iowa and the second Black woman in the U.S. to earn a doctorate in history. The Board of Supervisors created a committee in July to recommend changes this summer after high-profile calls — from t...
Transportation committee advocates for longer bus hours, universal bus passes
Brian Grace, News Reporter
September 21, 2020
The Johnson County Community Transportation Committee is recommending longer bus hours, universal passes, and service on Sundays to better serve low-income residents. The committee sent their suggestions in a letter to the Iowa City City Council on Sept. 8, ahead of a presentation on planning the f...
Johnson County District Court judge rules in favor of Trump campaign, invalidating thousands of ballot-request forms
Lauren White, Politics Reporter
September 14, 2020
A judge in the Johnson County District Court ruled Monday in favor of a lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign, invalidating thousands of ballot-request forms mailed to voters with pre-filled information. Johnson County Auditor Travis Weipert must contact every person who mailed in a ballot-requ...
Delays and deficits leave Census Bureau officials weary of approaching deadline
Rachel Steil, News Reporter
September 13, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has, in many ways, turned the 2020 census upside down. From delays to safety concerns to response rate deficits, the outlook of the census, the data of which billions of dollars of funding allocations is based on, has been shaken. Al Fontenot, the bureau’s top official warne...
University of Iowa reports 113 new COVID-19 cases
Alexandra Skores, Managing Editor
September 11, 2020
The University of Iowa has reported 113 new self-reported COVID-19 cases since Sept. 9, with 111 cases within the student population and two among employees. The total comes just nearly a week after the Labor Day holiday weekend. Since Sept. 9, there have been 1,732 self-reported COVID-19 cases...
No decision yet in trial to decide fate of pre-filled absentee ballot request forms in Johnson County
Lauren White, Politics Reporter
September 9, 2020
A judge did not make a ruling during a Wednesday hearing on the lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee against Johnson County Auditor Travis Weipert for mailing out absentee ballot-request forms with pre-filled information. No ruling was made by the end of the hearing becau...
Decision in lawsuit between Iowa City schools, state education agency against the state to come next week
Brian Grace, News Reporter
September 3, 2020
Iowa State Education Association and Iowa City school district seek temporary injunction on in-person class mandate.
State and counties ramp up poll worker recruitment ahead of general election
Caleb McCullough, Politics Editor
September 1, 2020
Iowa election officials are recruiting poll workers ahead of the Nov. 3 general election to prevent a possible shortage, as many usual workers are sitting out because of the coronavirus pandemic. In Linn County, which has been recruiting poll workers since January, there are around 400 people confi...
IC to implement implicit bias training for landlords, new woke book club
Samantha Murray, News Reporter
August 31, 2020
Amid Black Lives Matter protests, Iowa City has put new social programs in place seeking to combat implicit bias, including a landlord implicit bias training and a woke book club. Read Woke, started in Georgia by school librarian Cicely Lewis in 2017, has been an item of interest of Iowa City...
IFR organizers encourage protesters to demand action from officials at third night of protests
Josie Fischels and Claire Benson
August 31, 2020
Part of a four-night protest streak to apply pressure to local government officials, Iowa City protesters marched for the third consecutive night ahead of Tuesday’s city council meeting. Protesters have gathered for the past three nights to apply pressure on the council, as well as to march ...
Iowa Freedom Riders hold vigil for Makeda Scott
Lauren White, Politics Reporter
August 30, 2020
In the second night of a four-night streak of protests in Iowa City, the Iowa Freedom Riders held a memorial for former UI student Makeda Scott following a protest through Iowa City. Scott was a UI student who died during a boating trip on Lake MacBride. The Iowa Freedom Riders are calling ...
Iowa City schools allowed to start class completely remote
Lillian Poulsen, News Reporter
August 27, 2020
After Johnson County experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases, the state granted permission to the Iowa City Community School District to move to all-virtual classroom instruction after initially denying the district’s initial request for all-online schooling. Interim Superintendent Matt Degne...