The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

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The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan
The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan
Brianna Brands

Brianna Brands, News Reporter

(she/her/hers)

Bri Brands is a third-year student at the University of Iowa, double majoring in English and Creative Writing and Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Social Work. This is her first year working as a news reporter for the DI and she has previously interned for The N’West Iowa REVIEW.

All content by Brianna Brands
Estela’s is seen at the new Coralville location on Dec. 11, 2024.

Coralville Estela’s gets a new location, fresh look

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
December 11, 2024
Contributed by Chris O’Brien

Iowa City appoints familiar face as deputy city manager

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
December 11, 2024
Photo illustration.

UI receives gold rating for sustainability efforts

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
December 9, 2024
Photo contributed by Paras Bassuk

UI student named 2025 Rhodes Scholar recipient

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
December 8, 2024
The Iowa River is seen on Dec. 3, 2024.

EPA recommends adding Iowa River to state’s impaired waters list

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
December 4, 2024
The Solon water tower is seen on Wednesday Aug. 25, 2021, in Solon, Iowa.

Solon Middle School ranks in top 1.25 percent of all Iowa schools

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
December 2, 2024
Water fills a cup from a dorm faucet in Iowa City on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Many cities in Iowa have fluorinated drinking water to help prevent tooth decay.

Robert F. Kennedy wants to remove fluoride from water. What does that mean?

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 21, 2024
The Tiffin City Hall is seen on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.

$10 million rec center in the works for city of Tiffin

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 20, 2024
Corridor CANstruction sculptures at the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville on Monday, Nov. 11. The public and a panel of local judges are set to vote for the best sculptures. All cans will be donated to the CommUnity Food Bank to help those in need.

CANstruction competitions bring in over 5,000 cans of food

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 20, 2024
The Old Capitol Building is seen in Iowa City on Tuesday April, 25, 2023.

UI’s Undergraduate-to-Graduate programs increasing in popularity

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 18, 2024
Final fundraising numbers are raised during the University of Iowa’s 30th Dance Marathon at the Iowa Memorial Union in Iowa City on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Dancers raised $1,454,929.30 for the Stead Family Childrens Hospital.

UI Dance Marathon raises over $250,000 for pediatric cancer patients

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 12, 2024
Tess Judge-Ellis, clinical associate professor and nurse practitioner, poses for a portrait in front of the College of Nursing Building on Nov. 8, 2024. Judge-Ellis is a former army nurse, and now focuses her work in mental health and holistic approaches to healthcare.

Former Army nurse focuses on psychiatry and primary care

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 12, 2024
A family takes photos in front of an Iowa City sign during the Back to Dubuque Street block party in downtown Iowa City on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. The block party celebrated the progress of the Dubuque Street Reconstruction Project and included live music, bingo, drinks, and food.

Iowa City ranked in top 100 U.S. cities to live in

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 10, 2024
Photo illustration by Isabella Tisdale

New community newsletter serves Johnson County residents

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 7, 2024
The Iowa Board of Regents talk about future building plans during a board meeting at the Iowa State Alumni Building in Ames on Sept. 18.

UI requests approval for $82.6 million in capital projects

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 6, 2024
A Board of Regents staff member reacts to a presentation during a board meeting at the Iowa State Alumni Building in Ames on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.

UI seeks approval to purchase Old Capitol Mall

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 6, 2024
Stickers are laid out on a table for voters during early voting at the Iowa Memorial Union on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.

Johnson County Board of Supervisors, sheriff elected to office

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 5, 2024
Early voters line up to cast their ballots during early voting at the Iowa Memorial Union on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. Hundreds of students showed up at the IMU for the final day of early voting.

Johnson County passes $30 million conservation bond

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 5, 2024
Trisha serves customers at the award-winning Oryza Asian Cuisine on Monday, Nov 4, 2024. Oryza won 2nd & Best Overall Menu in September’s Corridor Vegan Chef Challenge.

Six Johnson County businesses awarded for vegan options

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 4, 2024
UI Chemistry associate professor Scott Shaw poses for a portrait in his office in the Chemistry Building on July 18, 2019. Shaw created the Rural Scholar Program for select incoming students in 2015. Shaw recently received a grant of $9 million to continue studying environmental films or grime.

UI professor receives $9 million grant to study environmental films

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
November 3, 2024
UI Health Care Medical Center is seen on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2024. A confirmed diagnosis of a patient with Lassa fever was reported on Monday, Oct. 28.

UI Health Care confirms case of Lassa fever

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
October 29, 2024
A simulation is seen during the Motion-Iowa Simulation at the College of Nursing tailgate in Iowa City on Friday, Oct. 25.

Mobile training program visits UI College of Nursing

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
October 27, 2024
The outside of the Veteran Affairs Medical Center as seen on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. Mandy Coates was appointed the new director of veteran affairs by the Johnson County Commission of Veterans Affairs.

Johnson County appoints Mandy Coates as new veterans affairs director

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
October 24, 2024
A Centennial Park sign is seen at Centennial Park in North Liberty, Iowa, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. A fundraiser was held at the park in an effort to reach its fundraising goal of $3.5 million for renovations.

Nightmare on Ale Street raises money for North Liberty Centennial Park

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
October 21, 2024
The Lindquist Center is seen in Iowa City on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. The counseling and behavioral health services major was approved in April and implemented this fall.

New College of Education program sees success in first semester

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
October 20, 2024
University of Iowa president Barbara Wilson speaks with Daily Iowan staff members at the Adler Journalism building in Iowa City on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. Wilson spoke about DEI changes, DVIP, and the Mercy Hospital transition.

Q&A | UI President Barbara Wilson talks campus diversity, building updates

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
October 16, 2024
Pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Paul McCray Jr. poses for a portrait at the Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building on Oct. 15. McCray received the 2024 Trailblazer Award from Emily’s Entourage for his work in gene therapies and finding treatments for cystic fibrosis.

UI professor receives award for cystic fibrosis research

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
October 15, 2024
University of Iowa Dean of the College of Nursing Julie Zurwic poses for a portrait at the UI College of Nursing building on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Zurwic became the dean in the fall of 2017.

Iowa established as top nursing school in national rankings

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
October 14, 2024
A sapling is seen in Court Hill Park on Thursday, April 29, 2021. In a conference Tuesday morning, more than 180 Iowa science faculty and 32 colleges endorsed the 14th annual Iowa Climate Statement.

Iowa researchers release 14th annual Iowa Climate Statement

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
October 9, 2024
(Left) Elinor Levin, Iowa House of Representative candidate for District 89, speaks at an event in the Iowa Memorial Union Leadership Room on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Middle) Adam Zabner, democratic candidate running for Iowa House District 90, speaks during the University of Iowa Faculty Staff Legislative Forum at the Iowa Memorial Union on Monday, April 18, 2022. (Right) House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst speaks during the opening of the 2022 Legislative Session at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. University Democrats at Iowa hosted the three local representatives at the Iowa Memorial Union on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.

Local representatives speak to University Democrats at Iowa

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
October 7, 2024
The Old Capitol Building is seen on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. Recently, the University of Iowa dropped its overall ranking among U.S. universities according to the annual U.S. News and World Report college rankings.

UI falls in overall rank, remains number one public nursing school in latest report

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 23, 2024
A Harvest Moon, which also happens to be an exceptionally bright and large supermoon, is seen during a partial lunar eclipse as it begins to recede at about 11 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Indian River County, Florida. A mini moon will soon join the moon's orbit.

Earth is capturing a ‘mini moon’ in orbit

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 23, 2024
An attendee asks about a molecular formation during the Iowa Climate Festival at the Museum of Natural History in Iowa City on Saturday, Oct 15, 2016. There were hands-on experiments at the Climate Science Fair for attendees to interact and learn with.

Iowa City Climate Fest celebrates five years

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 22, 2024
City Hall employees participate in a meeting in the North Liberty City Hall in Iowa City on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2024. The structure cost $10 million dollars to construct.

North Liberty City Hall settles into central, permanent location

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 22, 2024
Iowa Senior Vice President Rod Lenhertz speaks about new projects for the University of Iowa during a board meeting at the Iowa State Alumni Building in Ames on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.

UI approved for College of Liberal Arts and Sciences program changes

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 19, 2024
The board of regents talk about future building plans during a board meeting at the Iowa State Alumni Building in Ames on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.

UI seeks approval for construction and renovation of campus facilities

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 18, 2024
An opening sign welcomes guests into Field to Family’s office and warehouse in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday Sept. 13, 2024. Field to Family is a non-profit organization that increases access to local healthy food.

Field to Family encourages community members to eat and shop local

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 16, 2024
Iowa Marching Band holds up a banner of Lisa Bluder during halftime at a football game between Iowa and Troy at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. The Hawkeyes defeated the Trojans, 38-21.

Lisa Bluder honored in football halftime show

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 15, 2024
The Old Capitol Building is seen in Iowa City on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. The University of Iowa reported 5,208 first-year students for the 2024 school year, the third highest in school history.

UI welcomes over 5,200 students to class of 2028

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 12, 2024
A 9/11 remembrance sign is posted during a Young Americans for Freedom event at Hubbard Park in Iowa City on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. The group set up flags and held an event to honors those lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

Young Americans for Freedom hosts commemorative 9/11 event

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 11, 2024
KRUI Studios headquarters is seen inside of the Iowa Memorial Union on Monday, September 9, 2024. KRUI recently flooded, causing a two week hiatus from production.

UI radio station faces thousands of dollars worth of damage

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 11, 2024
A North Liberty volunteer checks vegetables before the opening of the current North Liberty Food Pantry on Sept. 5. The pantry has recently seen a rise in the number of people they serve.

North Liberty Community Pantry moves forward with new $4 million facility

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 10, 2024
Police lights are seen flashing after a traffic stop in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.

Three teens charged in violent incident at West

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 9, 2024
Herky poses for portraits with fans during FryFest in Coralvile on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. This year marked the 15th anniversary for FryFest and drew crowds of 18,000 people.

15th year of FRYFest draws in crowd of 18,000

Brianna Brands, News Reporter
September 3, 2024
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