Your trusted source for local Iowa City, IA news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
Casey Cooney won an at-large seat on the Clear Creek Amana School District school board, receiving 60.4% of the vote. Incumbent Nicholas Pfeiffer retained his uncontested seat, securing 943 votes. Write-in candidates dominated District 2 and District 4 due to a lack of filed candidates.
Newcomer Katie Freeman won a seat on the Coralville City Council alongside incumbents Hai Huynh and Mike Knudson, according to preliminary results. Freeman, who garnered 1,487 votes (15.1%), plans to focus on affordable housing and food security. Huynh and Knudson, who received 2,247 (22.8%) and 1,965 (20%) votes respectively, aim to address budgetary pressures and enhance city services.
Father Guillermo Treviño, a 39-year-old Iowa pastor and immigrant rights advocate, died from complications related to undiagnosed diabetes. Known for his commitment to social justice, he co-founded Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, a leading organization for immigrant rights. His passing comes at a critical time when immigrant communities face increasing challenges.
Authorities search for the driver of a pickup truck that struck and killed 30-year-old Melanie Katherine Nelson in Marshalltown. The incident occurred on Saturday, Nov. 1, as she crossed South Third Avenue. The driver fled the scene and remains unidentified.
A Tennessee man, Larry Bushart, had charges of threatening mass violence dropped after posting a meme related to a school shooting. Critics labeled the arrest a violation of free speech, prompting concerns about the misuse of state law. Bushart spent five weeks in jail before the district attorney's office dismissed the case on October 29.
The federal government shutdown has paused a lawsuit involving four international students from the University of Iowa as the Department of Justice seeks to limit its resources during this period. The students' legal status was previously challenged after their visas were revoked, prompting a preliminary injunction to protect them from deportation. The case will remain on hold until the appeal is resolved or government funding resumes.
Wade Robinson, former dean at Des Moines Area Community College, faces extortion charges after allegedly seeking a $1 million settlement to withdraw his candidacy for the college board. Robinson denies the charges, asserting the communications were part of ongoing litigation with the college regarding Title IX violations. He was arrested on October 30 and released on a $5,000 bond.
Health insurance premiums for Iowans will rise significantly in 2026, with increases ranging from 12.5% to over 25%. The hikes stem from the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which previously helped middle-income enrollees afford coverage. As healthier individuals exit the market, insurers anticipate a sicker, more expensive pool of policyholders.
A Coralville woman, Michelle Jenkins-Robertson, will not face charges for fatally shooting Mason Edwards, 27, in June after the Johnson County Attorney's Office ruled she acted in self-defense. The shooting occurred during an altercation at Jenkins-Robertson's home, where Edwards allegedly attacked her before she fired the gun.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds urged residents to donate to local food banks as federal food assistance funding is set to expire on November 1 due to the government shutdown. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services will match donations up to $1 million to assist food banks facing unprecedented demand amid the lapse of SNAP benefits for over 260,000 Iowans.