Linn County | featured news

Cedar Rapids-based Eco Lips acquired Columbus Junction-based Simply Soothing, the manufacturer of the Bug Soother bug repellent, according to a Monday news release.Eco Lips, which manufactures organic lip balm, will grow Bug Soother’s distribution following the acquisition, owner Steve Shriver said.

The State of Iowa has agreed to pay a former University of Northern Iowa football player $150,000 after he suffered “significant” and lasting injuries while participating in a research study for another former UNI Panther and NFL player Chad Rinehart.

Iowa added 152 new COVID-19 cases on Monday.The new cases bring the state total to 353,394. The state’s seven-day average is 523, according to Iowa Department of Public Health data.VACCINATIONSAs of Monday, the number of fully-vaccinated Iowans was 639,807, according to IDPH data. The number is equal to 20.28 percent of all Iowans.

CEDAR RAPIDS — Nearly 40 projects are planned for residential, collection and main arterial roads in the city for this year’s street construction season, which is kicking off as temperatures warm.

CEDAR RAPIDS — As the COVID-19 vaccines become available to every adult in the state, some local entities are working to ensure homebound seniors aren’t left behind in the shuffle.

DES MOINES — Iowans are betting on sports at a record clip, but experts worry it may not be all fun and games.

Local public health departments, in the midst of targeted outreach to vulnerable populations, say the contamination of millions of coronavirus vaccines should not have an impact on the additional allocation of doses that are anticipated to arrive this week.

Proposals to eliminate tenure across Iowa’s public universities might be dead for this legislative session, but that doesn’t mean the esteemed academic appointment is alive and well across the state’s institutions.

The drama is over, but the discussion needs to continue.The 2020 election results in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District were officially, and at long last, settled last week when Democrat Rita Hart dropped her challenge of the results.

When one stage door closes, another one opens.