NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Board of Regents is being asked to approve a budget increase for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic’s new healthcare facility that’s being built in North Liberty. UIHC originally received approval for the nearly $400M facility in September last year, with a groundbreaking ceremony the following month. However, a new proposed budget revision on the 469,000 square foot facility would increase the cost to $525,628,000. That’s a 33 percent increase that the board said is due to inflation and labor and material shortages. UIHC said the design of the building, the square footage and floor plates are not changing from the plans that were previously approved. The facility will be located where North Liberty and Coralville meet at the corner of Highway 965 and Forevergreen Road. The Iowa Board of Regents will meet in Ames on July 27.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A number of fires in Cedar Rapids this 4th of July, according to the city of Cedar Rapids, were likely started by fireworks. Officials estimate the number is around 10. Both council members Dale Todd and Ashley Vanory, who represent the third and fifth districts respectively, expressed frustration with the new laws from the state legislature. Senate File 2285, which was signed into law April 2022, banned the cities from requiring people to sell fireworks only in areas zoned for commercial or industrial usage. The city of Cedar Rapids had restricted firework sales to industrial zones. There was a 22 percent decrease in calls for service related to fireworks from 2022 to 2021, according to data provided by the city of Cedar Rapids. The decrease is more significant, at 44 percent, if comparing the numbers from 2022 to 2020.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – An organization is asking the community to step up and help, so students have the supplies they need when they go back to school. The Olivet Neighborhood Mission is asking for supplies for their annual drive. Their goal is to have enough supplies to help 400 families. Last year, they helped more than 370. Donations are being accepted now through July 31st during their normal business hours, which is Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. They’re located at 230 10th Street northwest in Cedar Rapids. Needed supplies include: backpacks, blue pens, composition books, 24 count crayons, 1″ 3 ring white binder with plastic pocket front, wide ruled loose leaf paper, erasers, highlighters, colored pencils, scissors, glue sticks, glue, headphones, pencil box/case, dry erase markers, vinyl 2 pocket folders, thick and thin markers, tissues, pencils, and wide ruled spiraled notebooks.
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – Dubuque city officials are cautioning residents to keep children and pets away from the area of Valentine Drive and Fremont Avenue after untreated wastewater overflowed onto the street Sunday evening. City officials said roots blocked the sanitary sewer line, causing the overflow. The city’s public works department sent crews to remove the blockage, and the pipes were open by 10:30 p.m. Sunday. However, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said people should keep their children and pets away from the area for 48 hours.
