From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
The University of Iowa will likely not be taking over its competitor hospital in Iowa City. Another bidder, investor Preston Hollow Community Capital and its operational partner, American Healthcare Systems, won a bankruptcy court auction to acquire Mercy Iowa City Hospital. This upends the plan UIHC had to take over Mercy for $20 million. In August, Mercy and UIHC signed a letter of intent for the University to acquire all of Mercy’s operating facilities and assets. A bankruptcy court will still have to decide if Preston Hollow’s bid will go through. Preston Hollow is familiar with Mercy–it’s been a major investor for Mercy for years and went to court asking to take over the medical facility because of financial problems.
Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks says the teen arrested for threatening Cedar Rapids schools last week is charged with Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon in juvenile court. Cedar Rapids police arrested the 14-year-old last Thursday, just a couple days after the social media threat forced the district to cancel classes. Because the suspect is a juvenile, authorities are not releasing the child’s identity.
The President of Northeast Iowa Community College is on administrative leave. The NICC Board of Trustees has not offered any details on this decision. Herbert Reidel took on the role in July 2022. The vote to place Reidel on administrative leave came after three closed session meetings. NICC leaders say they are committed to maintaining normal operations and upholding its mission to serve their students and the community during this time.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is joining a 13 state fight over a new Massachusetts law which places restrictions on selling or shipping pork through the state. She says it goes even further than California’s Prop 12 by prohibiting the shipment of “non-compliant” pork through Massachusetts. If Iowa-produced pork meets all state and federal safety and quality standards, it still couldn’t be sold in the state if it doesn’t comply with hog-housing requirements.
A couple of recreational trails in Eastern Iowa are getting thousands for updates. The Fontana Park Learning and Discovery Trail in Buchanan County is getting almost $240,000 and Hoover Trail Bridge Number 2 in Cedar County is getting $130,000. The money will be used to develop and maintain the trails and other facilities.
