CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A Cedar Rapids man was arrested early Tuesday morning after a vehicle pursuit. John Joseph Jackson, 25, is charged with 1st Degree Harassment, Eluding, Reckless Driving, and other driving infractions. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to N Glen Drive in Covington for a harassment complaint. Investigators say Jackson showed up in the area after making threats to harm a family and was alleged to have a firearm. Just after 9:30 p.m., deputies spotted Jackson’s vehicle and tried to pull him over at Stoney Point Road and E Avenue NW. Jackson took off northbound on Stoney Point at speeds over 100 mph. Jackson continued north onto Covington Road, east on Highway 100, south on I-380, and was last seen exiting east onto Highway 100. At 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, authorities found Jackson at his home where he was arrested without incident. No injuries or property damage were reported during the pursuit. An investigation is on-going, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – After thousands of questions and frustration from parents, changes are coming to the Cedar Rapids Community School District’s rollout of its pathways program. Superintendent Doctor Tawana Grover said the district heard parents and is changing two things: the pace of the rollout and input from families. The rollout is slowing down and will happen in phases. Starting next school year, that’s the ‘25/’26 year, the Freshman Pathways Seminar will be an optional class. The following year, that’s the ‘26/’27 school year, all incoming freshmen will fully be part of pathways, which means they’ll choose a career theme that might differ depending on the high school. Another change is increasing parent input. The district announced on Monday it’s hosting another round of parent feedback meetings. Grover said this will help them find what works and what doesn’t. Grover said the full rollout of the career pathways program will go into effect in the ‘27/’28 school year.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Pharmacy Association is calling for reform from Iowa lawmakers after 29 pharmacies closed last year, including some in eastern Iowa. The association says pharmacy benefit managers (PBM’s) are to blame. They were originally created to mediate pharmacies and healthcare companies. However, the Iowa Pharmacy Association calls them anti-competitive middlemen in the pharmacy supply chain that have been allowed to operate largely unregulated. “PBMs control pharmacies and patients alike, driving up the cost of medications for their own financial gain,” the Iowa Pharmacy Association said. “Their contracts often limit patient choice, requiring consumers to use PBM-owned pharmacies…. As a result of PBM practices, pharmacies in Iowa and across the country are forced to close.” The Iowa Pharmacy Association is pushing for a PBM reform bill it says would ensure adequate state licensure, fair reimbursement for prescriptions and provisions to protect patient choice. A bill aimed at addressing PBM’s failed to pass in the state legislative session last year.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A new study on the proposed casino in Cedar Rapids has found an economic impact of more than $2.25 billion. The group Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, who wants to build Cedar Crossing, commissioned the study from Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS), an Iowa-based economic research and analysis firm. The study projects an economic impact of $257 million dollars during the construction phase and $183 million in the first year of operations. It also projected an average of 792 jobs supported over the 18-month construction period, and labor income of $81.5 million. During the operational phase, the study projected an annual direct revenue of $121.3 million, and jobs for 365 people. The study also projects the casino would generate more than $43.5 million in tax revenue, with state and local contributions at more than $34 million.
