From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
The Cedar Rapids Community School District is cutting six percent of its staff positions before next school year. That’s 222 jobs gone, mostly through attrition. The district says in addition to the reduced head count, some staff members might have to change schools. Superintendent Dr. Tawana Grover says the cuts break down to 77 certified staff or teachers and 145 support staff. The district has lost 3,000 students over the past 20 years, which impacts state funding for the district.
Collins Aerospace is announcing layoffs in Cedar Rapids. The company says it is taking actions to reduce costs and optimize organizational structure globally. That includes what is described as a small reduction of positions. Collins hasn’t said how many cuts are being cut.
The mayor of Cedar Rapids has sent a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative, asking to exclude food and food ingredients from proposed tariffs. Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell says companies like Quaker Oats and General Mills get 90-percent of their oats from Canada. In her letter, O’Donnell wrote in part, “I ask for any help you can provide to exempt oats and other ingredients from the pending tariffs.”
The University of Iowa will close its Division of Access, Opportunity, and Diversity next month. This is happening under the direction of the Iowa Board of Regents as it eliminates DEI efforts across the state’s three public universities. Because of the closure, three employees will go to other areas of the university and one employee will go on furlough.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a possible manure runoff may be responsible for a fish kill at Dry Run Creek near Decorah in Winneshiek County. The DNR got the call Tuesday and found dead fish and murky conditions in the tributary that may have been caused by overland runoff from a nearby animal feeding operation. Cleanup efforts have begun. Downstream water users should avoid using water from Dry Run Creek.
Get ready for crowded flights. Eastern Iowa Airport director Marty Lenss says spring break is the busiest time of year, with this Saturday expected to be the airport’s busiest day. He expects more than 3,000 passengers that day–about 500 more than normal.
