From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office says nearly 90 children are in protective custody after reports of child abuse and child endangerment. Several local and state law enforcement agencies responded to two properties in Columbus Junction last Thursday and Friday. The sheriff’s office says the children were attending a camp run by a religious group at the time. Leaders with the group say it is a camp for Christian teenagers from all over the country. One of leaders says a 15-year-old from Texas called authorities because he didn’t want to be there. He said no children were ever in danger. He says none of the camp leaders have been arrested. But he says police are conducting a human trafficking investigation.
Cancer rates in Linn County are higher than the rest of Iowa and the nation. That was revealed in a report showing between 2017 and 2021, Linn County had a cancer rate of nearly 477 cases per 100,000 people. That’s about 14 cases higher than Iowa’s average, and 32 cases above the national rate. The report says Linn County’s “cancer burden” is shaped by a number of factors including smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, and poor diet.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture is confirming the state’s first case of a disease affecting beef cattle. Asian longhorned ticks carry the parasite which causes the illness. The parasite can infect red and white blood cells. In some cases, it can lead to death. The case was found in a herd of cattle in southeast Iowa. The department says cattle producers, especially those in southern Iowa, should keep a close eye on tick infestations while cows are out to pasture.
A Cedar Rapids coalition formed after the derecho of 2020 is shutting down after distributing almost $3.5 million for the restoration of 292 homes. The PATCH program provided financial assistance for home repairs after the devastating wind storm tore through the city almost five years ago. Several organizations were part of the program to quickly help homeowners with repairs that returned them to their houses.
There’s a new landmark sign in downtown Cedar Rapids. It is a sculpture in big orange-colored metal letters now located on May’s Island across from the Linn County Courthouse. The city says the sign intends to reflect the spirit of the area while providing another place to create memories…or at least a lot of selfies.
