CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) – The University of Iowa President addressed a video that shows one of her employees admitting to “operating around” a state law regarding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Dr. Barbara Wilson was one of many at Wednesday’s Board of Regents Meeting condemning the employee’s words that posted by Fox News Tuesday night. Attorney General Brenna Bird launched an investigation Wednesday after Governor Reynolds sent an official complaint. Regent Sherry Bates said any sort of behavior like what was heard in the video is unacceptable. She says following the law is not optional for any staff member. The board gave its full support to the Attorney General’s investigation and said it would take action to correct this “very problematic situation”.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Coe College is introducing women’s wrestling to its athletic program, set to launch this year. Coe College President David T. Hayes and Director of Athletics & Recreation Steve Cook announced the addition of women’s wrestling to the athletic program on Wednesday. The wrestling program will be launched in the 2025-26 school year and they will start competing in 2026-27. The first championship will take place in 2026. In 2020, women’s wrestling was announced as an emerging sport by the NCAA. The sport is sponsored at the high school level in 46 states. The women’s team will be led by NCAA All-American Kaleb Reeves. He was a former Kohawk wrestler for five years and had an overall record of 103-22.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Board of Regents approved a new tuition program at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Wednesday. Under the program, undergraduate students from neighboring states will no longer be required to pay out-of-state tuition rates. The Neighboring State Rate allows students from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin to pay the same rate as in-state students at UNI. According to UNI, the program aims to help students “access affordable, high-quality education while enhancing workforce-ready skills to address job shortages in the region.” The Neighboring State Rate will be offered during the 2025-2026 academic year, providing families with the opportunity to save over $12,000 annually compared to out-of-state tuition. UNI says it will cover the funding through the UNI foundation. It will start offering the new tuition rate this fall.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) – Firefighters responded to an early morning house fire in Cedar Falls Wednesday. At approximately 2:00 a.m., dispatchers received a call regarding a possible transformer on fire. Crews responded to the 1000 block of Bluff Street in Cedar Falls, where they found a down tree on a home’s electrical service drop. Firefighters also located a fire spreading on the exterior wall of the home, extending to the roof and into the bathroom of the residence. Firefighters extinguished the fire and took action to prevent further damage to the home. The house sustained smoke, fire, and water damage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
