DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) — Loras College is pushing back after Forbes gave it a “D” grade, flagging concerns about its debt levels and financial liquidity. The magazine did not give F grades and said 27% of private colleges in the U.S. also received a D. Loras College operated at a loss for three consecutive years before Mike Doyle returned to Loras as president-elect in 2024. The stretch included net cash flow losses of $8.8 million in fiscal year 2024 and $5.4 million in fiscal year 2023, leading to at least $38 million in debt. “Had I known that the cash flow losses, what the situation was when I returned in August of ’24, I’m not sure I would’ve come back,” Doyle said, now Loras College president. Doyle said the grade does not reflect progress made during his nearly two years of leadership. Doyle implemented a five-year plan that prioritized fundraising and enrollment, which both declined for a few years, and included eliminating the use of endowment funds for day-to-day operations. The plan also included suspending benefits and reducing staff, mostly through attrition; he said about five staff members were fired. After years of losses, Loras now expects its second consecutive year of profit, reporting net cash flow gains of $2 million in fiscal year 2025 and a projected gain of $3.6 million in fiscal year 2026.
MARION, Iowa (KCRG) – Two people sustained minor injuries during a crash Wednesday afternoon in Marion. Authorities responded to a collision at East Post Road and Lakeside Road at 2:36 p.m. Police say a northbound Audi rear-ended a Chevrolet Traverse on East Post Road after failing to maintain a safe stopping distance. The impact caused air bags to deploy. Both drivers were taken to a local hospital for minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation.
TIFFIN, Iowa (KCRG) – A Tiffin man has been charged in connection to a deadly road rage incident in January in eastern Iowa. 42-year-old Jesse Burkhart is charged with voluntary manslaughter, a Class C felony. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said it started when Burkhart and Lee Krogh, 57, of Iowa City, engaged in a road rage incident in Coralville on January 16. Krogh followed Burkhart to his home in Tiffin, where Burkhart got a gun from inside the residence. Police allege Burkhart came back outside and got into an argument with Krogh that turned physical. At one point, Burkhart dropped his phone. Burkhart displayed his weapon when Krogh picked up the phone. Burkhart yelled for Krogh to return his phone, according to the sheriff’s office. Burkhart then allegedly shot Krogh. Deputies responded to the shooting around 11:45 a.m. and found Krogh suffering from a gunshot wound outside the residence. He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
BURLINGTON, Iowa (KWQC) – A person working on a casino sign was rescued after it caught fire Wednesday morning. Burlington firefighters at arrived the Great River Casino Resort and FunCity, formerly known as Catfish Bend Casino, at 8:20 a.m. They saw flames and smoke coming from the sign and the upper bucket of a cherry picker, according to a media release. Firefighters directed the contractor’s employees to use another boom truck to rescue the contractor, officials said. Crews put out the fire after the sign’s electricity was disabled. Part of the sign and the contractor’s truck were damaged in the fire. No one was hurt, and the cause of the fire was accidental, officials said.
