MARION, Iowa (KCRG) – Leaked screenshots show the Linn-Mar School District is dealing with a ransomware attack much more severe than the “technical difficulties” the district has described to staff and parents. A staff member shared with TV9 screenshots from district computers showing a warning message stating “all your files have been encrypted by Vice Society”. The warning goes on to threaten to upload those files to the dark web unless the user contacts them to purchase a key within 7 days. The notice does not give the cost of that key. the district has only described “technical difficulties” with its computer network that has prompted it to limit physical access to district buildings for the rest of this week. The note says it is working with “third-party specialists to investigate the source of this disruption, assess its impact on our systems, and to restore full functionality to our systems as soon as possible” and that the district’s network and phone systems are down. It is not known whether the district would be ready for the first day of school, which is less than three weeks away.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – The newly elected chair of Iowa City’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission is facing calls for removal after the leak of a podcast where she disparaged other Black leaders in Iowa City, referring to some as “coons”. The Iowa City Council has set a meeting for Thursday morning to remove Amel Ali from the commission. Iowa City created the TRC in the wake of protests over the murder of George Floyd in 2020 in order to “bear witness to the truth of racial injustice and carry out restorative justice”. The issue came up during public comment at Tuesday’s Iowa City Council meeting when Johnson County Supervisor Royceanne Porter demanded the council remove Amel Ali from the commission. Porter said she received an anonymous letter containing recordings of a podcast “Rock Hard Caucus”. In it, Ali refers to Porter and other community leaders as coons, makes other derogatory comments and describes herself as getting intoxicated before meetings and driving drunk. Porter says the comments came on multiple episodes of the podcast. “Her choice to speak this way clearly demonstrates that she is not capable of leading us towards reconciliation,” Porter said demanding the City Council remove Ali. “If you don’t remove her soon, I’m telling you now, we will remove her,” Porter added. Ali was selected as chair of the commission just last month. She also spoke remotely at the meeting and apologized for her statements, calling them “wrong” and “ill-considered” but refused to resign. “Despite the call by the mayor to have me resign, I cannot walk away and turn my back on the trust, hope and responsibilities entrusted to all of us on this commission,” Ali said. Ali said she believed the recordings were released intentionally to disrupt the work of the commission.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Wednesday at approximately 4:01 pm, Marion Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from a pavilion in Hanna Park. Crews found heavy smoke coming from the restrooms upon arrival. Responders quickly got the fire under control. The pavilion sustained moderate damage to the restroom area. No injuries were reported. The fire is under investigation.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Staff with the Cedar Rapids Public Library are partnering with Waypoint to provide a new, temporary escape from the summer heat starting Thursday. It comes after a fire forced the closure of the Cedar Rapids Downtown Public Library last week. After that fire, city officials said they were working to find alternative cooling centers. Starting this week, staff say a cooling and computer center will be available next to the Madge Phillips Center Shelter, located at 520 4th Avenue SE. The center is expected to be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The center will make 10 library computers and WiFi access available, with the computers limited to one-hour sessions, depending on demand. There will also be chair and table space available. Books and other library materials will not be available. Parking will be available in the library lot on Fifth Avenue SE, or at metered spots near the building.
