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Local News

Suspect accused of running over 5 people near Iowa City homeless camp enters guilty pleas

Lang 3/19/26 A mobile home resident accused of intentionally striking five people with his car near an Iowa City homeless camp has entered guilty pleas. According to arrest reports, 29-year-old Roman Aguilar Ventura of the Hilltop manufactured...Read More

Iowa fuel prices continue to rise amid Iran conflict

Lang 3/19/26 Fuel prices continue to rise in Iowa amid the current conflict in Iran and the ensuing threat to ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship reports the average...Read More

Hope House resident back in custody after allegedly absconding for two weeks

Lang 3/19/26 A Hope House resident is back in custody after allegedly absconding from the Coralville facility two weeks ago. 21-year-old Mekhi Wright was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 2:00 Thursday morning. The Iowa...Read More

Iowa City assisted living center fined $6,000 for “serious medication error” that hospitalized resident

By: Clark Kauffman (Iowa Capital Dispatch) An assisted living center for people with dementia has been fined $6,000 for a serious medication error that resulted in a resident’s hospitalization. State inspectors allege that on Dec. 23, 2025, a...Read More

Extreme weather pushes Tiffin garbage pickup to Friday

Tiffin Garbage and Recycling will occur on Friday, March 20th this week....Read More

Bill to establish state psilocybin program approved by Senate subcommittee

By:Robin Opsahl (Iowa Capital Dispatch) An Iowa Senate subcommittee advanced a bill Wednesday that would allow for the legal, medical use of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms,” in state-approved psychiatric treatment programs. House File 978 was...Read More

Wells denies Heartlanders in 4-0 loss to Kansas City

Iowa Heartlanders news release Coralville, Iowa — Dylan Wells made 25 saves and Colby MacArthur scored twice in his pro debut to push the Kansas City Mavericks past the Iowa Heartlanders, 4-0, Wednesday at Xtream Arena. MacArthur notched...Read More

Iowa HHS receives 80th baby through Safe Haven program

Lang 3/18/26 The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reports receiving its 80th baby through the state’s over two-decade-old Safe Haven law. A baby girl born March 6th is now in the care and custody of...Read More

State auditor Rob Sand criticizes rising payments to MCOs despite fewer Iowans being enrolled in Medicaid

Lang 3/18/26 State Auditor Rob Sand on Wednesday released information showing Iowa’s Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are on track to receive a nearly 90% increase in funding to manage Iowa’s Medicaid program in FY26. That’s despite approximately...Read More

Tiffin woman charged with threatening previous intimate partner

Hunter 03/18/26 A Tiffin woman was arrested Tuesday evening after allegedly threatening her ex-partner. Police say 23-year-old Ellianna Ward and the victim had been in an intimate relationship but had since separated. In recent days, she allegedly...Read More

Downstate Illinois man charged with 2nd OWI

Hunter 03/18/26 A downstate Illinois man was charged with an OWI after an incident Tuesday night in Johnson County. According to the arrest report, a sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to the 4900 block of 420th Street Southeast...Read More

Former Iowa City resident cleared of election fraud charges

Hunter 03/18/26 A former Iowa City man has been cleared on two counts of election misconduct. The Gazette reports Emmanuel Gathua was found not guilty last week by a Johnson County jury of registering to vote and...Read More

Proposed bill to expand DEI restrictions to private colleges fails to advance

Hunter 03/18/26 A bill that proposed extending the state’s restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion programs from public colleges and universities to private colleges that participate in the Iowa Tuition Grant Program has been tabled. The Gazette...Read More

National News

Trump Administration temporarily lifts shipping rules to tackle rising fuel costs

The Trump Administration has approved a 60-day suspension of the Jones Act, aiming to ease pressure on fuel prices and stabilize supply chains disrupted by escalating tensions involving Iran. The century-old law typically requires that goods transported...Read More

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faces questioning on Capitol Hill

Senior U.S. intelligence officials faced sharp questioning on Capitol Hill during a high-stakes Senate hearing on global threats, with lawmakers zeroing in on the ongoing conflict with Iran, domestic security concerns, and the integrity of upcoming U.S....Read More

NASA, NWS confirms meteor was behind powerful ‘boom’ heard across areas of Ohio and Pennsylvania

A sudden, powerful boom that rattled parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania on Tuesday morning was most likely caused by a meteor streaking through the atmosphere, according to officials. Residents across northeastern Ohio — including areas near Cleveland...Read More