Cedar Rapids News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

Tensions boil at the University of Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom as the Board of Regents pushes for a new director and fresh leadership, clashing with interim director Luciano de Castro’s controlling tendencies and chair Richard Lowery’s resistance. Regent President Robert Cramer demands cooperation—or step aside—from Lowery, who’s backed de Castro’s power grab and even accepted his travel funding before being officially on the advisory council. De Castro, now a finalist, resists the board’s plan to narrow the candidate pool, while Cramer insists the hiring process must proceed, even copying in a key state legislator to underscore the stakes. The center’s future hangs in the balance as internal strife threatens to derail its integration into the university.

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://www.thegazette.com/news/regent-to-center-for-intellectual-freedom-committee-chair-get-on-board-or-resign/article_82bf49f2-4f3c-4acb-aefe-2a09f27cfdcc.html

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An 85-year-old man died in a head-on crash near Cedar Rapids’ C Avenue and Teakwood Lane, while three others were hospitalized. Police are investigating how the vehicles collided—one traveling north, the other south—and are urging witnesses to come forward as charges may follow.

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://www.kwwl.com/news/cedar-rapids-police-identify-man-killed-in-wednesday-collision/article_cfc167a8-55cb-4fbf-9ab5-d1a0a5e60b61.html

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Measles is surging in Iowa, with 23 new cases in just one month—mostly in kids under ten—highlighting the urgent need for vaccines. Public health officials blame low vaccination rates and are racing to contain the outbreak, emphasizing that getting vaccinated protects not just you, but the most vulnerable. With measles’s high contagiousness, quick action and community-wide immunity are key to stopping this preventable disease from spreading further.

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://www.thegazette.com/news/healthcare/38-iowa-measles-cases-reported-in-2026/article_f602d20b-ec3d-4d80-b94e-a9a638cb5c09.html

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Since 2024, Iowa City’s crisis co-responder team has answered over 2,600 calls, pairing police officers with mental health liaisons to help people in crisis avoid arrest. Their mission? Connect individuals with food, shelter, and long-term support—without handcuffs. Officers like Kristie Davis soften their approach, prioritizing trust and safety, while the team has grown from one officer and liaison to include evening coverage. With calls rising and repeat clients showing progress, they’re proving that listening, not arresting, can save lives—and build community.

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Sources:
https://www.thegazette.com/news/crime-and-courts/iowa-city-team-keeping-people-in-crisis-out-of-jail/article_d2c1738f-2ebc-45a2-8167-2ccd61bc52f2.html

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A power struggle is unfolding at the University of Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom, as regents push to fast-track a new director search while the faculty-led executive committee resists, claiming the regents are bypassing bylaws. Regent Hensley sets a rushed timeline, but committee chair Richard Lowery vows to defy it, accusing the regents of undermining the center’s independence. Tensions escalate as interim director Luciano de Castro, also a candidate, criticizes new regent-imposed rules as overly rigid and unfairly targeted. With regents holding final veto power over appointments and budget control, the clash underscores deeper questions about governance: how much authority should the regents wield over this newly autonomous center?

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://www.thegazette.com/news/center-for-intellectual-freedom-committee-chair-regents-clash/article_3bdc4f27-d10b-4cd0-b508-fa63eef11c9d.html

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Iowa’s child care funding is heating up as lawmakers push a major overhaul that could reshape how taxpayer dollars flow to early education programs—sparking fierce debate among parents, educators, and advocates over whether it’ll boost access or disrupt vital support systems, with votes looming and the future of thousands of kids’ development hanging in the balance.

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://www.thegazette.com/news/elections/republicans-push-iowa-constitutional-amendment/article_34776b00-e330-4db2-b42f-5db00978fa8e.html

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Iowa Republicans are splitting on Iran policy as two GOP reps defy Trump, while VP Vance rallies the base in Western Iowa. Locally, water quality is being rebranded as a “pro-life” issue, and Salix’s mayor may have known about a data center deal sooner than admitted. With a key House debate looming, voters in Iowa’s battleground district will get their first real look at Miller-Meeks vs. Bohannan.

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://www.thegazette.com/multimedia/podcasts/on-iowa-politics/on-iowa-politics-podcast-miller-meeks-nunn-break-with-president-trump/article_f51a34a7-a7f7-4d2f-8012-065c10b03b09.html

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E15 gasoline, blending 15% ethanol, is poised to go year-round nationwide as the EPA moves to make it permanent — a major win for corn farmers and rural economies, but sparking debate over engine compatibility and fuel costs. Tied to the Farm Bill, this push promises environmental benefits and energy independence, yet faces resistance from skeptics worried about real-world impacts. The decision could reshape fuel markets, farm practices, and your gas station bill — all while balancing agriculture, economics, and ecology.

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://www.thegazette.com/news/agriculture/u-s-senate-committee-advances-farm-bill/article_880916c1-5983-4d0b-82b9-8551500ec721.html

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A 17-year-old driver faces attempted murder charges after a brutal hit-and-run in Solon that left someone seriously injured — a case that’s sending shockwaves through the community and raising urgent questions about what led to such a violent escalation. Authorities are treating it with extreme seriousness as the Linn County District Court steps in, and while details remain unfolding, the investigation is already focused on reconstructing the night’s events. This isn’t just another car accident — it’s a chilling reminder of how quickly lives can spiral out of control behind the wheel.

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://www.thegazette.com/news/crime-and-courts/cedar-rapids-woman-now-charged-with-trying-to-kill-boyfriend-last-year/article_0f35f3df-e36e-42e1-9bd6-ad9490f74aa9.html

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A teen driver faces charges after fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run in Solon, sparking an ongoing police investigation and raising urgent questions about accountability behind the wheel.

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://www.thegazette.com/news/state/iowa-auditor-sand-governor-s-office-salaries-have-increased-while-other-agencies-decreased/article_6bb6c5f3-02be-489f-ae17-f4ccf3279179.html

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