Gavin McGough
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Iowa Public Radio
The City of Cedar Falls is moving forward with plans to build a new gas power plant. Cedar Falls Utilities, which is behind the project, says the plant will support the city's energy independence as the region's electrical grid is increasingly strained.
Isabella Luu
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Iowa Public Radio
Madeleine King
/
Iowa Public Radio
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The Cedar Rapids school board voted to close six schools in an effort to right-size the district’s finances. District officials said they see it as an opportunity to give students the best chance at a high-quality public education as the district faces pressure from state-funded education savings accounts and new charter schools opening nearby. -
All over the country, tech giants are rushing to build massive data centers to support AI-driven demand, and it’s forcing local governments to reckon with how such resource-intensive projects could bring billions in regional investment. One proposed data center in eastern Iowa has become the subject of a standoff between two local jurisdictions. -
Police are investigating a shooting that happened early Sunday morning at the downtown Ped Mall near the University of Iowa campus. Five people were taken to area hospitals. No arrests have been made.
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Independent candidate Michael Bridgford has launched a campaign in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. He plans to harness the support of a growing number of "no party" voters to send a message about the two-party system. -
The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary by expanding to eight days, firmly securing its spot as Iowa’s largest — and longest — film festival. This year features over 200 films, including a documentary about the opera singer Simon Estes. -
Cedar Falls city officials are considering adding zoning laws to potentially accommodate a proposed cryptocurrency mine. Nearby residents say they are worried about noise and potential adverse impacts on the environment and property values.
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All eyes are on the small city of Palo after Google shifted its plans to build a data center there. Some residents are worried about water use and question the tech giant's motivations. The mayor says he sees an upside to the new development but plans to put protections in place for the community. -
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law barring local governments from having broader civil rights protections than what is already written in state code. Some local leaders in places with existing protections against gender identity-based discrimination are deciding what to do next. -
Linn County officials say Google is now pursuing a data center through annexation with the city of Palo rather than building it in an unincorporated part of the county. The plans would allow the tech giant to bypass protections against excessive water use and noise pollution that county supervisors passed last month.
