Eastern Iowa

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.

The city of Coralville has terminated its contract with Flock Safety, a nationwide vendor of Automated License Plate Readers. Many Coralville residents are opposed to the technology and say they are relieved by the council’s recent actions but troubled by a lack of clarity on when the city’s two readers will be taken down.

The City of Coralville is considering revisiting its contract with Flock Safety, a company that operates controversial Automated License Plate Readers in the area. It comes after the city received a letter from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office that states part of its policy prohibiting the cameras from being used for immigration enforcement does not comply with state law.

Hundreds gathered in downtown Iowa City over the weekend to mourn the death of Alex Pretti, the second Minnesota resident shot and killed by federal immigration enforcement officials this year. Many said they were horrified, disgusted and angered by what they saw in videos of the shooting.

The Cedar Rapids school board is working toward reducing next year’s budget by nearly $13 million through salary and spending freezes, staffing reductions, and some school consolidations. Leaders are trying to right-size the district as it faces declining enrollment.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors has approved rezoning that supports NextEra Energy's effort to recommission the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Palo. The project still needs approval from multiple state and federal authorities, but county supervisors say the rezoning gives Linn County residents a seat at the table.

A 27-year-old from Amana jumped into the 1st Congressional District race as a Republican. Tyler Hegewald said he wants to address the housing crisis, increase abortion access and reduce college tuition.

KFMW Rock 108 has been transparent from the start about their use of an AI DJ to introduce eastern Iowa to new rock 'n' roll music.

The brand-new, two-day music festival will bring artists like Pieta Brown and Frankie and the Witch Fingers to Iowa City in April 2026.

A 24-year-old man who grew up in Mount Pleasant was deported to Mexico. After he was charged with marijuana possession in June, Noel Lopez De La Cruz was handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. People close to him said the system failed him.