Graphic promoting the 37th Annual Human Rights Awards.

Soaring Beyond: Nominations sought for 37th Annual Human Rights Awards

Monday, September 28, 2020 - 12:00pm
Contact: 
Stefanie Bowers
Equity and Human Rights

The Iowa City Human Rights Commission is seeking nominations for its 37th Annual Human Rights Awards. Due to COVID-19, an in-person event will not be held. Instead, honorees will be announced by news release and via City social media platforms.

Individuals, businesses, or organizations whose ongoing work, service, or contributions have positively impacted Human Rights either locally or abroad may be nominated in the following categories:

The Isabel Turner Award : For working for the rights of individuals to get fair and ethical treatment and/or volunteering...
Graphic for City Council Listening Post on Monday, Oct. 5, 2020.

Fifth City Council Listening Post on improving community policing focuses on people experiencing homelessness

Monday, September 28, 2020 - 11:00am
Contact: 
Kellie Fruehling
City Clerk

Members of the Iowa City City Council will hold a Listening Post on community policing at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, at Chauncey Swan Park, 405 E. Washington St.

City Council members Susan Mims, Pauline Taylor, and John Thomas will be in attendance.

The listening post will focus on community policing and how police interact with people experiencing homelessness. Service providers from Shelter House and Guidelink will be in attendance.

What is community policing and how can I provide input?

Community Policing is a philosophy that seeks to address the root causes...

Video Update: Fire Pit Regulations, ADA Celebration, and more

Sunday, September 27, 2020 - 7:00pm
Contact: 
Jack Brooks
Communications

Iowa City Update is a weekly video featuring City of Iowa City projects, programs and events. Topics this week include regulations for outdoor fire pits, a celebration for the 30th anniversary of the ADA, and more. Click the image below to watch Iowa City Update .

Iowa City Update: Fire Pit Regulations Fire Pit Regulations

Who doesn’t enjoy a good backyard fire pit on a...

Graphic for a presentation on Iowa's African American history.

Endless Possibilities: African American Museum of Iowa to give presentation on Black history in Iowa

Friday, September 25, 2020 - 2:30pm
Contact: 
Stefanie Bowers

The African American Museum of Iowa will give a presentation on Black history in Iowa at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 via Zoom.

The presentation will explore how Black history has helped shape Iowa's history. Entitled "Endless Possibilities: Iowa's African American History," those who take part will learn about Iowa being the first state in the U.S. to officially integrate its public schools in 1868, just three years after the Civil War ended. Surprised? This and so much more is part of Iowa’s wealth of African American history. From York, the first African American in Iowa and...

Office of Equity & Human Rights issues memo on CDC's order to enact eviction moratorium through December 31, 2020

Friday, September 25, 2020 - 11:15am
Contact: 
Stefanie Bowers
Equity and Human Rights

The City's Office of Equity and Human Rights has written a memo to provide awareness and guidance to tenants and landlords regarding the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) agency order enacting an eviction moratorium through December 31, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

If you have questions regarding topics addressed in this memorandum or your rights and responsibilities in general, please call the office at 319-356-5015 or 319-356-5022.

Learn more about this order by...

A police badge

Update: Details released in Iowa City Police investigation of female suffering from gunshot wound

Friday, September 25, 2020 - 10:00am
Police

A 17-year-old male has been referred to the Johnson County Juvenile Court on the following charges related to this incident:

3rd Degree Burglary 3rd Degree Theft Trafficking in Stolen Weapons Carrying Weapons

The investigation of the incident has determined that the adult female victim was accidentally shot with a handgun that was in the possession of the juvenile male charged with the above offenses. The victim of the shooting suffered non-life-threatening injuries from the single gunshot. The investigation into this incident has been concluded.

Issued: 09/20/2020...

An image of a woman business owner is shown.

New financial assistance program for small businesses available

Friday, September 25, 2020 - 9:00am
Contact: 
Tracy Hightshoe
Neighborhood and Development Services

The City of Iowa City recently made changes to its Economic Development CDBG programs in order to focus on small businesses – businesses with fewer than four employees. The City can provide those eligible up to $15,000 in assistance, consisting of a matching loan up to $10,000 with 0% interest, and a grant up to $5,000 for technical assistance for items such as website development, payroll services and/or accounting and tax services.

The loan amount can be matched by a line of credit, commercial loan, your own funds, or matching funds from another grant or loan source.

Who is...

Community Connection: Human Rights Commission works to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, and protect human rights

Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 7:30pm
Contact: 
Bruce Teague
Communications
Community Connection: Human Rights Commission

Community Connection is a video series that highlights the different people and organizations in our community to discuss the issues that are important to our residents. In this episode, Mayor Bruce Teague sits down with Stefanie Bowers, Equity Director for the City, and Jessica Andino, Vice Chair of the Human Rights Commission. Hear about the mission of the Human Rights Commission, upcoming events and grant opportunities, and how you can apply to be a member of the...

Test of Johnson County Emergency Notification System to take place Friday, Sept. 25

Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 4:30pm
Communications

The Johnson County Joint Emergency Communications Center (JECC) and the Johnson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) will conduct a test of the Johnson County Emergency Notification System (JCENS) on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020.

Johnson County uses the JCENS high-speed telephone emergency notification services for mass public safety notices such as lost persons, amber alerts or emergency evacuations or other priority messages during times of crisis. The JCENS system gives officials the ability to deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification and information messages to...

A new City of Iowa City bus is shown.

AM & PM Eastside Loop routes to resume service effective Monday, Sept. 28, 2020

Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 4:00pm
Contact: 
Curtis Brenton
Transit

Effective on Monday, September 28, 2020, Iowa City Transit will resume operating the AM and PM Eastside Loop routes for the 2020-2021 academic year. As a reminder, a face covering that covers the nose and mouth must be worn in order to ride Iowa City Transit buses.

The AM Eastside Loop route will begin service at 7:35 a.m. at the Sycamore Mall (stop 7135) each morning when school is in session. The AM Eastside Loop will arrive at Southeast Junior High School at approximately 7:38 a.m., Iowa City High School at approximately 7:44 a.m., Regina Education Center at approximately 7:47 a...

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