(NOTE: Story/photos will be updated as electricity/Internet become available) UPDATED: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14, with more photos; comments from Stacey Walker Dutch elm disease and invasive pests such as emerald ash borer change landscapes over time, but the Aug. 10, 2020, derecho windstorm that swept through Iowa with hurricane-force winds dramatically altered many parts of […]
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Tag: Iowa
Mistaken identity in Iowa: Cicada killer...
Donald Lewis, entomology professor at Iowa State University, reported this week that the department has been busy responding to reports of large wasps in Iowa, after extensive publicity about Asian giant hornets, also known as “murder hornets,” in Washington state. “As expected, and after abundant publicity about Asian giant hornets in the Pacific Northwest earlier […]
Naked Ladies: a flower out of sync?
Among the most reliable perennials in the Midwest are surprise lilies, also known as Naked Ladies and a host of other names. But, 2020 — a year full of unwelcome surprises — seems to have spawned another twist. Typically, the flowers are like clockwork. See them in one yard across town and you can be […]
“This is not the end” neighbors vow afte
CEDAR RAPIDS — Homeowners near a prairie where Cargill wants to build an industrial railyard are considering their options after a judge ruled against them. “We are extremely disappointed with Cargill’s plans to ruin this prairie to the public’s detriment and the property damage that it will inflict on surrounding neighborhoods,” Jeremiah Kenny, president of […]
“Special place for veterans” to open in
UPDATE Nov. 11, 2020: The Foxhole “Charlie” Bar & Grill is expected to open later in November after the roof was damaged during the Aug. 10 derecho windstorm. None of the artifacts in the exhibition hall sustained damage. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The legacy of a Vietnam War veteran who was an avid collector of […]
Controlling Japanese beetles during annu...
Like clockwork, the bane of many gardeners has made its annual comeback. Japanese beetles are known to devour hundreds of varieties of plants, turning leaves into skeletal “lace,” and raspberries, which are just about to ripen in Eastern Iowa, are among their favorites. Rather than use synthetic chemicals to control the ravenous beetles, alternatives include […]
Water safety urged in wake of drownings ...
With three drownings in two days in Eastern Iowa alone, officials are advising Iowans to follow water safety guidelines. Recent heavy rains can make rivers and other waterways particularly turbulent, and dangerous for paddlers and tubers, and with some cities closing municipal pools this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, more Iowans may be cooling […]
Iowa adds COVID-19 preexisting condition...
Even as Iowa adds more information to its coronavirus “dashboard,” an anomaly continues with reporting the state’s deaths at long-term care facilities. At her final televised coronavirus press conference June 18, 2020, Governor Kim Reynolds announced further plans to help Iowa’s economy recover from the pandemic, while being quick to point out that most Iowans […]
Iowa reports first West Nile virus case ...
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported two firsts on Wednesday, June 17, 2020: the first West Nile virus case of the season and the first-ever Heartland virus reported in Iowa. West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that has been present in Iowa for more than a decade, while the Heartland virus is carried […]
Business restrictions further relaxed in...
Citing heightened testing capacity and moderation of COVID-19 cases in Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds is lifting the 50 percent capacity restriction for businesses, effective 8 a.m. Friday, June 12, 2020. More: Some Test Iowa results “not received at all” The 6-foot social distancing requirement will remain in place for certain establishments, such as bars, restaurants […]