Good Day
Iowa City
Thursday, February 26th, 2026
Good morning, Iowa City. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 26th of February.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Johnson County invested $2M to refurbish a historic 15-unit apartment building now managed by the Iowa City Housing Authority for local veterans at 1102 Hollywood Blvd., after the city acquired the property for $1. The facility will receive minor improvements and leasing is expected to start by June. Iowa City Press-Citizen
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Union leaders are concerned that Whirlpool's planned job cuts at the Amana plant will reduce the workforce from nearly 3,300 to fewer than 1,000 on March 9. Whirlpool says the changes are needed & that affected workers will receive support during the transition. KWWL
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ House lawmakers passed a bill freezing tuition at University of Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa until July 1, 2031 and sent it to the Senate for review, as Rep. Adam Zabner from Iowa City said the measure is a first step to temper rising costs (budget discussions are expected). Iowa City Press-Citizen
- ➤ Iowa lawmakers failed to pass a bill allowing schools to use sales tax funds to pay for costly insurance needed to arm teachers — leaving districts without affordable coverage while some had already tried to equip staff but lost insurer support. Iowa City Press-Citizen
- ➤ Iowa City Community School District plans to cut $8M from its budget for fiscal year 2027 by reducing positions and services to close a $6M gap, a plan proposed on Feb. 24; the board will finalize the budget by the end of April. Iowa City Press-Citizen
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ On Feb. 15, Iowa Bird Rehabilitation rescued three bald eagles suffering from severe lead poisoning (one eagle died before transfer to a specialized care facility). Conservationists urge Iowans to opt for non-lead ammunition to help prevent future cases that threaten the birds. Iowa City Press-Citizen
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Iowa House lawmakers approved a bill yesterday that bars private colleges with DEI offices from receiving Tuition Grant funds (57-34 vote) and the measure now heads to the Senate for review. Iowa City Press-Citizen
- ➤ The Iowa DOT announced that starting Wednesday at 10 p.m., the off‐ramp from southbound I‑380 to Wright Brothers Boulevard will close overnight with reopening at 6 a.m., and drivers will be detoured via 120th Street NW to reach Eastern Iowa Airport. Iowa City Press-Citizen
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ University of Iowa pharmacy students hosted an Ask a Pharmacist booth on Wednesday at Oaknoll Retirement Residence in Iowa City to help residents understand proper medication use. The team, which previously educated college students at CVS, offered cards to track daily regimens and encouraged questions. KCRG
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Iowa City West’s girls basketball team earned a state tournament berth after beating Iowa City Liberty 61-54 in a Class 5A regional final at Iowa City West High School Tuesday night. The Trojans will play in the state quarterfinals Monday at 3:15 at Casey’s Center. The Gazette
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Ethan Bell Band Live Performance
10 PM – 1:30 AM — Elray's Live & Dive — $5 — Experience the dynamic Ethan Bell Band as they blend country, pop, and hip-hop in an unforgettable night of music.
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Big Book Sale
10 AM – 3 PM — Iowa City Public Library — Support the Library — Explore a diverse collection of used books and media for all ages.
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Primary Trust
7:30-9:30 p.m. — Riverside Theatre — $18 – $42 — Witness the heartwarming Pulitzer Prize-winning story of a man’s journey of self-discovery amid whimsical friendship.
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Tune Out Music Trivia Night
7-10 p.m. — Big Grove Brewery & Taproom — Free entry — Test your music knowledge with friends at this lively trivia night.
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UI Jazz Jam Sessions
7-10 p.m. — Sanctuary Pub — Free entry — Experience a lively community jazz jam session featuring local musicians and students.
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BINGO Night at Coach's Corner
6-8 p.m. — Coach's Corner — Win money off your tabs — Enjoy BINGO and a lively sports bar vibe with friends.
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Thursday Group Class - Cello Book 1
5:00-5:45 p.m. — Preucil School of Music — Cost not specified — Participate in a group cello class tailored for beginners.
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Book Babies Storytime
10:30-11 a.m. — Iowa City Public Library — Free entry — Fun-filled singing, reading, and rhyming session for infants aged 0-2 years and their caregivers.
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STEAM Discovery
1-3 p.m. — Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center — Free entry — Engage in hands-on activities that ignite curiosity and interest in STEAM subjects for all ages.
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Intro to Letterpress Printing Workshop
12:30-4 p.m. — Iowa City Press Co-Op — Pay-what-you-can: $25-170 — Explore the art of letterpress printing with hands-on guidance from poet and artist Mackie Garrett.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.
~ Naval Ravikant
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