Zack KucharskiZack Kucharski is the senior manager of newsroom operations and oversees a variety of reporting teams. Kucharski has worked as a database editor and spent several years covering the education, public safety and city government beats in Johnson County since joining The Gazette in 2000. Kucharski is a graduate from The University of Iowa and grew up in Chicago. |
|
Email the author
Production error impacts Feb. 23 obituaries
A production error caused obituaries appearing in the Feb. 23 paper to appear cut off in the print edition. The obits will be rerun in the Sunday Feb. 24 edition free of charge. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Sumner, Fredericksburg approve school district merger
Voters overwhelmingly approved a merger between the Sumner and Fredericksburg School Districts, clearing the way for them to become a single district in July 2014. More than 96 percent of voters approved the merger. It required a simple majority in both of the districts. The districts have already been sharing academic programs, administrative staff, teachers [...]
Bond vote for new Williamsburg gym fails
Voters in the Williamsburg school district turned down a $7.9 million bond referendum to build a new gym at the junior-senior high school. The measure had 772 votes - or 45 percent – in favor and 950 votes – or 55 percent - against. It needed 60 percent approval to pass. A group of boosters [...]
Contract worker killed in General Mills accident
CEDAR RAPIDS — An accident Wednesday at the General Mills plant in Cedar Rapids resulted in the death of an employee from a contract firm. Emergency responders were dispatched around 3:15 p.m. to the plant at 4800 Edgewood Rd. SW for a report of a traumatic injury. A caller indicated a man was trapped between [...]
Man accused of trespass after suspicious school visits
A Cedar Rapids man faces a criminal trespass charge after allegedly violating a warning to stay away from Cedar Rapids schools. Chad Chumley, 29, of 1500 Oakland Rd., Apt. 511, was arrested on the misdemeanor charge just after 8 a.m. Monday after he allegedly visited Garfield Elementary School, 1201 Maplewood Dr. NE. Chumley was found [...]
Occupy C.R. lawsuit heading to federal court
UPDATE: A lawsuit filed by the Occupy Cedar Rapids protester group is headed to federal court. Occupy Cedar Rapids filed a lawsuit last week, asking a judge to issue an injunction to prevent the city from removing tents and other property from a city-owned lot they have been occupying. The city filed paperwork in U.S. [...]
First Street Parkade helix coming down
Demolition crews have begun the removal of the helix portion of the former First Street Parkade. The helix, which extends about 10 feet over a floodwall into the Cedar River, has required some creativity in order to prevent the pieces from falling into the river. Demolition of the ramp began July 5 and is expected [...]
Coralville lands brewery in Iowa River Landing District
Updated by Jim Malewitz 9:01 p.m. A McGregor brewery has announced plans to expand a 25,000-barrel-per-year operation in Coralville’s Iowa River Landing district, which would make it, by far, Iowa’s largest brewery. Backpocket Brewing will open the 15,000-square-foot facility featuring a large tap room and beer garden for the public in Coralville. Backpocket currently has [...]
Husband faces murder charge in wife’s death
The man suspected of killing his wife and fleeing to South Dakota earlier this month told investigators he “lost it and blacked out” during an argument in their Greene home. Thomas J. Petersen, 39, of Greene, now faces a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the June 4 stabbing death of his wife, Judy [...]
Changes in store for Gazette, Gazette.com
CEDAR RAPIDS — Next week, we’re rolling out some significant changes to The Gazette and TheGazette.com. Come Tuesday 9/4, the Community section returns, with local news and features organized by geographical region. This is where you’ll find Dave Rasdal’s Ramblin’ column on Mondays and Wednesdays, a new daily feature highlighting things to do, as well [...]