After the August 2020 derecho, Nabintu Baguma was most concerned about her four kids. Baguma, who is originally from Congo, has lived in Cedar Rapids for eight years and used to reside at the Cedar Terrace Apartments. The buildings in that apartment complex suffered some of the worst damage in the derecho, making the units […]
Izabela Zaluska
Posted inArts & Entertainment
New murals in Cedar Rapids celebrate community and highlight history
A new mural inside the lobby of the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris building highlights the couple’s lasting legacy in Cedar Rapids. The Linn County Public Art Commission began its search for artists in early 2020. Commission chair Sean Ulmer told Little Village then that the artwork could have references to the Harris family or […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Linn County doctors warn of upcoming COVID surge as hospitalizations rise
Linn County health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated and to practice mitigation measures to ease the burden on the local healthcare system, which has been seeing an increase in hospitalizations, as the Delta variant fuels an increase in COVID-19 cases. “COVID cases have increased in the preceding two weeks at a pace that […]
Posted inCommunity/News
CRCSD recommends removing school resource officers from middle schools
The Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) presented its recommended changes to the school resource officer program during Monday’s Board of Education meeting. A total of 14 recommendations were shared by district staff during the three-hour-long meeting, including removing the two school resource officers at McKinley and Roosevelt middle schools. Other recommendations included having the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Insomnia Cookies in Iowa City is now open
Warm cookies, cookie sandwiches and cookie cakes await anyone with a late-night or early-morning craving. It’s never too early or too late for cookies, right? Insomnia Cookies in Iowa City had its grand opening this past weekend. The late-night bakery is located at 125 E Washington St, which used to be Mama’s Deli & Catering. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Youth at Linn County’s juvenile detention center offer ‘authentic reads on young adult books’ through the Read Woke program
On a recent visit to Linn County’s Juvenile Detention Center, Cedar Rapids librarian Meredith Crawford said she asked one of the kids what kinds of books they liked to read when they were younger. Crawford was surprised when they said they hadn’t read at all before coming to the detention center. “This kid reads voraciously […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Tee’s Liberian Dish brings West African cuisine to Cedar Rapids
Teepeu Pewu had been thinking about opening a restaurant for a few years — and made that dream a reality earlier this summer. Pewu is the owner of Tee’s Liberian Dish at 1271 1st Ave SE, the space that used to house Brewed Awakenings coffee shop. It is the only Liberian restaurant in the area, […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Linn County launches financial assistance program to help residents facing eviction or utility shutoffs
Linn County residents facing eviction or falling behind on rent can apply for financial assistance through the county’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The county announced on Monday it is working with Waypoint and HACAP to administer rent and utility payments to those who are eligible for up to 18 months. Individuals must be able […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Masks and vaccines ‘strongly recommended’ for Cedar Rapids students and teachers
The Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) is “strongly recommending” students wear masks when returning to school this fall and is requiring masks on district buses. School districts in Iowa can no longer require mask-wearing in their schools, due to a law Gov. Kim Reynolds signed in May. Students and staff who test positive for […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids commemorates the devastating August 2020 derecho and a year of recovery
“When the storm passed through Cedar Rapids and we could venture back outside, we all saw our beloved trees laying across lawns, streets, on homes. So many homes were devastated. Neighborhoods were unrecognizable,” Mayor Brad Hart told the crowd at Bever Park on Tuesday morning to commemorate the August 2020 derecho. “In the midst of […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘It all feels like a dream’: Cookies & Dreams opens location in Coralville
Stephanie Sellers didn’t sugarcoat the reality of starting a business in 2020. “It was definitely terrifying,” she said. But the pandemic also inspired people to try and brighten their loved ones’ days — and cookies were a sweet way to do that. “[People] would drop cookies off on their friend’s doorstep if they were having […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Masks will be required in Linn County buildings starting Monday
Linn County employees and visitors will be required to wear face masks at county-owned facilities starting Monday, regardless of their vaccination status. A divided Board of Supervisors passed the mask mandate during a meeting on Friday morning. The ideological division between supervisors on masks was visible even before the resolution was introduced. Supervisor Stacey Walker […]
