Linn County residents impacted by the Aug. 10 derecho might be eligible for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, or D-SNAP. To be eligible, individuals must have been a resident of Linn County as of Aug. 10, meet the income limits and must have been “adversely affected by the derecho including destroyed/spoiled food.” Those already […]
Izabela Zaluska
Posted inCommunity/News
FEMA opens disaster recovery center in Cedar Rapids
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened a disaster recovery center in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday. Individuals impacted by the Aug. 10 derecho can submit documents for their disaster assistance application at the site. The disaster recovery center is located at the parking lot between Kernels Stadium and Kingston Stadium, 950 Rockford Rd SW. People […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Derecho recovery delays plan to establish citizens review board in Cedar Rapids
The timeline to establish an independent citizens review board in Cedar Rapids to provide public oversight of the police has been pushed back a couple of months due to the impacts of the Aug. 10 derecho. A presentation to the Cedar Rapids City Council on recommendations and results from the public input process is now […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids Community School District resuming grab-and-go meals
The Cedar Rapids Community School District is resuming its grab-and-go meal distribution on Wednesday. The program will run for about two weeks before it’s limited to students participating in virtual learning. From Sept. 2 to 18, the free meals will be available to all children 18 years old or younger from 10:30 a.m. to 1 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Derecho recovery: Red Cross shelter closing; Attorney General warns of price gouging
The American Red Cross is closing its shelter at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Saturday at 10 a.m. The temporary shelter, along with two others, were set up in response to the Aug. 10 derecho to help individuals whose housing was affected by the storm or who were experiencing power outages. There were close to […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Judge orders Linn County to void 50,000 absentee ballot request forms
A district court judge has ordered Linn County Auditor Joel Miller to nullify about 50,000 absentee ballot request forms, siding with Republican groups that alleged Miller overstepped his authority by sending out request forms with pre-filled voter information. The Trump campaign, Republican Party of Iowa and two national Republican campaign committees filed three separate lawsuits […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Local and state leaders in Iowa continue to clash over use of absentee ballot drop boxes, ballot request forms
The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office is saying Iowa law does not allow county auditors to use drop boxes for absentee ballots, but Linn County is pushing back. Kevin Hall, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Paul Pate, told the Des Moines Register that “auditors do not have authority to establish a ballot drop box […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids schools to start on Sept. 21, with majority of middle and high school students online
Cedar Rapids students will start the school year nearly a month later than what was originally anticipated. Late Wednesday night, the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) announced Sept. 21 as the new first day of school. Elementary school students will have either in-person or online learning, based on what families chose earlier this month […]
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Disaster Unemployment Assistance now available for Linn County workers
Individuals who are unable to work or were temporarily laid off in Linn County due to the Aug. 10 derecho may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is part of the major disaster declaration President Donald Trump approved on Aug. 17. Trump OKed federal assistance for Linn County on Aug. 20 but aid […]
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Linn County EBT recipients able to use waivers on hot foods
Individuals in Linn County who receive food assistance can use the waivers to purchase hot foods through Sept. 21. The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) announced the temporary rule change on Monday. The presidential disaster proclamation issued after the Aug. 10 derecho allows federal programs to “alter or change their rules as communities recover […]
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Derecho recovery: Curfew lifted in Cedar Rapids, cooling centers and splash pads open as temperatures climb
The overnight curfew in Cedar Rapids has been lifted, Fire Chief Greg Smith announced during the city’s Monday press conference. The city had imposed a curfew immediately after the Aug. 10 derecho due to widespread power outages caused by the storm. Smith said the curfew is no longer needed because power has been restored to […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Matthew 25 offering free repairs for eligible homes damaged by derecho
Matthew 25 is offering to perform free repairs on homes damaged by the Aug. 10 derecho. The Cedar Rapids nonprofit began accepting applications for the program on Sunday. Initial projects will be selected by Friday, Aug. 28. The application can be found online. To be eligible, applicants must: • Own their home • Have damage […]
