Nearly a year ago, the word “derecho” became a regular part of the vocabulary of Linn County residents. The powerful wind storm wrecked havoc through Iowa on Aug. 10, 2020, severely damaging Cedar Rapids and other parts of Linn County. Three days after the storm, Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz expressed how “every area […]
Izabela Zaluska
Posted inCommunity/News
Linn County publishes first greenhouse gas emissions inventory
Linn County released its first greenhouse gas emissions inventory on Tuesday. The report was prepared by the Linn County Office of Sustainability and is the “first step” in documenting emission levels and sources of emissions, the county said in a news release. The inventory compiled data from the year 2010, and includes estimates of greenhouse […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Cedar Rapids requires mask wearing in city-owned buildings
The City of Cedar Rapids is requiring all visitors to city-owned buildings to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. The change is in line with the most recent guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week, the city said in a news release. The CDC’s pivot about fully vaccinated individuals […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘If we’re not educated, how can we fight?’: Rally in Greene Square Park addresses human trafficking in Iowa
Driving through Cedar Rapids gave Heather Brown goosebumps. To the dozens of people gathered at Greene Square Park on Friday, Brown shared the story of the first time she was trafficked in the area during a football game at the University of Iowa in 2010. “We stopped at a Hy-Vee and were loaded on a […]
Posted inCommunity/News
The final four design options for the new Cedar Rapids flag revealed
Cedar Rapids is one step closer to having a new city flag, and now residents are being asked to help make the final selection. Anyone interested can read the meaning behind each design and then rank their choices from most favorite to least in an online survey. The deadline to submit the rankings is Tuesday, […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Community/News
Cedar Rapids seeking artists for social and racial justice mural
The City of Cedar Rapids and Advocates for Social Justice (ASJ) are seeking a local artist to paint a mural highlighting themes of social and racial justice, and celebrating the city’s diverse community. The mural will be painted on the Five Seasons Parking Ramp at 400 1st Ave NE. Artists interested in applying are asked […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Improv, politics and nonprofit law collided to create a small scandal in Cedar Rapids
Anthony Jensen didn’t know who Amara Andrews was when her name first came up during an Improv Incubator brainstorming session, as the group was trying to figure out potential guest performers for an upcoming show at CSPS in Cedar Rapids. Jensen, who co-founded the improv group in 2018, told Little Village he googled her name […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gambling will be back on the ballot in Linn County this year
The fate of gambling in Linn County, including the possibility of a Cedar Rapids casino, will be decided by voters this year. The Linn County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution last week that will place the gambling referendum on the November ballot. County officials were discussing the measure and the best time for a […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids’ Bever Woods neighborhood proposed for National Register of Historic Places designation
The City of Cedar Rapids has decided to nominate the Bever Woods neighborhood to the National Register of Historic Places. Individuals residing in this southeast neighborhood are invited to an hour-long meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the Bever Park pavilion to learn more about the process. An email and letter were sent […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘No major changes’ needed to SROs, CRPD says, despite data showing racial disparities in student arrests
Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman told school board members on Monday the department realizes its officers in Cedar Rapids schools have been arresting Black students at a disproportionately high rate, but said he still supports the school resource officer program “100 percent.” The Cedar Rapids Community School District has been re-examining its use of […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Cedar Rapids looks to boost arts and entertainment industry this summer
A new initiative from the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance aims to rally support for arts, culture and entertainment venues in the city this summer. The CR Summer Rally program is the latest phase of the Economic Alliance’s Buy Local program, communications manager Jule Day told Little Village. The Economic Alliance announced the Rally C.A.P. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Amid a flourishing Iowa skate culture, locals look to improve the Iowa City skatepark
Jeff Keyser fondly remembers he and his friends riding their skateboards past the Iowa City skatepark as it was being built back in 2002. Keyser was in middle school at the time and had already been skateboarding for a few years. He got into skating in the late ’90s after he and his brother got […]
