After opening their doors earlier this year, the mental health access centers in Linn and Johnson counties are working to make services more accessible and available to patients. Erin Foster, director of the Linn County Mental Health Access Center, told the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday that “a lot has happened in the last three […]
Izabela Zaluska
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Taylor Bergen named executive director of CSPS
Taylor Bergen has been named executive director of CSPS, the Cedar Rapids arts organization formerly known as Legion Arts. Bergen had been serving as the interim director since October 2019 after co-founder F. John Herbert stepped down in late September 2019 after 28 years with the organization. Co-founder Mel Andringa retired a few months later […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Linn County’s overflow shelter is closing on Monday
Linn County’s overflow shelter will close on Monday after being open for a year and a half. The overflow shelter located at the Fillmore Center, 520 11th St NW, is typically open from November to March to address winter housing needs. It’s staffed by employees from Willis Dady Homeless Services and is a no-barrier homeless […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids prepares to select citizens for its new police review board
The application deadline is quickly approaching for anyone interested in serving on the citizen review board that will oversee the Cedar Rapids Police Department. The City of Cedar Rapids began accepting applications in mid-February and will stop on Monday, May 31, Memorial Day. The online application for the board is the city’s general board and […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Urban Dreams community food pantry served more than 160 Cedar Rapids families in its first month
In its first month, a new Cedar Rapids community food pantry has served the needs of more than 160 families. The community pantry, which opened in mid-April, is a project of Urban Dreams, a Des Moines-based nonprofit. Elizabeth Buch, workforce development coordinator at Urban Dreams, said the number is great but that the food pantry […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids Public Library is rolling out a technology van to increase access to computers and other tech tools
The Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) will bring a variety of technology to neighborhood parks around the city this summer using its new mobile technology van. CRPL’s programming manager Kevin Delecki told Little Village the technology van is the backbone of a broader initiative exposing the community to different technologies that can help them in […]
Posted inCommunity/News, COVID-19
More than a year after closing their buildings to the public, Linn County and Cedar Rapids prepare to re-open doors
The City of Cedar Rapids and Linn County governments are preparing to re-open their facilities to the public after more than a year of being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Linn County Board of Supervisors voted on Wednesday to open county buildings to the public on Monday, June 7. County buildings have been […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market returning this summer with in-person season
The Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market is returning this summer for its 16th season with an in-person market featuring nearly 100 local vendors selling fresh produce, cinnamon rolls, honey, flowers and other goods. Like many in-person events last year, the downtown farmers market had to adjust its operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Mayor Brad Hart again modifies mask mandate in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart has further eased the mask mandate in Cedar Rapids to align with updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC announced on Thursday that fully vaccinated individuals can stop wearing their masks indoors. This guidance comes two weeks after the CDC issued recommendations that relaxed […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Linn County Attorney: Fatal shooting of suspect by CRPD officer was justified
The Linn County Attorney’s Office has determined that Cedar Rapids Police Officer Kyzer Moore was legally justified when he fatally shot Arnell States in February while responding to a stabbing incident. County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden said he came to that conclusion after reviewing the report prepared by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Three-year study of traffic stops by CRPD will look for disparities in enforcement
A three-year review of traffic stop data in Cedar Rapids is expected to begin in the coming months, City Manager Jeff Pomeranz told the Cedar Rapids City Council at the end of Tuesday’s meeting. An independent academic research team will review unanalyzed traffic stop data from 2021, 2022 and 2023. The analysis will look at […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids mayoral candidates face questions on systemic racism in policing and increasing equity at forum
The three candidates vying to be mayor of Cedar Rapids participated in a forum on Saturday evening that focused on improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the city. The forum, organized by the African American Professions of the Iowa Corridor, and was held at Sinclair Auditorium on the Coe College campus. Individuals were able to […]
