Nine residents of Cedar Rapids have been selected to serve on the independent citizen review board overseeing the city’s police department. Program Manager April Wing told the Cedar Rapids City Council on Tuesday the city received 71 applications from residents who wanted to serve on the board. The city accepted applications from residents from mid-February […]
Cedar Rapids News
Posted inCommunity/News, Election Coverage, Top Story
Breanna Oxley and Sami Scheetz announce bids for Iowa Senate seat held by Rob Hogg, who will not seek reelection
State Sen. Rob Hogg announced on Monday he will not seek reelection in 2022. Following Hogg’s announcement, two Cedar Rapids residents — teacher Breanna Oxley and community organizer/activist Sami Scheetz — declared their candidacies for Hogg’s seat in Senate District 33. Hogg, who was born in Iowa City and lives in Cedar Rapids, has served […]
Posted inCommunity/News
CRCSD to ‘act with urgency’ on racial disparities in how students are treated by school police officers
The Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) is reexamining its use of school resource officers after recent data showed Black students are six times more likely than white students to have a complaint filed against them. The data, which spans five school years from 2015 to 2020, is from the state’s Department of Human Rights […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids is restarting its search for a diversity, equity and inclusion manager
After nine months without success, the city of Cedar Rapids is restarting its search for a diversity, equity and inclusion manager. The Cedar Rapids City Council passed a resolution last August to add a diversity, equity and inclusion manager and began the search process a month later. The city hired GovHR USA in Northbrook, Illinois, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Hundreds of volunteers will spend a week repairing low-income Cedar Rapids housing this month
Cedar Rapids nonprofit Matthew 25 is looking for volunteers of all skill levels to help with home repair and maintenance projects as part of their sixth annual Transform Week. This year’s Transform Week will take place from Monday, June 21, through Friday, June 25. Volunteers will help homeowners in the Taylor and Time Check neighborhoods […]
Posted inCommunity/News
New mini-golf course opening in Cedar Rapids on Friday
Whether you call it mini-golf, putt-putt or something entirely different, there’s good news — a new 18-hole course is opening up to Cedar Rapids just in time for another sunny weekend. The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a grand opening celebration on Friday, June 11, for the Mini Pines miniature golf course. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids City Council approves $8 million settlement in CRPD shooting of Jerime Mitchell
The Cedar Rapids City Council voted on Tuesday to approve the $8 million settlement agreement in the civil lawsuit filed by Jerime Mitchell and his wife Bracken. The Mitchells filed their lawsuit against the City of Cedar Rapids and former police officer Lucas Jones, who shot and paralyzed Mitchell in 2016. The resolution to move […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Rollin’ Recmobile returns to Cedar Rapids parks
The Rollin’ Recmobile is returning to Cedar Rapids parks starting on Monday. The van will visit two to three parks six days a week over the summer with recreation equipment, games and activities led by city staff. The Recmobile will stop at 13 parks around the city: Bever, Cedar Valley, Cleveland, Daniels, Delaney, Hayes, Hidder, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Linn County Mental Health Access Center working toward 24/7 services as need continues to increase
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 […]
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
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 […]
