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ConnectCR raises more than $7 million to revitalize Cedar Lake and build the Smokestack Bridge across the Cedar River

ConnectCR, the community group working to bring new recreational opportunities to Cedar Rapids by revitalizing Cedar Lake and constructing a pedestrian bridge across the Cedar River, announced on Thursday it had surpassed it fundraising goal of $7 million. “I have been a big supporter of this project, and it’s just really exciting to see how […]

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Big Grove Brewery, ice skating rink and movie theater are part of a new planned development in downtown Cedar Rapids

A public ice skating rink, family fun center, third Big Grove Brewery location and outdoor gathering area — those are just some of the attractions that could be coming to First and First West in downtown Cedar Rapids. During a virtual Cedar Rapids City Council meeting on Tuesday, councilmembers approved a resolution that authorizes City […]

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Two more long-term care facilities in Linn County with COVID-19 outbreaks are now considered recovered

Two more long-term care facilities in Linn County have recovered from outbreaks of COVID-19, Linn County Public Health announced on Friday. Living Center West and ManorCare Health Services, both in Cedar Rapids, have had no new cases for two consecutive incubation periods, or 28 days. Living Center West had 81 residents and staff test positive […]

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Protest march in Cedar Rapids turns into a celebration after the city council unanimously backs demands for reform

“Happy Juneteenth,” the crowd of about 150 people chanted on Friday as they marched from Cedar Rapids City Hall to the African American Museum of Iowa in light rain. June 19 — Juneteenth — is the anniversary of the day in 1865 when the news that slavery had been abolished reached formerly enslaved people in […]

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Cedar Rapids Police Department fires Lucas Jones, an officer involved in two shootings

Lucas Jones, a sergeant in the patrol division of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, has been fired for violating departmental rules and policies, CRPD announced on Thursday. “Fire Lucas Jones” has been a frequent chant at recent protests calling for police reform in Cedar Rapids, but the official statement regarding Jones’ firing doesn’t mention the […]

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Cedar Rapids City Council will hold special meeting on Friday to discuss Black Lives Matter priorities

The Cedar Rapids City Council is holding a special meeting Friday afternoon for a “discussion and resolution of support for a statement supporting Black Lives Matter priorities.” The meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be held via Zoom due to COVID-19. The public will be able to watch on the city’s Facebook page. […]

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‘It’s time for action’: Hundreds march in Cedar Rapids to push for police reform and other changes

About 15 minutes into Saturday’s march in Cedar Rapids, protesters stopped at the intersection of 19th Street and Bever Avenue. They used chalk to draw and write various messages in the outline of #BLM, an emblem for Black Lives Matter. Twenty minutes later, the protesters stopped again. This time it was at the intersection of […]

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