From volunteering opportunities to a movie screening to educational lectures throughout the day, this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Monday, Jan. 20 — will feature a number of events in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Coralville.
Cedar Rapids
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Cedar Rapids Ice Arena gets a new name, partnership with Chicago Blackhawks
The city-owned Cedar Rapids Ice Arena is now officially ImOn Ice. The Cedar Rapids City Council approved a naming rights agreement at its Jan. 14 meeting under which the city will receive $500,000 from ImOn Communications over the next five years. Under the agreement, which was made public Jan. 13, the local telecommunications provider has the
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Forum at Linn-Mar High School will ask legislators and candidates about issues most important to youth
Editor’s note: Alex Drahos, one of the forum organizers, posted on Facebook Friday afternoon that the event has been canceled due to the weather. The last decade was filled with young activists in Iowa and across the country demanding their voices be heard on the issues important to them. And it doesn’t look like this will stop in 2020. Four Linn County high school students
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Dreeam Sports is launching a mentorship program for at-risk kids in Cedar Rapids
Dreeam Sports is starting its second year of working with young people in the Cedar Rapids area by launching a new mentorship program. Brandon Jackson started the nonprofit in February 2019 to help make sports affordable for kids in Cedar Rapids. He added the extra “e” to Dreeam to emphasize the importance of “exceeding expectations,” Jackson told Little Village.
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‘Understanding who you are and where you’re from’: Cedar Rapids’ Czech School has been keeping traditions alive for 150 years
When Mandy Vaughn’s two children became old enough to attend the Cedar Rapids Czech School, she was excited for them to learn the culture, songs and traditions that have been in her family for generations. Mandy went to Czech School as a child, as did her mother, Mary Haster. “It’s kind of come full circle in a sense,” Mandy said about her daughter
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Cedar Rapids City Council votes to refund or cancel $17 million in fines to settle a lawsuit over traffic cameras
The Cedar Rapids City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to settle a class action lawsuit that challenged the methods the city used to collect unpaid traffic camera fines. The lawsuit was filed in January 2018, a month after the city sent 221,000 notices to people with unpaid traffic camera citations, telling them to pay up or the outstanding amount would be sent to the Iowa Department of Administrative Service’s offset program for collection.
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Cedar Rapids City Council approves rezoning proposal for Cargill’s 12-track, 200-car rail yard next to Rompot neighborhood
The Cedar Rapids City Council voted for a final time in support of rezoning land next to the Rompot neighborhood and Prairie Park Fishery, giving Cargil the necessary approval to build their 12-track, 200-car rail yard. Cargill has been trying to get a rail yard for almost two years, with plans shifting back and forth between the city-owned property south of Stewart Road and the “farm property” on Otis Road.
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Boston Fish is gone, but its legacy will swim on in Cedar Rapids
In April, people were disappointed to learn Boston Fish, a staple of the Cedar Rapids restaurant scene for 77 years, was closing, after its building was sold and the new owners decided to do something different. A month later, things changed. Boston Fish manager Lenore Zoll announced the new owners had changed their minds, and wanted to
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Three Linn County libraries to eliminate fines for overdue materials
The public libraries in Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion are moving forward with the elimination of fines for overdue materials in an effort to better support and serve the community. The policy change has been approved by the boards of trustees of all three libraries. Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) director Dara Schmidt said the next step is
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‘I’m still terrified for my future’: Cedar Rapids climate protesters want solutions on local, national level
Chants of “Green New Deal,” “this is what democracy looks like,” and “fossil fuels have got to go” filled the streets of Cedar Rapids on Friday night, as part of climate strikes organized around the country on Dec. 6. It was an emotional night for many, as marchers shared the reasons why they’re striking and the need for accelerated action to combat climate change. Around 120 people attended
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Take a break from presidential candidates this weekend to enjoy holiday events in Cedar Rapids
The holidays are coming early to Cedar Rapids. Get into the holiday spirit this weekend, and enjoy hot chocolate, shopping, Christmas trees and even a chance to tell Santa Claus all about your wish list (if you’re on the nice list, that is).
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Linn County Board of Supervisors declares a climate crisis ahead of Friday’s national climate strikes
The Linn County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution on Wednesday declaring a climate crisis in light of increased drought and heatwaves, decrease in the bird population and flooding throughout Iowa. The action by the supervisors occurred just days before people around the country — including in Cedar Rapids — prepare for the next
