Linn County health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated and to practice mitigation measures to ease the burden on the local healthcare system, which has been seeing an increase in hospitalizations, as the Delta variant fuels an increase in COVID-19 cases. “COVID cases have increased in the preceding two weeks at a pace that […]
Linn County
Posted inCOVID-19
Linn County launches financial assistance program to help residents facing eviction or utility shutoffs
Linn County residents facing eviction or falling behind on rent can apply for financial assistance through the county’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The county announced on Monday it is working with Waypoint and HACAP to administer rent and utility payments to those who are eligible for up to 18 months. Individuals must be able […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids commemorates the devastating August 2020 derecho and a year of recovery
“When the storm passed through Cedar Rapids and we could venture back outside, we all saw our beloved trees laying across lawns, streets, on homes. So many homes were devastated. Neighborhoods were unrecognizable,” Mayor Brad Hart told the crowd at Bever Park on Tuesday morning to commemorate the August 2020 derecho. “In the midst of […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Masks will be required in Linn County buildings starting Monday
Linn County employees and visitors will be required to wear face masks at county-owned facilities starting Monday, regardless of their vaccination status. A divided Board of Supervisors passed the mask mandate during a meeting on Friday morning. The ideological division between supervisors on masks was visible even before the resolution was introduced. Supervisor Stacey Walker […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids and Marion will celebrate recovery efforts one year after the derecho
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
To hell and back: Three stories of derecho resilience
Home of Katrina Benning and Jeremiah Hopkins When Katrina Benning and Jeremiah Hopkins bought their 1959 home on the edge of Bever Park in Cedar Rapids six years ago, both had been homeowners before. But this was their first home together. Their blended family, which brought together her two children and his four in what […]
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 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
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
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 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, 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 […]
