Cedar Rapids police also preparing for Obama's visit

On the phone Tuesday morning, Cedar Rapids police Capt. Steve O'Konek sounded a little stressed.

Can't blame him, really. He and others at the Police Department have been working with the Secret Service to prepare for President Barack Obama's visit on Thursday.

Obama is expected to land at The Eastern Iowa Airport around 12:05 p.m. and then head to Iowa City for a 1 p.m. speech at the University of Iowa Field House.

Cedar Rapids police will provide assistance at the airport, O'Konek said.

"I don't think I'm giving away any national secrets when I say, we need to be ready," O'Konek said. "If he wants to go get a hamburger somewhere, he's gonna do it."

It will be Obama's first trip outside of Washington, D.C. since signing health care reform legislation Tuesday. It was in Iowa City that he first announced his health care plan as a presidential candidate on May 29, 2007.

No more tickets are available to attend Obama's speech, but you can watch it live on KCRG Local 9.2.