Government & Politics

The bridge will connect Czech Village and NewBo as part of the $20 million grassroots ConnectCR initiative. Once complete, the bridge will be part of Cedar Rapids’ segment of the American Discovery Trail for pedestrians and bicyclists. It also is part of the Great American Rail-Trail.

Also, Cedar Rapids is planning a $5.1 million reconstruction project for a portion of 42nd Street NE

President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies.

A recent boost in federal funding from the infrastructure bill has helped the state take on more coal mine land reclamation projects. Some 120 mines out of over 300 have been reclaimed so far in Iowa.

The USDA said Iowa failed to provide “compelling evidence of the potential benefits of an untested alternative model.” Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa will reapply for a waiver under the new Trump administration.

The Cedar Rapids City Council this week held a public hearing on two proposed urban renewal areas that would be home to a data center campus. The hearing comes one month after a company closed on the purchase of 616 acres of land in the Big Cedar Industrial Center in southwest Cedar Rapids.

There has been a 38 percent decrease in abortions performed in the state since the implementation of Iowa’s six-week abortion ban, according to a report published Thursday.

Plus, Iowa Democrats talk about where the party goes from here.