Local Government

Some smaller communities saw populations barely grow or shrink. Central City, Alburnett and Walford are all in the midst of upgrading water treatment facilities, streets and more to prepare for any future growth.

A national semiconductor design and manufacturing company wants a new 65,000 square-foot office facility in Cedar Rapids. This proposed space is expected to create 22 jobs and retain 142 jobs that pay in the six-figure range.

American Legion Road — which is what Muscatine Avenue becomes east of Scott Boulevard — is in the first phase of a $9 million project to include a rebuilt road with dedicated bike lanes, 10-foot sidewalk on the north side and an underpass for students to get to Hoover Elementary School.

The three Cedar Rapids mayoral candidates want local control on COVID-19 response, but in a Thursday forum were split on their support for mask mandates.

Animations of these replantings, as well as further public engagement opportunities, will be on the ReLeaf engagement website at

The reason Iowa City, with 74,000 residents, doesn’t have a water tower goes back to the early 1970s, when city leaders decided ground storage reservoirs required less maintenance than elevated water towers.

Previous Director Scott Hock recently left the role after three years, but the next department head will have opportunities to revamp programming and replenish the tree canopy from the derecho.

State and local governments across the nation are contemplating how to spend their shares of funding allocated through the federal American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid bill intended to support the public health response and lay a foundation for an equitable economic recovery.

A vision for lake transformation started with Cedar Rapids citizens long before the $20 million ConnectCR bridge and lake revitalization project came to fruition.

The 2021 recipients are using their grants for solar projects, energy efficiency and education programs. Nonprofits, businesses or K-12 students based in Iowa City may apply for grants for projects that can be completed in 12 months, match the city’s climate action goals, are “impactful and measurable” and benefit a diversity of Iowa City residents.

Greg Buelow, Cedar Rapids public safety communications specialist, shares information about the city’s Neighborhood PACT program, a grassroots campaign to empower individuals with information about how to prepare for disasters and navigate the aftermath.

The governor’s office says the order is not enforceable and that, after a year with COVID-19, Iowans know how to protect themselves.