Local Government

The Loftus Lumber redevelopment into a mixed-use facility that is expected to transform a long-vacant block between downtown and the New Bohemia District is slated to get a final green light Tuesday from the Cedar Rapids City Council.

The Marion City Council awarded $60,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding toward Marion Cares for its immediate housing assistance program.

A Saturday workshop will offer information to Cedar Rapids residents about assistance available for people wanting to buy or renovate a home. The workshop will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Horizons Family Services, 819 Fifth St. SE.

After advancing to a third round of the popular game show “Family Feud,” Cedar Rapids City Council member Pat Loeffler and his family were defeated in the episode airing Thursday night.

The city discussed moving to one meeting per council week instead of two, but ultimately decided to keep the schedule. It is possible the council’s work session meetings could begin later to give more members of the public an opportunity to attend.

Cedar Rapids City Council member Pat Loeffler and his family won $20,000 in the episode that aired Tuesday. They’ll move on to a second round, which airs at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on Fox. The family will host another watch party at Double Z’s.

The Iowa City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution opposing proposed gun rights amendment and urging residents to vote “no” on the Nov. 8 ballot question.

Seedlings planted in in gravel beds June as a pilot project were recently planted in Bever Park, the first city park where the seedlings were planted. These seedlings offer an additional source of tree stock for parks as Cedar Rapids works to replant about 42,000 trees on public land after the derecho.

Cedar Rapids City Council member Pat Loeffler and his family competed on the long-running game show “Family Feud.” He can’t say whether or not he won, but the family is hosting a watch party at Double Z’s as the episode airs at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The board voted 2-1 to oppose the amendment, which is on next week’s ballot. They join the Cedar Rapids Community School District and Johnson County Supervisors in passing a resolution encouraging Iowans to vote “no.“

Johnson County’s direct assistance program funded by pandemic relief dollars was the first of its kind in the state. After successfully advocating for these payments for immigrant workers, Escucha Mi Voz members share how these checks helped them and what comes next.

The authors of “Our Towns,” the book that inspired an HBO documentary, told a local audience Wednesday that Cedar Rapids is leading in the way it has recovered from recent disasters, and in the steps it’s taking to address the climate crisis.