Marissa Payne

The city of Cedar Rapids is negotiating a deal to purchase land from Rick and Marsha Stickle for no more than $10 million to build the flood control levee around Cedar Lake.

As Neighborhood Finance Corp. grows, its Journey to Homeownership program is helping Cedar Rapids and Des Moines borrowers overcome systemic barriers to own a place of their own.

First Avenue will close between Third Street West and First Street East from 8:30 a.m. Monday through the afternoon for installation of a floodgate as part of the city’s flood control system.

​The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is returning with 10 Iowa stops to again raise money, food and awareness for local food banks in communities along the Canadian Pacific network.

A state panel has asked Cedar Rapids to reapply for funds to support the ConnectCR project to revitalize Cedar Lake, but city officials say the decision won’t stop the transformative endeavor from moving forward. Reapplying “fits perfectly” with the project timeline, city officials say.

A district court judge has dismissed lawsuits that challenged council votes that advanced Cargill’s construction of a rail yard in Cedar Rapids’ Rompot neighborhood. The rail yard is slated to become fully operational in December.

The Iowa DOT will hold a public hearing from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday on its project to widen Interstate 380 and rebuild the interchange with Wright Brothers Boulevard.

The Cedar Rapids City Council gave the green light last week for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Corridor to rezone property where the organization is building a permanent location.

Cedar Rapids is exploring a pilot program to allow goat grazing to clear invasive species and unwieldy brush in unmaintained areas of city parks. Staff are working with the Bever Park Neighborhood Association to pilot the effort in 2023.

Nonprofit Trees Forever this year piloted Neighborhood Tree Captains and tree voucher programs to empower residents to replant on their private properties. These programs were developed as part of the ReLeaf effort to reforest Cedar Rapids after the derecho.

The new affordable housing development will add 44 rental units in Cedar Rapids with supportive services provided by Foundation 2. Some units are set aside for youth aging out of foster care to help set this vulnerable population up for success.

After Cedar Rapids’ casino dreams were thwarted by opponents earlier this year with a two-year moratorium on new gaming licenses, Linn County casino backers formed a political action committee ahead of November midterms and contributed about $50,000 to Iowa candidates.

As the city explores how to repurpose the now-closed Jones Golf Course, staffers are seeking a consultant to help design a dog park, which would be the third managed by the city.

Willis Dady Homeless Services has shared its annual Holiday Giving Opportunities to invite the community to support those experiencing homelessness this winter in Linn County.

For the first time since COVID-19 began, Cedar Rapids is once again doling out grants to local arts and cultural nonprofits funded through the tax it takes in from overnight hotel guests. The City Council recently awarded $525,000 to 17 nonprofits.