Homers

CLOSER AND CLOSER:

Years of persistence by local leaders and Iowa's congressional delegation toward getting federal funding to help build permanent flood protection in Cedar Rapids are on the verge of paying off. Last week, the House and Senate approved the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, which authorizes a previous commitment by Congress to help build Cedar Rapids' flood protection system. Final action to appropriate the money is expected next year.

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A PARTIAL WIN:

Earlier this month, Cedar Rapids officials also celebrated good news regarding federal disaster funding. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials in the national office overrode a regional FEMA decision to deny payment for 2008 flood damage to the incinerator at the sewage treatment plant, even though the city's original understanding was that FEMA would cover the cost. Now the city, after its second appeal, is to get about $7 million of the $8 million for those repairs costs from FEMA. However, FEMA denied another request for up to $40 million to build a new incinerator.

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CEREAL EVENT:

Kudos to HACAP Food Reservoir, General Mills, Hansen's Dairy and NewBo City Market for sponsoring the inaugural Cereal Saturday - a new fundraiser event to kick off the Eastern Iowa Freedom From Hunger Food Drive, which supplements the food needs of more local low-income families with children during the summer.

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