CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Chanting “bring Pascual home,” more than 100 people gathered outside of the Cedar Rapids U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in support of Pascual Pedro, a former Iowa high school soccer star recently deported to Guatemala. Alejandra Escobar, community organizer with Eschucha Mi Voz, a faith-based, immigrant-led nonprofit that helped organize […]
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Year: 2025
Cedar Rapids Mayor: “I really don’t enjo
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Neighbors of Hoover Elementary School again turned out in force in front of the Cedar Rapids City Council to object to rezoning the school’s property to construct a larger school building. Seven neighbors spoke out against rezoning the property during a public hearing Tuesday, July 8, that was continued from the […]
Popular Cedar Rapids blues festival slid...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A long-running blues festival plans a return to its origins, as Bluesmore is revived on the grounds of the historic Brucemore estate. The Aug. 2, 2025, festival marks a comeback to Brucemore, 2160 Linden Drive SE, after an 11-year hiatus. Bluesmore, featuring a range of local, national and international blues artists, […]
Scenes from a Midsummer Night’s fair at
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Iowa’s midsummer heat subsided slightly during a special night at the Shakespeare Garden. Under the welcomed shade of trees, a crowd gathered for the fourth annual Midsummer Garden Arts Fair on June 28, 2025 in the garden at Ellis Park, 2550 Ellis Blvd. NW. The balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet; […]
Signature Freedom Festival event heats u...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A change from the usual morning parade gave extra heat to the sweltering afternoon Freedom Festival event in New Bohemia. As part of a new Patriotic Fest in the New Bohemia area, the 30-minute parade made its way down Third Street SE into Czech Village, flanked by spectators who braved temperatures […]
Project GREEN Open Gardens Weekend to sh...
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Project GREEN’s free annual Open Gardens Weekend will feature more than 20 residential gardens for 2025, scheduled a few weeks earlier this year to highlight plants that bloom at this time of the season. Open Gardens Weekend 2025 will be held Saturday, June 28, from 4-8 p.m., and Sunday, June 29, […]
Tale of two Cedar Rapids schools and a m...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Neighbors turned out in force to express their opposition to the rezoning of two elementary school sites, but the Cedar Rapids City Council approved the measure for one school, and not the other. In addition to concerns about runoff, increased traffic, noise and air pollution and more, neighbors of Hoover Elementary […]
Cedar Rapids neighbors petition against ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — When Joe Brokaw bought his new home with a view six months ago in northwest Cedar Rapids, he was unaware of plans to construct a larger school close to his property on the same grounds as Hoover Elementary. “They are literally putting that school in my backyard,” Brokaw told the City […]
Cedar Rapids festival puts spotlight on ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The long-running St. Ludmila Kolach Festival, typically held in early June, is scheduled this year for June 20-22. Kolaches, a favorite fruit-filled Czech pastry, are the highlight of the festival, which takes place on the church grounds at 211 21st Ave. SW. See photos from a past kolache bake. The 2025 […]
Turnout high at “No Kings” demonstration
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Crowds filled the edge of downtown Cedar Rapids on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in one of about 2,000 “No Kings” demonstrations held nationwide. More than 2,000 demonstrators stretched from the middle of the Eighth Avenue Bridge, past the railroad tracks near Fourth Street SE, holding signs, chanting and waving American flags […]