CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The St. Ludmila Kolach Festival plans a return next weekend after a one-year hiatus. Set for June 7-9, 2024, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, 211 21st Ave. SW, the longtime festival features kolaches, a fruit-filled Czech pastry. Last year, the parish temporarily suspended the festival as it demolished its 1958-built elementary […]
Brood awakenings: periodical cicadas eme...
MARENGO, Iowa — Iowans accustomed to the songs of annual cicadas every summer may notice differences with the periodical cicadas making an appearance this year. Brood XIII began emerging in east-central Iowa in late May after 17 years underground. Read more: Nature Watch: cicada emergence Entomologists note that in 2024, two broods — a 13-year […]
Metro High School marks 50 years with op...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Hundreds of current and former students, teachers, families and community members celebrated the 50th anniversary of Metro High School, complete with a tree planting from NASA. The gathering, at 1212 Seventh St. SE, took place on the grounds of the former Tyler Elementary School, where Metro High School has been located […]
City of Cedar Rapids removes early-1900s...
Visitors to Bever Park in southeast Cedar Rapids this season may notice a void where a stone bridge stood as a landmark for more than a century. The beloved bridge, one of the few remaining historical pieces from the early days of the park, was removed by city crews in March, with stones in good […]
Downtown Farmers Market kicks off season...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The first Downtown Farmers Market of the season kicked off under sunny skies, with mild temperatures and a break from storms that have wreaked havoc across Iowa. Thousands of customers filled the streets of downtown Cedar Rapids on Saturday, May 25, 2024, for one of the largest outdoor farmers markets in […]
Demonstrators call for boycott of Hy-Vee...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Just hours after city leaders and Hy-Vee officials released statements regarding short-term remedies for the closure of the First Avenue grocery store and pharmacy in Cedar Rapids, dozens of protesters gathered to demand more. “We don’t want smooth words just for public relations purposes,” said Sophia Joseph, of We Are CR, […]
Cedar Rapids officials announce Hy-Vee w...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — City leaders who met with Hy-Vee officials to discuss concerns about the closure of the First Avenue store next month expressed hope in interim solutions. “Our meeting with community leaders last week identified priorities to ensure residents can continue to access essential services after the store closes,” Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said […]
Iowa City mayor flips vote; City Council...
IOWA CITY, Iowa — In spite of some tense moments, the Iowa City Council voted unanimously in favor of rezoning that will allow the building housing Pagliai’s Pizza to be designated as a local historic landmark. Interrupted occasionally by severe weather warnings, several members of the public spoke in favor of the historic designation for […]
Hawkeye Hannah Stuelke leads Houby Days ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Summer came early for Czech Village as temperatures soared into the 80s during the 46th annual Houby Days. The three-day festival, which celebrates morels (houby is the Czech word for mushrooms) began Friday, May 17, followed by a parade and other festivities on Saturday, May 18, and more to come on […]
CR City Council: Hy-Vee requested silenc...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — As city leaders scramble to find a replacement after Hy-Vee announced the closure of its First Avenue store last week, some City Council members questioned whether or not the store’s corporate office would even allow a different grocery to move into that location. City Manager Jeff Pomeranz provided an update during […]