As of Aug. 2, 2021, the United States finally reached President Joe Biden’s goal of 70 percent of adult Americans with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. While Biden had advocated to reach that target by July 4, the milestone came nearly a month late, even as the more highly transmissible Delta variant leads […]
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Tag: Iowa
Market After Dark set to return to downt...
The last time Market After Dark was held, the after-hours event attracted a record 50,000 people to downtown Cedar Rapids. See photos from the last Market After Dark in 2019. Organizers announced the popular event will return this year, after a hiatus in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Market After Dark 2021 is scheduled […]
Where have all the beetles gone
As usual, my first sighting of a Japanese beetle — on June 24 this year — coincided with the ripening of my raspberries, one of their favorite foods. Iowa has coped with this voracious invasive species since it was first recorded in the state in 1994, but at least in my backyard, 2021 is proving […]
Reconstructed railroad bridge connects t...
MARION, Iowa — A bridge that once shouldered cattle cars, passenger trains and more is now taking on lighter loads as part of the CeMar Trail through Marion. Community leaders, Linn County Trails Association members, railroad buffs and others celebrated the reconstruction of the former Milwaukee Railroad bridge over Indian Creek during a ribbon-cutting ceremony […]
Iowa eliminates reporting data as COVID-...
Iowa is no longer reporting COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes and other data, even as cases have been increasing. As of Wednesday, July 7, 2021, the state’s coronavirus dashboard eliminated long-term care facility tracking, as well as Test Iowa assessments, serology, occupation data and underlying conditions. The Iowa Department of Public Health has cited its […]
Before and after: Cargill cuts path of d...
Cargill made quick work of what had been a nature refuge in the city of Cedar Rapids, home to birds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Just this weekend, the 28-acre Prairie Pollinator Zone at Otis Avenue and Stewart Road SE was teeming with life. See final photos of the Prairie Pollinator Zone. On Monday, June […]
Freedom Festival 2021: Rain on our parad...
The bane of outdoor events didn’t halt the comeback of the Freedom Festival Parade. Rain kept crowds at bay, but the parade returned to downtown Cedar Rapids after last year’s cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior years were staged through New Bohemia and Czech Village as construction was underway in downtown’s Greene Square. See […]
Pollinator Week celebrated in Cedar Rapi...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Destruction of a large-scale prairie pollinator zone in Cedar Rapids began this week, coinciding with international Pollinator Week. Dragonflies, bees, birds, skippers and swallowtail and monarch butterflies could be seen flitting among the native wildflowers blooming in the 28-acre prairie at Stewart Road and Otis Avenue SE on Thursday, June 24, […]
City Council overrides veto to allow chi...
By Cindy Hadish Chickens will have free range to roam in their own backyards after a mayoral veto was overridden by the North Liberty City Council this week. On a 4-1 vote, with Annie Pollack voting “no,” the council overrode Mayor Terry Donahue’s veto of the livestock ordinance amendment, passed on its third and final […]
New farmers market launches in New Bo
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A new farmers market that was intended to start last year on the grounds of the Chrome Horse Saloon in New Bohemia finally had its kickoff on Saturday, June 12, 2021. Related: Fresh start for Iowa farmers markets Michelle Hosch of MH Entertainment said plans were canceled last year due to […]