Iowa, Cedar Rapids | featured news

DEWITT — What kind of world do we live in?An answer to that question came Wednesday evening on the shores of a small pond 3 miles north of DeWitt. It was delivered by a little brown-eyed girl in a too-big hoodie who carried a single yellow rose.

MARION — The Marion Chamber of Commerce will be moving out of City Hall this spring to a historic building just a couple of blocks away.The move to the Lillis and Wilson Building, 1070 Seventh Ave., will “further the organization’s mission and create a visible presence in the historic Main Street District,” a Thursday news release said.

CEDAR RAPIDS — A bridge that for 40 years let pedestrians cross over First Avenue E traffic below is being replaced by the city’s first-ever pedestrian underpass.Wednesday night, the city temporarily closed First Avenue E at 27th Street so crews could remove the pedestrian bridge, which had been damaged in the Aug. 10, 2020, derecho.

Jim Bovinet had solar panels installed at his Cedar Rapids home in 2017 — and added even more in 2019. “We wanted to do something environmentally friendly,” said Bovinet, 42. “Plus, the tax credit was nice.”

IOWA CITY — Kids in Iowa City have the opportunity to make a difference in their community through mini climate action grants available through the City of Iowa City. This is the fourth year Iowa City has offered residents a climate action grant to inspire and promote public involvement in the implementation of the Iowa City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

A  fixture of the Cedar Rapids restaurant scene is back, and as many fans would say, it’s about time.The Tic Toc, located on 17th Street in northeast Cedar Rapids, reopened its doors earlier this month and owner Kory Nanke said customers — new and old — are already flocking in.

Iowa joined 12 other states Wednesday in suing President Joe Biden’s administration over a rule in the federal stimulus act that bars states from using relief money to offset tax cuts.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller submitted an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the biofuels industry’s challenge of three federal small-refinery exemptions that could set a precedent for future exemption requests.

DES MOINES — A district court judge has tossed Iowa grocers’ challenge of the Department of Natural Resources’ rule requiring retailers to redeem the nickel deposits on pop and beer containers.

DES MOINES — The path to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk hit a dead end Wednesday for dozens of bills that legislators had hoped to successfully move through the House and Senate this year.