🌱 How 2016’s flood changed Cedar Rapids’ long-term river protection plans

Hello Cedar Rapids! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

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In today's newsletter:

• How 2016's flood changed Cedar Rapids' long-term river protection plans
• Which Cedar Rapids drivers will be detoured during October rail repairs?
• What did Cedar Rapids really give up for its big data center?

Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 10 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a one-legged Big Foot? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Considerable cloudiness, with a high of 76 and low of 63 degrees.
• Wednesday: Not as warm with rain, temps: high: 67, low: 63.
• Thursday: Periods of rain and a t-storm, with a high of 66 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• The flood of 2016 reinvigorated plans for permanent flood protection in Cedar Rapids (cbs2iowa.com) — Cedar Rapids officials say the 2016 Cedar River flood pushed long-discussed permanent flood protection plans back to the top of the agenda, leading to hundreds of millions in local and federal funding. With major work in NewBo, Czech Village, and a new 8th Avenue bridge, the system is expected to be about 90% complete by 2035, greatly reducing the need for mass evacuations and frantic sandbagging.
   

• KXEL Morning News for Tue. Sep. 29, 2026 (kxel.com) — Cedar Rapids drivers should prepare for a temporary closure of part of 1st Avenue E starting Monday, October 5, as crews replace the 4th Street SE rail crossing panels and detour traffic, including trucks via 8th Avenue SE, for about two weeks. In other statewide news, a massive steel plant is planned for Lee County, community colleges won new workforce training funds, and a teen was killed in an Indianola crash.
   

• What a county can actually negotiate when a data center comes to town (washingtontimes.com) — Cedar Rapids' massive tax-rebate deal for the QTS data center—rebating about 70 percent of new property taxes over 20 years, an estimated $529 million—is highlighted as a cautionary example of what local governments can negotiate. The piece explains how counties like Linn and others are using water studies, noise limits, decommissioning plans, and infrastructure cost-sharing to better protect residents when data centers come calling.
   

📸 Around Cedar Rapids

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Cedar Rapids

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday October 1
• Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness →
  VON MAUR, 4444 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday September 30
• Member Day Trip: Brucemore + National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library →
  Cedar Rapids IA
  8:00 am
• Explore the Landscape →
  Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr SE, Cedar Rapids
  8:00 am
• Baby & Toddler Story Time →
  Downtown Library, 450 Fifth Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids
  9:30 am
• Board of Supervisors Formal Session →
  Cedar Rapids IA
  10:00 am
• Guided Mansion Tours →
  Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr SE, Cedar Rapids
  1:00 pm
• Tai Chi for Older Adults →
  Downtown Library, 450 Fifth Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids
  1:00 pm
• Cedar Rapids Chess Club →
  Downtown Library, 450 Fifth Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids
  5:30 pm
• Game Master Workshop →
  Busse Branch, 1845 Sandberg Lane SW, Cedar Rapids
  6:00 pm
• Board of Adjustment →
  935 2nd St SW, Cedar Rapids
  6:00 pm
Thursday October 1
• Explore the Landscape →
  Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr SE, Cedar Rapids
  8:00 am
• Music & Movement Story Time →
  Busse Branch, 1845 Sandberg Lane SW, Cedar Rapids
  9:30 am
• Guided Mansion Tours →
  Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr SE, Cedar Rapids
  1:00 pm

📣 Cedar Rapids Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Looking for a cheap couch.
  My cats have destroyed mine, and sense they've started they won't stop no matter how many times I try to fix it. Thank you in advance (Nextdoor Wellington Heights)

• Collins Aerospace posted a job opening for 195 - Advanced Assembly - 2nd Shift (onsite) in Cedar Rapids. Apply here.
• Hilton posted a job opening for Banquet Captain - DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex in Cedar Rapids. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cedar Rapids here.

🗞 Nearby News

Marion

• We the People: Volunteers keep Granger House history alive in Marion (kcrg.com)
• Marion teen accused of pulling gun on pedestrian in downtown Iowa City (1630kcjj.com)

Mount Vernon

• Florence Pugh Blasts Cornell College Over Drugged Gang Rape of Student, Tells Men and Schools to 'Start F***ing Protecting Us' (whereisthebuzz.com)
• FEMA Approves Nearly $29 Million in Funding to Help Communities Recover from Recent Disasters and Strengthen Their Resilience Against Future Disasters in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska (mykdkd.com)

Ok Cedar Rapids! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Hop Squatch! (Thank you Terri R. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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