🌱 Patch AM: How UNI’s 150th birthday is reshaping campus traditions in Cedar Falls

Hello again Cedar Falls! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How UNI's 150th birthday is reshaping campus traditions in Cedar Falls
• How Cedar Falls volunteers are helping an endangered salamander return home
• How UNI's new top Midwest ranking could benefit Cedar Falls families

Also on today's calendar: New Band Emerging Artist Night and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Is there anybody completely useless? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 65 and low of 52 degrees.
• Thursday: A t-storm around in the p.m., temps: high: 65, low: 55.
• Friday: Cloudy with a few showers, with a high of 68 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• UNI marks 150th birthday (kjan.com) — UNI is celebrating 150 years in Cedar Falls, with President Mark Nook reflecting on the school's early days, campus growth, and new sesquicentennial traditions like the anniversary bell. He highlighted a strong start to year 151, including a ten percent jump in freshmen enrollment.
   

• An endangered salamander faded from its historic habitat. A Cedar Valley effort aims to bring it back (wvik.org) — Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Cedar Falls is at the center of a major effort to reintroduce endangered blue-spotted salamanders to their historic habitat along the Cedar River. Local volunteers, a Cedar Falls college student, county conservation staff, and regional partners are mapping vernal pools, tracking salamanders in nearby George Wyth State Park, and weighing whether conditions are right to bring the species back sustainably.
   

• Iowa universities see US News & World Report rankings rise • Iowa Capital Dispatch (iowacapitaldispatch.com) — Cedar Falls' own University of Northern Iowa has been ranked the top public regional university in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report, citing strong graduation rates and value. The report also details how other Iowa public and private colleges fared, giving local families more context as they weigh costs, outcomes, and academic strengths when choosing where to study.
   

📸 Around Cedar Falls

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Cedar Falls

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★ Featured events ★

Wednesday September 23
• Garbage Pick Up—Wednesday →
  Cedar Falls
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday September 23
• New Band Emerging Artist Night →
  Octopus, 2205 College Street, Cedar Falls
  8:00 pm
• New Band/Emerging Artist Night →
  Octopus, 2205 College Street, Cedar Falls
  8:00 pm
Thursday September 24
• Bob Dorr's Blues Jam →
  Octopus, 2205 College Street, Cedar Falls
  7:00 pm
• Bob Dorr's Blues Jam →
  Octopus, 2205 College Street, Cedar Falls
  7:00 pm
• Garbage Pick Up—Thursday →
  Cedar Falls IA
  7:00 pm
Friday September 25
• Garbage Pick Up—Friday →
  Cedar Falls IA
  7:00 pm
• Hip Hop/EDM Showcase →
  Octopus, 2205 College Street, Cedar Falls
  8:00 pm
Saturday September 26
• Mocktails and Real Talk →
  Diamond Event Center, 5307 Caraway Lane, Cedar Falls
• City Day at the Cedar Falls Farmers Market →
  316 West 3rd Street, Cedar Falls
  8:00 am
• Cedar Falls Farmers Market →
  Overman Park Area, 316 W. 3rd St, Cedar Falls
  8:30 am
• Matt Woods Band →
  Octopus, 2205 College Street, Cedar Falls
  8:00 pm

📣 Cedar Falls 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.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I have a working 42" tv without a remote.
  Free if interested private message me to arrange picking up. It prob is 4 years old. Not a smart tv. (Nextdoor The Ridges)
• The community is invited to a public input meeting on Wednesday, September 30, regarding the Clay Street Park Playground Renovation project!
  The meeting will be held in the shelter area at Clay Street Park, located at 15th Street and Clay Street in Cedar Falls, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m… (Nextdoor )

• Thrive Restaurant Group posted a job opening for Dishwasher in Cedar Falls. Apply here.
• Applebee's - Legacy Apple, LLC posted a job opening for Busser in Cedar Falls. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cedar Falls here.

🗞 Nearby News

Waterloo

• Civic Media expands radio footprint into Iowa (editorandpublisher.com)
• KXEL Morning News for Tue. Sep. 22, 2026 (kxel.com)
• Landmark Commons: It's all in the details (wcfcourier.com)

Waverly

• Waverly school scare lands male student in hot water with police (northiowatoday.com)

Ok Cedar Falls! 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: No because they can always be used as a bad example! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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