🌱 How a $10 million FEMA grant will reshape Cornell’s King Chapel.

Good morning Mount Vernon! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

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In today's newsletter:

• How a $10 million FEMA grant will reshape Cornell's King Chapel.
• Why a movie star is calling out Cornell College in Mount Vernon.

Also on today's calendar: BNTB & House of Hamill.

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

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Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Considerable cloudiness, with a high of 76 and low of 62 degrees.
• Wednesday: Not as warm with rain, temps: high: 68, low: 65.
• Thursday: Rain and a thunderstorm, with a high of 67 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• 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) — Mount Vernon residents will see more than $10 million in FEMA funding go to Cornell College for permanent repairs to historic King Chapel, part of nearly $29 million awarded across four states. The grants support rebuilding damaged infrastructure and investing in long-term resilience, including additional mitigation projects in Iowa communities facing recurring disaster risks.
   

• Florence Pugh Blasts Cornell University Over Drugged Gang Rape of Student, Tells Men and Schools to 'Start F***ing Protecting Us' (whereisthebuzz.com) — A high-profile actress is speaking out about the 2024 drugged gang rape case involving a Cornell College student in Mount Vernon, sharply criticizing the college's handling and lenient punishment. Her comments call on men, schools, and institutions everywhere to confront sexual violence more forcefully and stop protecting perpetrators at the expense of victims' safety and dignity.
   

📸 Around Mount Vernon

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Mount Vernon

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday October 8
• CRAAR Fall Family Fun Night →
  Bass Farms, 840 Bass Ln, Mt Vernon
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday October 26
• BNTB & House of Hamill →
  The Uptown Theatre, First Street Community Center, 221 First Street NE, Mount Vernon

📣 Mount Vernon Shout Outs!

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

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday September 29
• Boys Cross Country: Williamsburg Junior High XC Invitational (Midd
  Williamsburg Recreation Center
  4:30 pm
• Boys Cross Country: Williamsburg XC Invitational (Varsity)
  Williamsburg Recreation Center
  4:30 pm
• Girls Cross Country: Williamsburg Junior High XC Invitational (Jun
  Williamsburg Recreation Center
  4:30 pm
• Girls Cross Country: Williamsburg XC Invitational (Varsity)
  Williamsburg Recreation Center
  4:30 pm
• Volleyball: Lisbon vs West Liberty (Junior Varsity)
  West Liberty High School Gym
  5:30 pm
• Volleyball: Lisbon vs West Liberty (Freshman/Sophomore)
  West Liberty High School Gym
  5:30 pm
• Girls Swimming & Diving: Linn-Mar vs Cedar Rapids Washington (Vars
  Washington High School Krizan-Voss Pool
  6:00 pm
• Girls Swimming & Diving: Linn-Mar vs Cedar Rapids Washington (Juni
  Washington High School Krizan-Voss Pool
  6:00 pm
• Volleyball: Lisbon vs West Liberty (Varsity)
  West Liberty High School Gym
  7:00 pm
Thursday October 1
• Music Boosters Soup Supper
  Lisbon Community High School Lisbon Cafeteria Lisbon Community High School Lisbon Cafeteria
  5:00 pm

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

• Big Grove Brewery posted a job opening for Line Cook - Solon in Solon. Apply here.
• KFC posted a job opening for KFC Team Member in Marion. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mount Vernon here.

🗞 Nearby News

Marion

• We the People: Volunteers keep Granger House history alive in Marion (kcrg.com)
• Duane Arnold emergency planning, Morgan Valley faces zoning questions (cbs2iowa.com)
• What we don't yet know about possible state incentives for proposed $15 billion steel plant (kcrg.com)

Cedar Rapids

• Czech festival tradition continues in Iowa in spite of changes (homegrowniowan.com)

Ok Mount Vernon! 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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