Cedar Rapids News (BETA)

Roundabouts, a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare with fewer vehicles, mixed-use development and green space are part of a new vision for downtown Marion.A concept drawing of the plan to revamp the townand#146;s central corridor proposes radical changes to Seventh Avenue, the congested street that runs through the center of Marion.In the proposal, eastbound traffic would meet a stoplight at a ...

The Wicked Witch of the West is heading east.The Old Creamery Theatre Company, based in Amana, is preparing to land and#147;The Wizard of Ozand#148; on the Englert Theatre stage, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City. The show opens Thursday and runs for six performances through Sunday.Itand#146;s a collaboration that started when the Englertand#146;s executive director, Beth Bewley-Randall, served ...

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Finally achieving a filibuster-proof 60 votes doesnand#146;t mean Senate Democrats will march in lock-step behind their leaders, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said last week.Democrats tend to go their own way and are less likely to follow their leaders in a direction that doesnand#146;t serve their home state constituencies, Harkin said. The seating of Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., this week could ...

Billboards along Interstate 10 tell the mixed story of a resort town fighting its way back. Most signs invite visitors to the casino shows of yesteryearand#146;s stars (Johnny Mathis, Gladys Knight, Engelbert Humperdinck), but one billboard targets local residents, hundreds of whom still live in FEMA trailers. The sign informs them that new flood insurance maps are ready.The communities of ...

WATERLOO - Waterloo Police tell TV 9 they are investigating shots fired late Saturday Night. It happened just before 11:30pm at the Olive Garden located at 1315 East San Marnan Drive in Waterloo.

MT. VERNON - Mt. Vernon's Heritage Days was in full force this afternoon as residents stuffed their faces for hometown pride. Mt. Vernon Firefighters, Football players and softball players, all stepped up to chow down at this year's pie eating contest. Their opponents?

MUSCATINE - An explosion throws a father and his daughter off their wave runner on the Mississippi River.

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GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - Fighter jet pilots from Montana and Iowa are engaging in combat training through July 23 above Montana to give pilots experience in taking on aircraft they don't normally confront.

Summer vacation is well under way for many Iowa City School District students, but it’s another story for many of their teachers.

For its second year, Tiffin Fest turned out "unbelievable," one of the four organizers said Saturday.

Father-son duo Bruce and Eric Reynolds rode the Tour de Brew for the first time Saturday thanks to one big milestone.

The Rev. Ed Fitzpatrick said there are three words that describe his view of the Newman Catholic Student Center -- faith, family and farm.

Green Thumb by Judy Terry

WAVERLY --- The Waverly-Shell Rock School Board this week approved designs for the district's new middle school, paving the way for the project to go out for bids.

PARKERSBURG — The parade of ageless iron doesn’t seem to stop in Northeast Iowa.

WATERLOO --- National Weather Service officials Friday said that the storm that swept through Waterloo and Cedar Falls earlier in the day could have produced a downburst over the city.

NEW HAMPTON --- Traffic on Main Street these days features vehicles large enough to crush an average grocery getter or a good-sized SUV.

CEDAR FALLS --- "Mr. Jackson, did you know ..." Jim and Joan Jackson have received more e-mails in the last month than they can count. Many start with the line above. They read each one, reliving the memories and appreciating the kind words and prayers offered.

MIAMI (AP) - Hurricane Carlos is heading west over the open waters of the Pacific Ocean and is expected to get stronger. The Category 1 hurricane has maximum sustained winds near 85 mph. But forecasters say Carlos is expected to strengthen and could become a major hurricane over the next day or two.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - The Iowa Department of Economic Development and Rebuild Iowa Office are putting $17 million toward the construction of 343 owner-occupied homes throughout the state.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - A University of Iowa report shows that 4% of its students were cited or arrested for criminal offenses between Aug. 1, 2008, and May 20, 2009.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Des Moines officials say a string of bus-pedestrian accidents has prompted a review of driver safety measures. Authorities say a woman was seriously injured this week in the sixth bus-pedestrian accident in two years.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) - A Davenport casino's $9 million improvement project has been put on hold because of weak revenues. Isle of Capri spokeswoman Jill Haynes says Rhythm City's renovations are still in the pipeline.

A survey on the quality of life in Washington, conducted this week by 23 inner city Chicago teens, received primarily positive responses from local citizens, although there were concerns expressed.

When the terms of four incumbent school board members expire in September, two board members have said they plan to run again, a third hasn’t decided and the fourth is calling it quits.

The results of a three-day visit to Washington by members of the Main Street Iowa resource team of professionals next week will determine Main Street Washington’s future activities.

Five people were hospitalized after an accident Thursday morning in rural Wellman.

In a split decision Wednesday, the Washington School Board voted to send an $11.9 million bond issue to the voters during the Sept. 8 school election as part of a $37 million school facilities plan.

Clermont was rockin' & rollin' on July 4! A little rain couldn't keep people's spirits down as they enjoyed the Brick City Day parade Saturday in Clermont. Check out this week's Elgin Echo for photos from the celebration.

FAYETTE – Upper Iowa University isn’t waiting for President Barack Obama to send an economic stimulus package its way. The university, in partnership with the city, has begun the first phase of a $60 million initiative. The construction of several new buildings on campus has begun.

Sleeping in isn’t one of the perks of being a princess. Just ask Chelsey Fagle.

The Hawkeye City Council approved bills that included a $700 repair to the restrooms at Hauth Park. City employee Dana Franzen said vandals had broken a urinal and all of the toilets were plugged with gravel.

(Editor's note: This is the third in a series.) DONNAN – In the middle of a prairie where purebred Durham and Galloway cattle grazed around the turn of the 20th century, newlyweds Blake and Heather Gamm are making a home and building their future.

Over 185 antique tractors are expected to be making two stops in Kalona as part of the River Junction Tractor Ride on Saturday morning, July 11, according to Gerald Morgan, Lone Tree, show and ride organizer.

A number of residents of the Independent Living cottages at Pleasantview Home are upset - though few are willing to publicly voice their views to the Kalona News. The newspaper also did not receive responses from Pleasantview Home Board members in time for publication.

The Washington County Board of Supervisors at the Tuesday, July 7, meeting set Tuesday, July 21, at 9:30 a.m. for a hearing and first reading for the re-codified County Code of Ordinances.

Kalona city employees Mike Bowlin and Todd Fitzenry have new job titles and job descriptions with the Kalona City Council approving their revised job descriptions at the July 6 meeting.

Randy Boehmer sets off from his roadside campsite between Riverside and Kalona. He is traveling the country to spread his message. For Randy Boehmer, it is especially true that it is the journey that is most important, not the destination.

From the roadside, at first glance it may look like Terry Foley is building a tower to Heaven.

Williamsburg High School’s new band director was motivated more by personal interest than the need for a job when he applied for the position earlier this summer.

Tonch Lynn Weldon, 37, Blairstown, is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Iowa County District Court Thursday, July 9, on the charge of murder in the first degree. Weldon was charged June 7 at 1040 L Ave. rural Blairstown.

Senator Charles Grassley stopped in Marengo Wednesday, July 1, as part of his annually 99-county tour. Grassley had lunch with the Marengo Rotary Club in the Marengo Memorial Hospital meeting room then opened the floor to questions from the general public.

Final numbers are still being tallied, but the consensus from committee members is that Marengo’s sesquicentennial celebration was an overwhelming success.