Good Day
Cedar Rapids
Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
Good morning, Cedar Rapids. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 18th of February.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Comedian John Mulaney will perform at McGrath Amphitheatre on Thursday, Aug. 13 (presented by VenuWorks and Mammoth with a surprise guest). Presale tickets are available today at 10 a.m., with general sale beginning Feb. 20. CBS 2 Iowa
- ➤ The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival will showcase 61 Iowa-connected films from April 9-12 at Collins Road Theatres and new NewBo District venues. Festival Director Eric Dean Freese said the event received a record 121 entries totaling over 53 hours of screenings. KWWL
- ➤ Cedar Rapids is inviting local artists to design vibrant artwork for four city garbage trucks that show local identity and support environmental sustainability; submissions are due by March 22 and artists will earn $1,250 per truck. KCRG
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Iowa City School District said a $10 million loan taken last August from an insurance account without board approval was later approved — board members voiced concern. It will repay it by June 30 and seek a $3 million March loan to cover a $10 million deficit by July. KCRG
- ➤ Fourteen students were honored Tuesday at a downtown Cedar Rapids library during Kids First Law Center’s fifth annual '14 under 14' awards; each student received a $1,000 scholarship offer from three local colleges. CBS 2 Iowa
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Exit 13 on I-380 to Wright Brothers Blvd will be closed tonight from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for construction + traffic will detour from Exit 10 north. KCRG
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Statewide, Iowa is grappling with rising cancer rates for the third straight year as 87 counties show significant increases, with breast, prostate, melanoma, lung, and colorectal cancers on the rise. Experts link radon exposure and agricultural runoff to the trend, suggesting broader public health challenges. KDAT
- ➤ A water main break forced Mercy Medical Center to divert ambulances Tuesday afternoon, and crews repaired the affected water line — fire teams assisted with cleanup and damage assessment. Visitors were asked to limit non-essential visits as officials monitored the situation. KCRG
- ➤ Nurse Ann Richardson from Nassif Community Cancer Center received a $500 Surprise Squad award for her role in welcoming patients and coordinating cancer research even as she battles breast cancer (colleagues praise her creative surprises that brighten the day). KCRG
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ KCRG TV9 will broadcast St. Louis Cardinals baseball for 2026 with six spring training games starting Feb. 23 and ten regular season games beginning in April & the daily replay show CardinalsFastball airing weekdays and weekends at 11 a.m. on designated channels. KCRG
- ➤ The 57th USTA National Championships will be held June 13 to 19, 2027 at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, where over 2,500+ athletes from 130 clubs will compete in trampoline, tumbling and double-mini events and the event is expected to add nearly $1.5 million to the local economy. CBS 2 Iowa
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Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) Program
1-2:30 p.m. — Hiawatha Public Library — Free entry — Celebrate life and explore wellness topics in a supportive community setting.
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Community Writers Circle
1-2 p.m. — Hiawatha Public Library — Free entry — Connect with fellow writers and enhance your skills in a supportive environment.
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Pet Rock Live Performance
7:30-9:30 p.m. — Paramount Theatre — Ticketed event — Relive the smooth sounds of the 1970s with PetRock's captivating performance of soft rock classics.
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Murder Mystery Club
6-7:30 p.m. — Cedar Rapids Public Library - Ladd Library — Free entry — Dive into a thrilling mystery and collaborate with fellow detectives to uncover the truth at the library.
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For the Love of Plants - Hiawatha Public Library Plant Club for Teens
4-5 p.m. — Hiawatha Public Library — Free entry — Engage in a supportive atmosphere for teens to learn and grow their plant knowledge.
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Tai Chi for Older Adults
10-11 a.m. — Cedar Rapids Public Library — Free entry — Experience a 12-week journey into the gentle art of Tai Chi, building skills week by week.
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Composting for Beginners
6:30-7:30 p.m. — Hiawatha Public Library — Free entry — Discover the essentials of composting and how to get started at home.
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Dungeons & Dragons for Adults
5-8 p.m. — Hiawatha Public Library — Free entry — Engage in exciting Dungeons & Dragons adventures in a friendly adult setting.
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Paws to Read
6:30-7 p.m. — Hiawatha Public Library — Free entry — A tale-wagging good time for all featuring reading with furry friends.
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Guys and Dolls Musical
7:30 PM - 11:59 PM — Theatre Cedar Rapids — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an award-winning musical comedy about love and luck in the bustling streets of Broadway.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.
~ Mark Caine
About Good Day Cedar Rapids
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