Good morning, Cedar Rapids.

Cassill Motors hosted its first-ever Block Party on Aug.

31 with local vendors, bounce houses & food trucks, uniting neighbors at the dealership lot. The dealership will also host free car care classes on Sept. 28 for basic skills and Oct. 15 for advanced maintenance.

Farmers who used John Deere repair services can file claims by Dec.

31 for a payout from a $99 million antitrust settlement; those opting out by Dec. 4 will keep the right to pursue independent claims + the settlement also provides automatic access to repair tools.

Following an international deal (Venezuela), a GasBuddy survey of 2,036 stations shows Iowa gas prices have dropped 16.3 cents per gallon over the past week with an average of $3.92, the lowest at $3.29 and the highest at $4.89.

Middle school students across Eastern Iowa can apply starting Sept.

7 for the National Civics Bee regional competition hosted by the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Foundation; the contest is set for spring 2027 and requires essays on community issues for advancing to state and national rounds.

The Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing warns Iowans about scammers who pose as state officials to trick injured workers into paying upfront fees for compensation and advises anyone contacted to verify the experience directly with DIAL.

6-year-old Harlow Taube from Illinois, who receives weekly treatment at (Stead Family Children’s Hospital), will be the Kid Captain for the Hawkeyes’ season opener against Northern Illinois on Saturday.

She loves dinosaurs, swimming, and making others smile as she represents young patients in the program.