Good morning, Cedar Rapids.

Hundreds of veterans and community partners gathered at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Thursday for the annual Five Seasons Stand Down, which marked 20 years of linking veterans to support services (including haircut stations and resource booths).

Iowa’s Traffic Safety Bureau offers free safe ride options for Labor Day weekend, with Uber vouchers worth $10 available from Friday to Monday and Tow To Go transporting impaired drivers 10 miles from pickup from Friday 6 p.m. until Tuesday 6 a.m.

An apartment fire on the 3200 block of Pioneer Avenue SE late Wednesday night displaced multiple residents while firefighters contained the blaze and the Red Cross helped those affected as investigators examine the cause.

The 8th Annual Farm Fresh Reggae Festival will take place Friday, Sept.

18 and Saturday, Sept. 19 at Troy's Farm in Springville. The weekend event will feature over 30 music acts, art vendors, food stalls and family workshops with free entry for kids 15 and younger and optional camping.

Orchestra Iowa is expanding its Barrels & Brass series this fall with concerts offering beer, cider and wine flights in Cedar Rapids on Oct.

7, Iowa City on Oct. 8 and Marengo on Oct. 9. Tickets cost $30 and require valid ID for guests 21 and older.

Cedar Rapids ranks (14) for work and (25) for healthcare access in new Indeed national rankings announced by the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance; the report highlights top marks in housing affordability, easy commuting, and job opportunity.

Linn County Conservation & the Cedar Rapids Community School District are partnering on a 7.7-acre wetland project to improve water quality and reduce erosion near Morgan Creek Park west of the city.

The project will feature a forebay, island for nesting, a deep-water pool and a public trail.

The Iowa Environmental Council report shows coal generation grew by 3% in 2025 compared to 2024, with MidAmerican and Alliant reporting higher coal shares (27% and 20% respectively).

The report urges a shift to renewables to help meet future climate goals.

Thursday night, the Iowa Environmental Council presented a 96-page report at Cedar Rapids Public Library that noted Iowa’s cancer rates surpass national averages and urged stronger pollution controls.

The group cited heavy pesticide and herbicide use as a potential risk factor.

Iowa DNR will begin auctioning confiscated rifles, shotguns, bows and scopes on Sept.

12 with a preview event Friday, Sept. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. Bidders must hold the required state and federal permits.