Good morning, Cedar Rapids.

Communities in Marion and Cedar Rapids will hold events Friday to honor those lost on Sept.

11 and celebrate first responders. Marion’s memorial service begins at 9:30 a.m. at the public library while Cedar Rapids hosts 7 Climbs for 9/11 starting at 7:30 a.m. at Mount Trashmore.

The Prairie Summit YMCA opened today in Cedar Rapids with fitness rooms, a turf area, a walking track, and a pool—its first event was a Prairie High School swim meet—and officials say it will serve as a community hub.

Nearly 90 eastern Iowa veterans will leave Cedar Rapids on Sept.

15 for Eastern Iowa Honor Flight’s 60th mission (sponsored by the Transamerica Foundation) to visit war memorials and hold a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery; community members can welcome them at the airport later that day.

Eleven-year-old Cedar Rapids resident Charlie Price will serve as Kid Captain for Saturday's Cy-Hawk game in Iowa City.

Price overcame severe aplastic anemia and now shares his journey while raising funds for Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Foundation 2 Crisis Services said CEO Emily Blomme will step down on Sept.

25 after more than a decade at the helm, and interim CEO Erin Langdon will lead as the Board begins a national search for a permanent replacement.

NextEra took a $1.9B DOE loan to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear plant near Cedar Rapids by late 2028 or early 2029.

The project, which began after the 2020 derecho damage, will create thousands of jobs + boost local economic growth.

Gas prices in Iowa dropped 3 cents per gallon last week, averaging $3.88, yet remain 15 cents higher than last month and over $1 more than last year (GasBuddy) reported.

Twelve eastern Iowa students from Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Marion were named to the 2026 National Math Stars cohort, a 10-year enrichment program offering math mentoring, family advising and STEM experiences to rising fourth graders selected among 785 nominees in the state’s top 2% on math assessments.

Linn County Secondary Road Department closed its first round of snowplow name submissions — it will narrow the list to 50 names before public voting starts Sept.

23 on its website — and voters with winning names can attend an open house and receive a grab bag.

MidAmerican Energy held a meeting Tuesday night in Cedar Rapids to explain a proposed natural gas rate increase that may add $2.89 monthly per bill as regulators review the request; further meetings are planned Wednesday in Des Moines, Thursday in Sioux City, and online.

NextEra Energy has secured a $1.9 billion federal loan to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center near Cedar Rapids; work is set to create thousands of jobs and billions in economic benefits with completion expected by the end of 2028 (pending NRC approval).