Good morning, Cedar Rapids.

Purple ribbons appear on trees downtown as part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to honor victims and survivors.

Waypoint installed the ribbons while local cities also marked the month to urge continued support for affected community members.

The Metro Veterans Council will host a free Veterans Day program on Nov.

11 at the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Cedar Rapids. Doors will open at 9 a.m. so guests can explore museum exhibits before the program begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Coliseum.

Google mailed a letter to Palo residents with details about its proposed 545 acre data center + a public meeting to gather community input will be held Thursday, Oct.

22 at the Palo Community Center. The company plans to file paperwork for annexation while Linn County will oversee the project.

Ellis House, a new event space at (1200 Ellis Blvd NW), will host a grand opening Friday, Oct.

23 from 6 to 8 p.m., Home By 9 on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m., and a Halloween Toddler Rave Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10 to 11 a.m.

Gas prices in Iowa jumped 13.4 cents per gallon over the past week, averaging $4.25 per gallon and rising $1.47 from a year ago; local stations ranged from $3.74 to $5.30 per gallon, according to a GasBuddy survey.

Central College announced that three Eastern Iowa education students were awarded the Geisler-Penquite Scholarship this year.

Riverside's Meleah Fesler, Cedar Rapids' Gabriel Gates, and Colesburg's Brianna VanGroll will each receive $5,000 per year for the remainder of their studies.

As fall progresses, Dr. Eric Schauberger warns that Iowans may face more stings from wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets as insects forage for food among drying gardens.

Only about five percent of people carry Epi-Pens for severe reactions (anaphylaxis) to stings.