Good morning, Cedar Rapids.

Local restaurants are stepping up to help neighbors amid SNAP disruptions from the federal shutdown—Bread and Buttered Bakery at NewBo City Market is offering free loaves, sack lunches, and Friday dinners while Big Grove Brewery and Stack Wellness Cafe support food banks with donations and photo-based contributions. The programs, which aim to ease hunger, will run through New Year’s Day.

Cedar Rapids’ Paramount Theatre will undergo emergency repairs to fix a damaged wall in its newer addition—city officials approved $132,000 in funds and work will start immediately with repairs set to finish by November 10th without disrupting upcoming shows.

Unofficial results show the $117 million school bond referendum narrowly failed by fewer than 200 votes—receiving just over 59 percent support when a 60 percent supermajority was required.

School officials say they will regroup to plan essential facility improvements and modern learning spaces for Cedar Rapids schools.

Sierra Club Iowa Chapter is calling on the Legislative Fiscal Review Committee to examine a 2022 law that let some stores opt out of redemption services, making it harder for Iowans to recycle bottles and cans—62% of survey respondents said a nearby site has closed.

The group also wants the deposit value raised and more items included, and they expect the committee to meet soon after the 2025 legislative session.

The Iowa Credit Union Foundation announced that it will provide $150,000 over three years through its Financial Inclusion Grant Program to groups in Mason City, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City to support affordable housing, business ownership, childcare, education, employment and health access. Ena Babic Barnes said the grant builds on a long-term effort as the foundation has awarded over $4.8 million since 1995 to improve financial well-being across Iowa.

The Linn County Solid Waste Agency reminded residents not to use tape, rope, or staples on paper yard waste bags because these materials clog processing equipment — Hiawatha will not collect bags with these additions and leaf bag pickups are set for November 10 and November 24.

Linn County families now have access to pasteurized donor milk with a new dispensary opening at St. Luke’s Center for Women’s and Children’s Health at UnityPoint in Cedar Rapids.

The partnership between UnityPoint Health and Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa will let families with a prescription pick up donor milk to help premature and medically fragile infants.

A group of local health care providers and Linn County social service agencies is exploring a street medicine team to bring care to unsheltered residents in Cedar Rapids.

They are doing a needs assessment with an advisory council to plan a pilot at the Linn County overnight shelter this winter—details on staffing and funding are still pending.

Today, Cedar Rapids is home to Linn County’s first breast milk dispensary at St. Luke’s Center for Women’s and Children’s Health—where the facility partners with Mother’s Milk Bank to provide safe, pasteurized donor milk for infants in need.

Families with a prescription can pick up donor milk Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A local food critic reviewed favorite dishes from 12 Eastern Iowa restaurants — including breakfast burritos, pizza, pasta and nachos — and one West Des Moines eatery in a fall roundup that captured both familiar and new local tastes.

Mercy Mistletoe Market

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. — Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids — Free entry — Explore unique, handcrafted items from nearly 40 local vendors at this holiday shopping extravaganza.

Dubuque Fighting Saints vs Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

7:05-8:35 p.m. — ImOn Ice — Stream available — Don't miss the thrilling hockey showdown as the Saints take on the RoughRiders.

Orchestra Iowa: Masterworks III

7:30-9:00 p.m. — Paramount Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience powerful musical drama with guest conductor Damon Gupton leading orchestra classics from Walker, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Cranksgiving Cedar Rapids 2025

11 AM – 5 PM — NewBo City Market — $20-$40 recommended donation — Participate in a bicycle scavenger hunt to collect food for those in need.

NJCAA Division III Volleyball Championship

9:00 – 10:30 AM — Alliant Energy Power House — Check event details for pricing — Catch the excitement of NJCAA women’s volleyball at the 2025 Division III Championship!

Needle Felting Workshop

1:30-3:30 p.m. — Cedar Rapids Public Library - Ladd Library — Cost varies — Discover the art of transforming wool into beautiful 3D creations with needle felting.

NJCAA DII Women's Volleyball Championship

9 AM – 12 PM — Alliant Energy Power House — Ticket prices vary — Catch the excitement of NJCAA volleyball at the DII women’s championship!

Hockey Match: Muskegon Lumberjacks vs Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

7:05-8:35 p.m. — Cedar Rapids Roughriders Hockey Club — Check local listings for ticket prices — Watch an exciting junior hockey face-off between two competitive teams.

Thanksgiving Eve Dueling Pianos

7:30-10:30 p.m. — The Olympic South Side Theater — $25 — Experience a night of musical requests from classic hits to today's favorites.

Waterloo Black Hawks vs Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

7:05-8:35 p.m. — ImOn Ice — Cost info not specified — Catch the action as local hockey teams face off in an exciting match.