Good Day
Cedar Rapids
Tuesday, November 18th, 2025
Good morning, Cedar Rapids. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 18th of November.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ City of Marion and Linn-Mar Community School District celebrated the completion of a new playground at Taube Park/Wilkins Elementary on Monday at noon — the upgrade is designed for school use and public access. Officials said the project is part of an annual equipment replacement program and that a new playground at Ascension Park will be dedicated on Nov. 20 at noon. CBS 2 Iowa
- ➤ Together We Achieve has opened registration for its December Holiday Food Box program to provide complete holiday meals to families in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, and nearby communities. The program will distribute 750 food boxes in December — families need only register once and pick up their box at an assigned location. CBS 2 Iowa
- ➤ This past weekend, a Mac 'n Mingle event at North Point in Cedar Rapids featured eight local restaurants and local chef Anthony Leonard (Hell’s Kitchen) competing for the title of Master of the Mac. Leonard won with his vegetarian mac and cheese, offering a fresh twist among the creative entries. KDAT
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ On Monday, November 17, the Czech and Slovak Museum Library held an event for International Students Day that gave history lessons on freedom and democracy + showed key moments from 1939 and 1989. The museum hosted the book club meeting to honor young people who pushed for these values. CBS 2 Iowa
- ➤ City officials and the Public Art Commission are inviting artists from across the country to apply for a rotating sculpture exhibit featuring five outdoor sculptures on a one-year lease along the B Street Promenade in the Czech Village district (installation planned for mid-June next year). Applications open today (Nov. 18). CBS 2 Iowa
- ➤ Weird Al Yankovic will bring his Bigger & Weirder tour to Cedar Rapids this summer, performing at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse on July 1. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 21 at 10:00 a.m. and he has previously performed at the Paramount Theatre and the McGrath Amphitheatre. CBS 2 Iowa
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ The Cedar Rapids Community School District faced a $10 million budget deficit in FY 25 after losing 622 students to vouchers and charter schools. The board met, swore in new members, and will review data on student departures on December 5. KCRG
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Officials explained that Cedar Rapids’ wastewater plant, which treats 36 million gallons a day for several communities, is receiving a $318 million upgrade expected to finish by the end of 2029—while Coralville’s facility treats 2.5 million gallons a day using ultraviolet light to disinfect the water. The Gazette
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ County officials closed Matsell Park Road at the bridge between Merritt Road and Hart Road on Nov. 17 to start building a new, safer bridge that will be open to all vehicles. The project will last about nine months and include paved shoulders and improved flood resilience — local access to conservation areas remains available via detours. CBS 2 Iowa
- ➤ Iowa Health and Human Services has not scheduled future meetings for the foster care task force formed after the deaths of Sabrina Ray and Natalie Finn, leaving advocates worried about the lack of oversight. The agency now cares for 3,058 children with social workers managing heavy caseloads (14 to 16 per case) and has added malnutrition training since 2018 to help spot neglect. KCCI
- ➤ Starting Wednesday, November 19, eastbound traffic on 8th Avenue along Mt. Vernon Road SE will be reduced to one lane between 8th Street and 15th Street for sidewalk repairs; crews expect the work to last three days. CBS 2 Iowa
- ➤ Linn County's winter shelter at 1017 12th Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids is expected to reopen before Thanksgiving after a $1 million renovation that added a second floor and improved ADA access—officials will reinspect the facility before it opens and are calling for volunteers to help. CBS 2 Iowa
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Eastern Iowa Health Center opened its new high-tech walk-in clinic on 12th Street southeast in downtown Cedar Rapids — it is the only clinic in town where patients can see a provider and leave with a prescription in one visit, and one of three pharmacies nationwide using robotic technology to fill prescriptions in 20 seconds with 100% accuracy. The clinic also features machines that help patients speak in their native language. CBS 2 Iowa
-
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.
-
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland
7:30-9 p.m. — Paramount Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience a dazzling fusion of circus artistry and holiday music in a magical winter wonderland.
-
Veterans Holiday Meal
4-6 p.m. — Veterans Memorial Building — Free — Enjoy a traditional holiday meal with fellow veterans and active military members.
-
Cultivate Hope Holiday Craft Fair
9 AM – 2 PM — Groundswell Cafe — Supports local youth programs — Discover local crafts, baked goods, and live music this holiday season.
-
Madison Capitols vs Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
4:05-5:35 p.m. — ImOn Ice — Stream available — Catch the action as the Madison Capitols face the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in this exciting hockey showdown.
-
Photos with Santa at PCI Pediatrics
9-11 a.m. — PCI Medical Pavilion — Free entry — Enjoy cookies and crafts while capturing a magical moment with Santa.
-
We The Kingdom Christmas Concert
6:00-8:00 p.m. — Paramount Theatre — Ticketed event — Celebrate the season with festive music and fan-favorites from We The Kingdom.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Good Day Cedar Rapids
Welcome to the Good Day Cedar Rapids, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Cedar Rapids, Iowa community. If you like the Good Day Cedar Rapids, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Cedar Rapids.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Cedar Rapids and across Iowa. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Good Day Cedar Rapids
A free Cedar Rapids community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://gooddaycedarrapids.com/sitemap