Marissa Payne
The Gazette
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Past articles by Marissa:
Willis Dady Homeless Services hosting annual Hops for Housing event in May
Willis Dady is hosting its eighth annual Hops for Housing fund and awareness-raising event at the Veterans Memorial Building on the Second Avenue Bridge from 2:30-5:30 p.m. May 6. Here’s how to get tickets. → Read More
Cedar Rapids weighing impact of inflation on flood control plan
Cedar Rapids officials at looking at the impacts of high inflation and construction costs on the permanent flood control. The system is estimated to cost $750 million, but that figure has likely grown, so the city’s assessing the scope to ensure projects planned can be done within budget. → Read More
Eastern Iowa Airport kicks off final phase of terminal modernization
CID is finally ready for takeoff with the fourth phase of its terminal modernization project -- signaling the end is near for the massive, $120.9 million project. → Read More
Newstrack: Time Check homeowner appealing Cedar Rapids’ property acquisition for flood control
As Cedar Rapids looks to acquire over 20 homes in the Time Check area for flood control system construction, a homeowner has appealed the city’s acquisition. The levee the city’s looking to build is still in the design phase. → Read More
Linn County’s path to hiring resiliency coordinator uncertain after cutting $1.7 million in fiscal 2024 spending
The path to funding a new Linn County resiliency coordinator role still is unclear after the supervisors settled on $1.74 million in spending reductions in the 2024 fiscal year. → Read More
Linn, Johnson counties ask regional board to fully fund mental health access centers
The mental health access centers in Linn and Johnson counties would be funded below their requests under a proposed budget for fiscal 2024. County officials and providers warned this would result in reduced services, if not closure of the facilities. → Read More
Linn County will get 290 new housing units with nearly $38 million in derecho recovery aid
An influx of $38 million in federal funding will fuel investment in the construction of 290 new single- and multifamily housing units in Linn County — mostly Cedar Rapids — to aid in recovery from the 2020 derecho. → Read More
Cedar Rapids plans to shut down quarry across from Ellis Harbor
Cedar Rapids is planning to shut down the quarry across from Ellis Harbor by Dec. 31 -- a change some residents say is “essentially eliminating some of the Harbor” by adding logistical hurdles for those with house boats. → Read More
Faulty well may disrupt nonprofit’s Linn County Dows Farm operations
Nonprofit Feed Iowa First may halt operations on the slice of land it subleases on Linn County’s Dows Farm “agri-community” development for use by underserved farmers, as the county isn’t planning to replace a potentially failing well that fuels farm operations. → Read More
New housing planned in Taylor neighborhood in Cedar Rapids
The City Council also signs off on a development agreement for Sub-Zero’s massive new light manufacturing facility near airport. → Read More
‘Newbo evolve’ organizers sent to prison
Two former GO Cedar Rapids officials were sentenced Thursday to more than a year in prison for bank fraud charges connected to the 2018 “newbo evolve” festival. → Read More
As workers return to Ingredion, union leader reflects on ‘thick skin’ needed to negotiate contract
“He was wanting to help others and wanting what's the best for all the employees as a whole,” Mike Moore’s wife said of the union leader’s work during the nearly six-month strike. “ … He really wanted to make sure that everybody was taken care of.” → Read More
Cedar Rapids strategy to reduce gun violence continues success as program transitions to Foundation 2
Foundation 2 has taken over management of Group Violence Intervention, the community gun violence reduction strategy, but Cedar Rapids officials say the effort continues to see success in keeping people alive and out of jail. → Read More
Linn County supervisors exploring options to plug $1.7M gap from state’s rollback error
In light of a state error leaving local governments in the lurch and down millions in expected revenue as they set their budgets for the 2024 fiscal year, Linn County supervisors are exploring where to trim the budget. → Read More
Cedar Rapids sees strong industrial, multifamily housing development in 2022
Development of massive industrial projects and multifamily housing soared in 2022, while office space continues to see increased vacancy rates according to a new report from GLD Commercial. → Read More
Linn County elected officials would get raises of 10 percent or more under compensation board’s recommendation
In a bid to recruit and retain qualified workers to Linn County while grappling with record-high inflation, the county compensation board suggested bumping salaries 12 percent for the county sheriff and attorney, and 10 percent for others. → Read More
Construction starts on Big Grove Brewery’s fourth location
Construction is underway of a Big Grove Brewery in the heart of Cedar Rapids, bringing the award-winning local beer to the city this fall. The city council also signs off on new commercial facility, larger Lil’ Drug expansion. → Read More
Cedar Rapids using eminent domain to acquire houses for flood control construction
A condemnation hearing Wednesday provided the first test that city officials and neighbors are looking to as the precedent for how future eminent domain proceedings may pan out for the city’s flood control system. → Read More
Cedar Rapids City Council advances rezoning for salvage yard near Hawkeye Downs
As Hawkeye Downs looks to refresh its property and find new ways to draw people to the racetrack amid financial woes, the Cedar Rapids City Council was split but advanced a rezoning to make way for a salvage yard on the property. → Read More
Union ratifies contract with Ingredion, ending nearly six-month strike
Union workers voted to ratify a four-year contract with multinational ingredients maker Ingredion, ending a strike that has stretched on for nearly six months against the company’s Cedar Rapids facility. → Read More