Steve GravelleSteve Gravelle covers government, general-assignment, and some breaking news stories. He worked at newspapers in Minnesota before coming to The Gazette in 1996. He lives in southeast Cedar Rapids. |
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Eastern Iowa composters hit pay dirt
A new federal rule to reduce erosion and runoff from urban development could boost demand for compost as the 2013 construction, landscaping and gardening seasons begin. “This last couple months we were getting approached by entities and contractors, specific in Johnson County, to supply compost,” said Ryan Miller, Marion’s public service director. “We were a bit [...]
Eastern Iowans to legislators: ‘Keep doing what is right’ on mental health, disability redesign
Eastern Iowans who need some help with daily life reminded legislators to keep them in mind when the session opens next week. “Let’s just keep pushing the envelope forward, and keep doing what is right,” Steve Miller told about a half-dozen lawmakers Thursday afternoon. Miller, of Cedar Rapids, a county, state, and national board member [...]
Linn County casino on track for March 5 vote
Linn County residents could start voting in as little as two weeks on bringing casino gambling to the county. County supervisors this afternoon went through the formality of receiving and verifying 15,491 signatures on petitions circulated by Vote Yes Linn County, keeping the local investor group’s casino proposal on track for a March 5 special [...]
Developer of Louis Sullivan bank project seeks help from Linn County
Linn County is being asked to support renovation of a west-bank downtown landmark. County supervisors got their first look Monday morning at developer Fred Timko’s request for support for his plan to convert the Louis Sullivan-designed Wells Fargo bank building at 101 Third Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids into an upscale office and residential project. [...]
Shootings prompt Iowa lawmakers to consider mental health services
Prompted by last year’s mass shootings, state lawmakers will consider improving availability of mental health services when the Legislature convenes in two weeks. “I personally have some interest in looking at it, ” said state Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids. “It might be something we need to re-visit.” The state is already reorganizing the [...]
Elkader bartender charged with threatening teenager during alcohol check
The manager of an Elkader tavern is charged with threatening and trying to hold captive a teenager working with sheriff’s deputies on an alcohol compliance check. Timothy Finley, 33, threatened the volunteer with a pipe and ordered her to go into the basement of Fennelly’s Irish Pub after she tried to buy a six pack [...]
Eastern Iowa churches open doors to homeless
A new effort by churches and a synagogue in Cedar Rapids and Marion is offering another shelter option for homeless families in Eastern Iowa. 13 area churches are participating in Family Promise of Linn County, the local affiliate of a national program that organizes churches to shelter and feed homeless families. Family Promise also provides [...]
Iowa police, fire agencies work to meet narrowband deadline
The Iowa State Patrol will improvise its way around gaps in radio coverage, and local emergency responders and their contractors are rushing to meet a New Year’s deadline to free broadcast spectrum for wireless devices. “We are extremely busy helping people meet the deadline,” said Dave Burger, general manager of Waterloo-based Radio Communications Company. “We [...]
Is Eastern Iowa ready for $8 milk?
From his Jackson County farm, Joe Heinrich will keep an eye on Washington, D.C., this weekend. Heinrich is paying close attention to a corner of the so-called “fiscal cliff” debate in Congress and the White House. Thanks to Congress’ failure to adopt a new farm bill, policies take effect at midnight Monday that would push [...]
