Flood Recovery

A new amphitheater will be built on the west side of the Cedar River facing May's Island. Photographed Tuesday, May 10, 2011, in Cedar Rapids. (Liz Martin/SourceMedia Group News)

C.R. panel makes plan for ‘West Village’

Council hopes to turn area across the Cedar River into a new piece of local geography 5

CEDAR RAPIDS — Get used to the idea of a West Village. The City Council’s Development Committee this week all-but formally created the place, West Village, directly across the Cedar River from downtown in a move that turns talk among council members in recent months into a new piece of Cedar Rapids geography. The drive [...]

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In this June 13, 2011 file photo, a home is engulfed by flood water in Hamburg, Iowa from the rising Missouri River. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)

Senators say Missouri River flooding served as ‘unifying moment’

Flood control emerges as top priority after last year's historic flooding

Two U.S. senators who symbolize disagreements between upstream and downstream states over management of the Missouri River say last year’s historic flooding was a unifying moment. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., toured dams and levees along the river on Tuesday and Wednesday. Their home states have long battled over whether the [...]

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A sediment trap is one of the water quality improvement practices used by a landowner near the Fountain Springs Park trout stream. The trap improves water quality by reducing the number of sediment, nutrients and bacteria reaching the watershed. The trap also reduces flooding by slowing water reaching streams. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Report: Leaders dismiss warnings

Iowa City group says flood panels’ suggestions are being ignored

  State officials are ignoring important public policy recommendations to cope with climate change and increased risks of flooding and water pollution, Iowa Policy Project researchers said Monday. “Iowans are going to see increased problems with water quality and quantity, in the form of flood damage, unless we make changes,” said Brian McDonough, lead author [...]

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The crystal components of the large chandelier at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids awaits reassembly on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG)

Chandelier returning to Czech-Slovak museum in Cedar Rapids

8-foot-tall fixture served as 'beacon of hope' during flood recovery

A beacon of hope during the Floods of 2008 is taking shape to prepare for its reinstallation in the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. The museum’s signature chandelier was carefully dismantled in November 2010 — the last item removed before the building was relocated to higher ground the following summer. More than 1,000 [...]

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Kellee (cq) Cortez assistant district court administrator demonstrates how the judge's bench can be raised or lowered in one of the eight courtrooms on the first level of the Linn County Courthouse on Friday, May 11, 2012, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Renovation of the first floor of the courthouse is almost complete. Eight courtrooms are located on the first level as well as judges' chambers and other offices. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette-KCRG)

Repaired first floor of the Linn County Courthouse to reopen

Building was damaged during flood in 2008 1

CEDAR RAPIDS — After four long years, the first floor of the Linn County Courthouse, which was flooded in 2008, will be open for court proceedings Monday. The eight new courtrooms, conference rooms and judges’ chambers were getting their final cleanups Friday before the first phase of the $6.3 million renovation project opens to the [...]

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Floodwaters of the Cedar River rise around the Linn County Courthouse and City Hall as the river nears its crest in Cedar Rapids shortly before noon on Friday, June 13, 2008.  (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

111 more properties added to Cedar Rapids buyout list

Total flood-related buyouts now near 1,350 12

CEDAR RAPIDS — Six weeks ago City Hall put out an absolute last call for property owners to get into the city’s flood buyout program, and people heard: The owners of 111 residential and commercial properties scurried to beat the deadline. The City Council this week approved adding the final group of flood-hit properties to [...]

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Volunteers fill sandbags along Madison Street in front of the Lindquist Center on the University of Iowa Campus Friday, June 13, 2008 in Iowa City. The UI announced on Friday that all non-essential faculty and staff should not report to work on the UI campus, effective immediately. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

FEMA denies second University of Iowa appeal on art museum

Building damaged in 2008 flood 1

  University of Iowa officials said they are disappointed by the federal government’s denial of money to replace the UI Museum of Art at a new location, and they are considering their next steps. State officials Wednesday announced the decision by Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to deny the UI’s second appeal regarding museum funding [...]

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New exterior images for the NewBo City Market, which now Includes a playground, demonstration garden with rain water collection, solar panels, and other environmentally friendly features. (Cedar Rapids City Market Inc.)

NewBo City Market gets $500,000 grant from City Council

Construction under way at site; market expected to open in late fall 7

  CEDAR RAPIDS — Construction crews were busy Thursday taking the first steps to convert an old metal pole building once home to Quality Chef Foods into the NewBo City Market. The launch of the construction of the year-round farmers marketon Third Street SE in the heart of the New Bohemia arts and entertainment districtwas [...]

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The Linn County Administrative Office Building at 930 First St. SW in Cedar Rapids. (Gazette file)

Work on Linn County’s new admininstrative offices nears deadline

County offices will soon be leaving Westdale

Linn County departments are into the last months at their temporary home at Westdale Mall. Crews working on the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center, perhaps the centerpiece of the county’s recovery from the June 2008 flood, are working to meet a May 11 deadline on the project. That will allow departments now at [...]

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A boat full of people makes it's way through the intersection of Highway Six and Hawkins Drive in Iowa City as sightseers take photos Friday, June 13, 2008. Water from the Iowa River continues to revage Iowa City and Coralville as it pours in to the area. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

UI to get $6.7 million from FEMA for demolitions

The funds will be used at Hancher Auditorium, Voxman Music Building and the Studio Arts complex

  IOWA CITY — University of Iowa officials on Tuesday received word of the official obligation of more than $6.7 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the demolition of three flood-damaged campus buildings. The new obligation is money UI officials had expected from FEMA, but the obligation is the final step in the [...]

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