By Jeff Pomeranz and Joe O’Hern —-   As we mark the five-year anniversary of the devastating June 2008 flood, we must begin with gratitude. Thank you for everything you have done to bring Cedar Rapids back stronger than ever. Our progress is because of the widespread community support we received from local residents [...]

  By Patrick Muller —-   On March 7, eight people brought their “bright ideas” on public visual arts to “Ignite Cedar Rapids” to make a “more vibrant, urban hometown” for the City of Five Seasons. I was disappointed I could not be in the audience. I was at The Alamo for a food event [...]

  By Keith Rippy —-   On Tuesday, the voters of Linn County will decide whether to approve gambling in our county. A casino would bring exciting opportunities to our community, creating more than 600 jobs, boosting economic development and providing new entertainment, meeting and event venues. However, as the chair of the Linn County [...]

  By Ann E. Lebo —-   Iowa is a state of tradition, small-town stubbornness, and pride. All of which I know well. I was born and raised in Grundy Center. My mother was a teacher while my father ran the family business in this same town where he was raised. They instilled in me [...]

  By Liz Schott —- On this day in 1883, the first edition of The Gazette was published. Several months later, my great-great grandfather, Clarence Miller, and his brother-in-law, Fred Faulkes, bought the fledgling newspaper, The Gazette Company, which has become an institution in service to our community for five generations. Back in 1883, there [...]

  By Bruce Lehrman and Dennis Henderson —–     Please allow us to speak from the heart as dedicated community and business leaders of Linn County. We all remember when Linn County was hit with devastating and historic floods. We know firsthand the impact the flood had on our great city’s businesses and economic [...]

  By Marc and Cathy Gullickson —- Question: What happens when 22,000 donors, 500 companies, 40 community partners, scores of volunteers and United Way get together? Answer: In Eastern Iowa, what happens is almost unbelievable. More than $10 million is raised and put to work, helping nearly 100,000 people in need improve their lives. This [...]

  By Jonathan Brand —-     Over the last few months, as a way to get to know my environs, I have been asking colleagues and friends to identify Eastern Iowa’s greatest strengths. I am, after all, just now completing my first year as president of Cornell College and knowing more about our region’s [...]