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Hey Cedar Rapids, hope your week’s off to a good start!
In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Girl Scouts volunteer honored, new data center rules spark debate, and try hockey for free + lots of fun things to do for free.
Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Cedar Rapids protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.
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📰 In the news
Shaping future leaders locally: Central City mom Ruthanne Weighton was recognized on February 23 for 27 years with Girl Scout troops, from running north Linn County cookies to CPR training that helps girls thrive — learn how she empowers girls.
New guardrails for data centers: Linn County has unanimously approved new rules for future data centers in unincorporated areas, adding separate zoning and requiring water impact studies for large projects, while current facilities remain unaffected — see what’s in the ordinance.
Grant-funded safety upgrade: Coralville will build a $1.25 million roundabout at a high crash intersection near Costco to ease traffic. Work will start in late March and is expected to finish by August — get all the project details.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Highlights this week:
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🏆 Gold and silver are heating up
Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold
Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.
While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.
If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.
It’s free and worth reading before the next move.
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🫶 We got your back
Twirl-worthy comfort carbs: Napoli’s Italian Restaurant is the easy answer when pasta cravings hit, serving classic, cozy plates that taste like an exhale after a long day. Keep it in the weeknight rotation, and let the twirling begin… along with that contented, tell-no-one silence.
Closet refresh, but cooler: Craving pieces with stories and personality? Vintage 2 Die 4 serves up sharply curated vintage for your space and style, championing reuse and supporting Central Furniture Rescue, so your haul looks great and does good, too.
Chill the aches away: Whether it’s a cranky back or post-workout soreness, Humpal Chiropractic pairs targeted cryotherapy with hands-on care, including A.R.T., therapeutic exercises, dry needling, and massage, to calm inflammation and keep you moving. Give sore spots a brief, icy timeout and return to your day with less fuss.
Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.
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📆 Free events worth checking out
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
☕ Coffee and Art Club @ Eastern Iowa Arts Academy | Tuesday (3/3) at 9:30 AM – Tuesday mornings at Eastern Iowa Arts Academy mean one thing, caffeine with a side of creativity. Drop in for free coffee and low-pressure art, toss a couple bucks in the jar if the brew treats you right. Social, simple, and blissfully agenda free.
🎵 Weekly Music Bingo @ The Bar | Tuesday (3/3) at 7:00 PM – Put those mixtape muscles to work at weekly Music Bingo, free as always, with a fresh theme every month and house cash up for grabs. Drop in when you want, stay for the good vibes, and finally let your karaoke habit pay rent.
🤝 ImpactCR Volunteers with Matthew 25 @ Cultivate Hope Urban Farm | Wednesday (3/4) at 11:00 AM – If your green thumb is mostly theoretical, join ImpactCR and Matthew 25 in the Cultivate Hope Urban Farm greenhouse for a seed-starting assembly line. Drop in for a quick 30-minute stint, then snag a free Groundswell Café lunch, feel useful, and call it community. RSVP: https://shorturl.at/ELgpA
🎨 Kirkwood High School Art Invitational Reception @ Iowa Hall Art Gallery | Thursday (3/5) at 5:00 PM – Think the kids only draw on iPads? Swing through the Iowa Hall Art Gallery for Kirkwood’s High School Art Invitational reception, where local teens show off serious 2D and 3D chops. Free entry, real snacks, and the smug joy of spotting talent early.
💻 CoderDojo: PBS Education @ Foundation 2 | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Got a curious kiddo or grandkid? This free CoderDojo session lets K-5 explorers roam hands-on STEM stations with mentors, while Iowa PBS leads families through real-world science phenomena. Think curiosity over chaos, quality time without the kitchen volcano, and yes, please register.
🏒 Try Hockey for Free @ ImOn Ice | Saturday (3/7) at 5:15 PM – Whether you grew up yelling at the TV or you still call them stick thingies, this is your chance to try hockey for free. Bring the kids, friends, and a sense of humor, and discover skating, shooting, and scoring without the pressure. Register here: https://tryhockeyforfree.com/event\_detail/4552
🎶 90’s Name That Tune Trivia @ Mulligan’s Pub | Tuesday (3/10) at 7:00 PM – If you still know every word to No Scrubs, come flex that 90s brain at Name That Tune at Mulligan’s. Free to play, teams up to eight, house cash on the line, and bragging rights for days. Get there early, the good tables go fast.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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📻 Cedar Rapids report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 45°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 31%
A chance of rain before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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Tomorrow – High: 52°F – Low: 41°F – Precip: 36%
A chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Someone Googled you this week 👀
It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.
Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.
Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.
This house is wild
Set on a full acre, this nearly new 5,000-square-foot home is built for gatherings. A great room with gas fireplace flows to a kitchen with large island. The tucked-away primary suite offers another fireplace and a heated tile bath with soaking tub. A walkout lower level adds a rec room and third fireplace, plus four-stall garage and cocoa septic.
Take a peek inside →
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