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Hey Cedar Rapids, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Iowa DNR controlled burns, a $30,000 home makeover sweepstakes, and an approved esports arena + 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.

📰 In the news

Restoration efforts ramp up: Iowa DNR plans controlled burns from mid-March to mid-May across the Iowa River Unit, including Linn, Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, and Tama counties, improving habitat and reducing wildfire risk — see what’s planned and why.

From Hiawatha shop to mainstay: Cedar Rapids remodeler Hometown Restyling is celebrating 40 years and moving to 100 percent employee ownership, while offering $30,000 in Home Makeover sweepstakes to local homeowners this year — see company history and sweepstakes.

Five-building project takes shape: Coralville approved an esports arena last week near I-80, part of a two-phase plan with restaurants and shops, as high school gaming surges statewide with over 160 participating schools — 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.

Highlights this week:

• Learn Usui Reiki I with Nicki
• Paint a palm tree at night
• Pre-K kids create, move, and strum ukuleles

🫶 We got your back

Where lunch hits different: When midday hunger kicks in, Lu’s Deli in the NewBo District stacks hand-sliced meats, homemade soups, and from-scratch desserts into serious no-fuss goodness. Craveables include the 3rd Street Italian Stack, the Cran-Turkey, and other thoughtfully built classics you’ll remember all afternoon.

Greenhouse vibes, anyone? Noelridge Park delivers a low-key reset with a splash pad, an easy walking loop, and courts for whacking away the week. The on-site greenhouse turns gray days into a tiny tropical escape, especially when winter lingers, making this hideaway feel like a secret.

Find your next grail: Toy Lair is your local trove for vintage-to-now action figures, retro video games, and 80s/90s icons like Star Wars, TMNT, He-Man, and G.I. Joe. Run by real collectors, they know the good stuff… and will happily buy your old treasures when the decluttering bug bites.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 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.

🎶 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.

🎻 Ambroš Duo @ National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library | Tuesday (3/10) at 7:00 PM – Live chamber music in our Czech & Slovak museum hits the sweet spot. The Ambroš Duo from Prague brings violin, piano, and Old World charm to our backyard. It is free, which pairs nicely with a seat, a sweater, and a quick RSVP.

🎹 Spring Serenades @ First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids | Wednesday (3/11) at 12:30 PM – Right after the noon Lent service, swing by Coe for a free mini concert from the music faculty, this round a jazz piano duo with Steve Shanley and Coe student Chase Beightler. Consider it a lunch break with taste, culture, and zero cover.

💧 Mel Oliven Lecture: What’s in Your Water? @ Iowa Hall, Kirkwood Community College | Thursday (3/12) at 11:15 AM – Grab your curiosity, and head to Kirkwood for the 54th Mel Oliven Lecture, where Drake’s Dr. Claire Hruby uses genetics to reveal what’s in our water, and who put it there. Free, sharp, and just alarming enough to rethink your Cedar River plans.

💎 Be.jeweled Gallery Closing @ CSPS Hall | Thursday (3/12) at 5:30 PM – Gallery closing for Gae Sharp Richardson’s BE.jeweled, a free sendoff at CSPS Hall where rescued black-and-white strangers from estate sales finally take center stage. Come trade looks with their slight smiles, vacant stares, and quiet hands, then pretend you only came for the chairs.

🐀 Pied Piper @ Cedar Rapids Public Library | Friday (3/13) at 9:30 AM – Introduce the grandkids to live music without gambling your sanity. Orchestra Iowa is doing free, pint-sized concerts built for preschool attention spans, first with a woodwind quintet, then a brass quintet later this spring. Short, charming, and mercifully fidget-friendly.

📝 As a Whole Poetry Event @ Craft’d | Saturday (3/14) at 6:30 PM – 237 Collective just went legit as a nonprofit, so they’re celebrating the classic way, with poetry, an open mic, and storytelling at Craft’d. Bring a memory to share, because nothing says party like a mic you pass around, and enjoy a free night with neighbors.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Cedar Rapids report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 63°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 20%

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny. High near 63, with temperatures falling to around 60 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy. Low around 36, with temperatures rising to around 39 overnight. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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Tomorrow – High: 46°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 56%

Rain showers likely before 7am, then a chance of rain and snow between 7am and 10am, then a chance of rain and snow between 10am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Iowa but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

New TruGrade ranch in Ushers Ridge near the Cedar River, outside the flood plain. About 3,200 finished square feet showcase a bright main level with 9-foot ceilings, a quartz kitchen with an island for six, and an ADA-friendly primary suite. The lower level adds a custom wet bar with live edge shelving. An oversized 3-stall garage includes EV prewire.

Take a peek inside →