From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
The latest piece of flood protection on the Cedar River is now complete. A ribbon cutting took place at the $6 million 12th Avenue Southeast Floodgate that’s part of the Cedar Rapids Flood Control System. The U.S. Army corps of engineers, utility companies, and contractors were involved in the structure that runs almost 80-feet along the river. The design is meant to help reduce property damage and economic losses that were seen from the 2008 flood that devastated downtown.
The Cedar Rapids Community School District is developing a new plan to improve facilities at a number of its schools. After its previous $220 million bond referendum was overwhelmingly rejected by voters last November, the district is looking for another attempt to go to voters. Architects toured all 32 of its schools this week as part of the revisions on their newest facilities master plan. Thursday’s tour included Grant Wood Elementary, Erkskine Elementary, and Washington High School–all on the southeast side of Cedar Rapids and all buildings that opened in the 1950s.
Governor Reynolds is sending more personnel to the Texas-Mexico border. Eight troopers and two sergeants from the Iowa Department of Public Safety will leave for a four-week deployment this Sunday. The Iowa National Guard will be part of two different missions starting April 1. A total of 110 military personnel members will help the Texas Military Department with security until May 3.
Work has begun on a new pocket park, coming to downtown Dubuque. It’ll be at the corner of Ninth Street and Central Avenue, the former site of the Big Ten Mart. The area will feature art from local creators celebrating the fire and police departments. There will also be an area for food trucks to pull in, “microforest land” and areas to sit and enjoy downtown. The goal is to begin construction in May and have it ready to be used by June. The group “Dubuque Forward” is behind the project which will cost half a million dollars.
