MARQUETTE, Iowa (KCRG) – A historic riverboat casino in Marquette will now have a new name as part of a $21 million project. Casino Queen Marquette is rebranding to Bally’s Marquette. The transformation includes selling the riverboat and moving to a new landside facility as well as introducing new dining and entertainment. The casino plans to improve guest experience by partnering with local food and beverage vendors, introducing new dining concepts, and upgrade arrival with direct access from the parking lot. According to a statement from Marquette Mayor Brittany Hemmer, she supports this project and looks forward to continue the partnership with Bally’s Marquette. Crews broke ground on the new casino last October. The casino is set to open early next year.
FAIRFAX, Iowa (KCRG) – An Eastern Iowa city is concerned that dozens of possibly illegal wells were dug at the site of two new data centers now under construction. It’s raising concerns about the water supply and fire safety. TV9 has been looking into these concerns since last week, but it’s unclear who dug the wells. Linn County Public Health and the Iowa DNR were investigating. The area where Google and QTS data centers would both be located in Cedar Rapids, but the construction site for QTS would extend into Fairfax. TV9 obtained emails showing Fairfax City staff raised concerns about wells on the site, including at least 40 that the county and state had no idea were there. The city’s original agreement for construction said nothing about digging wells, so it came as a surprise when Fairfax City staff learned workers had already dug at least one well at the site. That prompted concerns about depleting the city’s drinking water and having access to water in case of a fire. TV9 obtained a copy of a water study conducted last year, raising those exact concerns. That’s when city staff reached out to the Iowa DNR and Linn County Public Health. Those two agencies are in charge of permitting wells. And that the state and county discovered 40 other wells just last week, also dug without a permit. The Fairfax City Council is holding a special meeting starting at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A Cedar Rapids man was sentenced for distributing thousands of fentanyl pills on Monday. 22-year-old Jaylon Throgmartin, of Cedar Rapids, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. According to evidence presented, Throgmartin distributed thousands of fentanyl pills between December 2023 and October 2024. Evidence also revealed he was involved in selling a gun for fentanyl pills. He gave at least one fentanyl pill to someone who overdosed in January this year. The person recovered after receiving Narcan. Throgmartin was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison and a four-year supervised release.
OELWEIN, Iowa (KCRG) – Driving through Lakeview Mobile Home Court, you can see at least three “For Sale” signs. Some residents say those were listed out of desperation to leave. “They’re just selling their place and they’re selling it for nothing just to get the hell out,” said John Mathews. Mathews has lived in that community for two years now. In that time he says rent has gone up three times which has left many people financially unstable. Their most recent notice states they will now have to pay for water and sewer. He predicts each person will have to pay around an additional $100.00 per month just for water, putting even more residents at risk of uncertainty.
