IOWA CITY -- Beginning on the evening of Thursday, October 17, 2019, the sidewalk on the west side of South Gilbert Street will be closed to pedestrian and bike traffic between Napoleon Lane and McCollister Boulevard due to pavement replacement. 

It is anticipated that this sidewalk will reopen on Monday, Oct. 20, 2019.

Trail users are to take note of this closure and seek an alternate route on the Iowa River Trail during this time. Please use caution when traveling through all construction areas

IOWA CITY -- Weather permitting, beginning on Monday, October 21, 2019, lanes of traffic will be shifted on Linn Street between Market Street and Bloomington Street to facilitate the installation of storm sewer in the area.  It is anticipated normal traffic will resume by Friday, October 25^th.

Motorists are encouraged to allow extra travel time during this time period as delays may occur.  As always, caution should be exercised when driving through all construction areas.

For updated information on road construction in Iowa City, visit www.icgov.org/travelalerts. 

Find some killer costumes and a group of friends and play in our FrightFest kickball tournament.… Read on

Today's weather forecast and a four day outlook.  Check this page for the latest weather reports in the corridor area.  Up-to-date weather conditions for the Iowa City area are observed at the Iowa City, Iowa City Municipal Airport, IA.  For weather conditions specific to other cities outside the corridor area, just type in your zip code below.

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CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Each year, millions of children and adults alike celebrate Halloween, a holiday known for its sweet treats and spooky parties. Leave the dangerous driving for the witches on brooms, and commit to sober driving Halloween night, and every night. To help spread the message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with the Cedar Rapids Police Department to remind everyone of the dangers of drunk driving. Halloween poses an especially dangerous threat to pedestrians, as more people are out at night on the hunt for candy. If your night involves alcohol, plan for a sober ride home. Remember: It’s never safe to drink and drive.

“This year, Halloween falls on a Thursday, so we’re certain to see extra parties throughout the weekend, and every single partygoer should plan their sober ride home in advance” said Sergeant Graham Campshure, Traffic Commander with the Cedar Rapids Police Department.  “Even one drink can impair judgement. You should never put yourself, or others, at risk because you made the selfish choice to drink and drive. For most, even one drink can be one too many. Remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.”

Between 2013 and 2017, there were 158 drunk-driving fatalities on Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31 – 5:59 a.m. November 1). According to NHTSA, 42% of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes on Halloween night from 2013 to 2017 were in crashes involving a drunk driver. Younger drivers are most at risk: Even though it is illegal to consume alcohol under age 21, those under the age of 21 had the highest percentage (45%) of fatalities in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night in 2017.

“We want our community to have a fun night out on Halloween, but to also stay safe and make responsible choices,” said Campshure.  “In today’s world, there are many options available to drivers to help them get home safely if they have been drinking. We expect drivers to refrain from driving after drinking,” he said.

It is illegal everywhere in America to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Even still, thousands die each year in drunk-driving-related crashes. In 2017, there were 10,874 people killed in drunk-driving crashes. And the costs can be financial, too: If you’re caught drinking and driving, you could face jail time, lose your driver’s license and your vehicle, and pay up to $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, car towing and repairs, higher insurance rates, and lost wages.

Drunk driving isn’t the only risk on the road: Drug-impaired driving is also an increasing problem on our nation’s roads, for men and for women. If drivers are impaired by any substance — alcohol or drugs — they should not get behind the wheel of a vehicle. It is illegal in all states to drive impaired by alcohol or drugs. Across the country, some states are starting to loosen restrictions on marijuana, specifically. Remember: Driving while impaired is illegal, period. The bottom line is this: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. It’s that simple. 

Party with a Plan

If you plan to head out for a night of Halloween partying, follow these simple tips for a safe and happy evening:

• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride sharing service to get home safely.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
• Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

Always remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Effective Thursday, October 17, 2019,  the eastbound lane on 2^nd Avenue SE will be closed to traffic between 1^st Street and 2^nd Street for crane operations. The westbound lane will remain open. Work is anticipated to take one (1) day to complete, weather permitting. Eastbound traffic must seek an alternate route.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The Police Department was awarded a federal grant for $222,345 from the FY19 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program through the United States Department of Justice.  The grant will be used to enhance a prior federal match grant with Foundation 2 that allowed the Police Department to partner with Foundation 2 to employ a Law Enforcement Liaison with the goal of connecting those experiencing mental health issues to appropriate resources rather than incarceration. 

The Law Enforcement Liaison, who is an employee of Foundation 2, works with police officers and responds to calls for service involving individuals with a mental health crisis.  The Law Enforcement Liaison, who works out of the Cedar Rapids Police Station, has the primary role of assisting officers who have identified individuals who may need some type of assistance because of mental illness or co-occurring disorders.  One of the primary responsibilities of the Liaison is to direct individuals that need assistance to available resources.  When individuals have access and utilize the necessary resources, there is a decrease in calls for service and there is less likelihood of incarceration.  By working with individuals who have suicidal ideation, depression, family issues, substance abuse, or housing issues, the impact on police resources is reduced.   The Liaison position began in February 2018.  Over 200 individuals were provided resources or received a service referral by the Law Enforcement Liaison in 2018 alone.  

The majority of the grant funds will be used over the next 3 years to enhance police response to individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.  The grant will allow for the Police Department to add a second Mental Health Liaison employed by Foundation 2.  The Police Department would also assign a police officer dedicated to assisting the Mental Health Liaisons as part of the City’s share of the federal grant matching requirements. 

The Law Enforcement Liaison is just one aspect of a robust collaborative effort between the Police Department and Foundation 2 to provide assistance to those in need of mental health services.  Representatives from both agencies meet on a regular basis to address systemic issues and evaluate the program.  The concept of a Law Enforcement Liaison was conceptualized from this ongoing collaboration between the Police Department and Foundation 2.

IOWA CITY -- Weather permitting, on Thursday, October 17, 2019, Market Street will be reduced to one lane of traffic between Linn Street and Clinton Street to facilitate the construction of a building in the area.  It is anticipated normal traffic will resume by the end of the day.

Motorists are encouraged to allow extra travel time during this time period as delays may occur.  As always, caution should be exercised when driving through all construction areas.

For updated information on road construction in Iowa City, visit www.icgov.org/travelalerts.