Nearby Communities
State Edition
National Edition
🌱 Where you can get free gun locks in Cedar Rapids now
Good morning Cedar Rapids! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Where you can get free gun locks in Cedar Rapids now
- How Cedar Rapids Jefferson turned a late arrival into a comeback win
- How a Cedar Rapids-area kid became a Medal of Honor hero
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Cedar Rapids? Post it to Cedar Rapids photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Cedar Rapids Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near Cedar Rapids.
- Tuesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 35 and low of 25 degrees.
- Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, temps: high: 37, low: 32.
- Thursday: Strong winds developing, with a high of 39 and low of 4 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
📰 News we're reading
• Linn County Public Health adds gun locks to harm reduction vending machines (mvlsun.com) — Cedar Rapids residents can now pick up free gun locks from several local harm reduction vending machines, thanks to a partnership between Linn County Public Health and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. The machines, already stocked with Naloxone and other supplies, now aim to reduce accidental shootings, suicides, and gun thefts alongside ongoing efforts to curb overdoses and STIs. 
• Lillie Spicer's big finish sends Jefferson past Linn-Mar, 50-43 (thegazette.com) — Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s girls basketball team rallied past Linn-Mar, 50-43, thanks to a dominant 24-point, 17-rebound performance from junior Lillie Spicer on Monday night in Marion. After nearly missing the second-half tip while talking in the locker room, the J-Hawks stormed back from an eight-point halftime deficit, showcasing their new coaching staff and junior-heavy lineup against a big night from Linn-Mar’s Lanie Ernzen.
• Medal of Honor Monday: Salvatore Giunta's Korengal Valley Stand (sofrep.com subscription) — A nationally known Medal of Honor recipient actually grew up in the Cedar Rapids–Hiawatha area, giving his story special local resonance. The piece traces Salvatore Giunta’s quiet Iowa upbringing through his intense 2007 combat actions in Afghanistan that earned him the nation’s highest military honor, emphasizing his focus on teammates over personal glory.
📸 Around Cedar Rapids
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓
Upcoming Events in
Cedar Rapids
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
-
Basketball: G/V
Cedar Rapids Prairie High SchoolPHS South Gym (1801)
7:30 pm -
BKB: B/Freshman
Prairie High School PHS North Gym Prairie High SchoolPHS North Gym (1402)
4:00 pm -
BKB: B/Sophomore
Prairie High School PHS South Gym Prairie High SchoolPHS South Gym (1801)
6:00 pm
Tuesday December 16
Monday December 22
📣 Cedar Rapids Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
-
Project FeederWatch
Indian Creek Nature Center , 5300 Otis Rd SE , Cedar Rapids
1:00 pm -
Varsity Robotics - Robotics Competition
Marion High School
4:00 pm -
Freshman Boys Basketball - Marion vs West Delaware
West Delaware High School
4:30 pm -
Chatty Crafters
Ely Public Library , 1595 Dows St , Ely
5:00 pm -
Junior Varsity Girls Basketball - Marion vs West Delaware
West Delaware High School
5:45 pm -
Junior Varsity Boys Swimming - Cedar Rapids Washington vs Bettendorf
Bettendorf High School
6:00 pm -
Varsity Boys Swimming - Cedar Rapids Washington vs Bettendorf
Bettendorf High School
6:00 pm -
Sophomore Boys Basketball - Marion vs West Delaware
West Delaware High School
6:00 pm -
Varsity Boys Basketball - Marion vs West Delaware
West Delaware High School
7:15 pm
Tuesday December 16
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Precious Brubeck got out the door just as this cold snap set in.
Area of Oakland Rd NE near O Ave. Black shorthair with a small white mark on his chest. 10 lbs. Right rear leg recently shaved by vet. Please text… (Nextdoor Arthur/Franklin School) - Snowman in Czech Village today!
Have some fun in this snow everyone, especially if you have kids....always was one of my favorite things to do growing up, once Fall came I couldn't… (Nextdoor 42nd St SE)
- Taco Bell posted a job opening for Shift Manager TB37052-DOWNTOWN in Cedar Rapids. Apply here.
- Iowa Staffing posted a job opening for Custodian II- Washington - 3:30pm-12:00am in Cedar Rapids. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cedar Rapids here.
🗞 Nearby News
Hiawatha
- Kimberly K. Bowe (kmaq.com)
Marion
- Photo Gallery: Gazette's Best Photos for the First Half of December 2025 (thegazette.com)
- UnityPoint's Adult Day Health Centers provide support for older adults with dementia, intellectual disabilities (thegazette.com)
- Linn-Mar Superintendent Amy Kortemeyer to retire (thegazette.com)
Mount Vernon
Ok Cedar Rapids! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.