Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Will Marion land $1.5M to fix aging neighborhood homes?
Coming up on the Marion Patch calendar: Sunday Bingo at NewBo City Market
Morning Marion! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Will Marion land $1.5M to fix aging neighborhood homes?
- What inspectors found inside Marion’s Nara Thai kitchen last month
Also on today's calendar: Linn Area Photo Club and 5 more events.
Find out what's happening in Marionfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Marionfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: A little snow, up to 1", with a high of 34 and low of 19 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Sunday: Breezy in the morning, temps: high: 32, low: 25.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high of 43 and low of 34 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Marion seeks $1.5M grant to reinvest in existing housing (kcrg.com) — Marion city leaders are preparing to request a $1.5 million state grant to expand a housing reinvestment program after a 2022 study found major repair needs in many local homes. The city has already completed 23 projects with ARPA funds but couldn’t help every applicant, and officials say this new funding would support larger upgrades while Marion also works toward adding 2,000 new housing units by 2030. 
• Iowa restaurant inspection update: Mouse droppings, flies in beverages, expired food (kcrg.com) — A recent state inspection found several food-safety issues at Nara Thai on Blairs Ferry Road in Marion, including improper food storage, missing soap at a handwashing station, and undated prepared soup. The broader report lists similar violations at restaurants across Iowa, but Marion residents may want to note the specific concerns and that some problems were repeat violations.
📸 Around Marion
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 Marion
★ Featured events ★
- Sunday Bingo at NewBo City Market
NewBo City Market, 1100 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids
12:00 pm
Sunday January 11
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Linn Area Photo Club
IBEW Local 405 , 1211 Wiley Blvd SW , Cedar Rapids
1:30 pm - January Friendship Force Meeting
Marion Public Library , 1101 6th Ave , Marion
2:00 pm - Sunday Evening Karaoke
Taco Depot III , 35 Miller Ave SW , Cedar Rapids
6:00 pm - Junior Varsity Boys Basketball - Marion vs Cedar Rapids Washington
Washington High School
7:00 pm - Varsity Girls Wrestling - Wrestling Triangular
Solon High School
5:30 pm - Varsity Boys Wrestling - Wrestling Triangular
Solon High School
5:30 pm - Middle School Girls Wrestling - Indee Girls JH Home Meet 1
Independence High School , Independence
4:15 pm
Sunday January 11
Monday January 12
Thursday January 15
Friday January 16
📣 Marion 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
- Bird Banding at Amazing Space
Indian Creek Nature Center , 5300 Otis Rd SE , Cedar Rapids
12:00 pm - Basketball: B/V
Cedar Rapids Prairie High School , PHS South Gym (1801) , Cedar Rapids
4:30 pm - A Modern Salon
Brucemore , 2160 Linden Dr SE , Cedar Rapids
7:00 pm - Don't Tell Comedy Cedar Rapids Show
NewBo City Market , 1100 3rd St SE , Cedar Rapids
7:00 pm
Saturday January 10
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Marion PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Cedar Rapids Police released 2025 Crime Stats Report today.
2025 marks a second year of notable declines in shots fired. Shoplifting came down sharply in the past year as well. Police Chief David Dostal… (Nextdoor ) - Guns-N-Hoses is this weekend when the Cedar Rapids Roughriders host CRPD and CRFD for a friendly night recognizing their role in our great city.
The coveted Brass Nozzle Trophy is up for grabs during our 1st intermission face-off. The whole Roughriders team stopped by CRPD and CRFD to check… (Nextdoor )
- Papa Murphy's Holdings, Inc. posted a job opening for Crew Member in Marion. Apply here.
- Merry Maids posted a job opening for Housekeeping/House Cleaner in Cedar Rapids. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Marion here.
🗞 Nearby News
Hiawatha
- HACAP announces new Chief Operating Officer (kcrg.com)
- Ruth A. Shannon (vintontoday.com)
Cedar Rapids
- Cedar Rapids offers larger trash cans to residents (kcrg.com)
- Veterans Memorial Commission Museum unveils original Grant Wood drawings of Memorial Window in Cedar Rapids for new documentary (thegazette.com)
- Iowa GOP governor hopeful touts school choice, property tax relief in Cedar Rapids (thegazette.com)
Ok Marion! 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 sea you!
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