Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell

10/12/2026

“It had to be somebody who’d plow deep and straight and not cut corners.”
—Paul Harvey, So God Made a Farmer
🌽🌽👨🏼‍🌾
Here's to the families who feed the world. Happy National Farmers Day!


Photo: sunset in Solon, Iowa

10/10/2026

"We've got spirit yes we do! We got spirit how 'bout you?!"👏🏻

You know we're always up for a good challenge!
We see you, Area Ambulance Service, calling us out for the Star of Life challenge.
Captain Cheney, and Firefighters Sutton and Schmitz at Station 3 were up for the challenge this morning.
The six points of the classic blue star stand for: detection, reporting, response, on-scene care, care in transit, and transfer to definitive care.

Now, who's ready to accept our challenge?
Des Moines Fire Department
Davenport Fire Department Hiawatha Fire Department
Dubuque Fire Department
Sioux City Fire Rescue
Are you up for it?

10/09/2026

📣"We want our roads fixed!"

I hear you! We're working everyday, making great progress. Track the progress in real time. (Link in comments.)

Here's the other side of that, road construction!🚧 It's on all of us to support businesses in the path.

Update from city crews:

"Help us support businesses affected by local construction!

We have two important projects happening close to each other downtown. 3rd Street SE from 8th Avenue to 5th Avenue is receiving new asphalt, curb and gutter. Next Tuesday, October 13, the street will be milled, and the street will be closed each night, 7 pm to 7 am, for paving and marking October 14-16.

Meanwhile, we are building a new segment of downtown trail that requires closures we on 7th Avenue SE and 5th Street SE.

Remember: All businesses in that area are still open and accessible. Detour signs are in place that make it clear how to reach businesses within the construction zone. We encourage you to join us in supporting them!

Affected businesses include:

Benz Properties (including Benz Beverage Depot and Lightworks Cafe)
Cedar Rapids Transmission Inc.
Cherry The Cherry BuildingThe Clock House
C R Sheet Metal Co.
Dummermuth Investments (including Safelite)
Fork With It
Horizons, A Family Service Alliance
Human Services Campus
The Keg
KN Properties (including Riley’s Cafe)
Lazarus Investments (including Hidden Gems)
The Map Room
Mercy Medical Center
New Bo City Market
Pepsi Co.
Professional Muffler
Safo Properties (including Family Medicine Specialists)
Sara King Woodwind Studio
SLE Investments (including UnityPoint Health - Abbe Center)
Terry Durin Co.
Veritas Cafe
The Warehouse on Third
WRH"

Let's thank those who face it outside their doors, by shopping, eating, supporting them through these projects.

10/08/2026

🙏🏻Thank you Connect CR for inviting Cedar Rapids to take part in something much bigger than ourselves.
🇺🇸
Last weekend, The American Discovery Trail’s ADT 250 Relay came through our city on its coast-to-coast journey celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday.

I had the honor of receiving the batons from Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin, courtesy of Revival Theatre Company’s 1776 cast.

I’m grateful to every person who gave their time and energy to this incredible project. Someone had to organize the welcome, coordinate the rides, prepare the sites and take care of all the details that made it look easy.

We got to carry a little piece of American history through Cedar Rapids. Pretty special.👏🏻


Photos: ConnectCR

10/06/2026

👏🏻Congratulations, Chief Brent Smith!🚒

Chief Smith joined our department as a firefighter and paramedic in 2003, rising through the ranks as Captain, Battalion Chief, Training Chief and Assistant Fire Chief of Operations.

Founded in 1869, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department carries 157 years of service. Chief Smith now helps write its next chapter.

Congratulations, Chief Smith and thank you to EVERY member of our Fire Department who answers the call. 🚒

10/06/2026

🌽Oh, hey...we see you Iowa!

Doing our best to stop being a "best kept secret."

Thanks for the recognition Travel + Leisure!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

"Iowa came in at No. 1 to dethrone Wyoming after an impressive 15-spot leap from last year. The Hawkeye State performed consistently well across all three categories (quality of life, affordability, and economic strength). "



Photo: Calcam Ap

Article in comments.⬇️

10/05/2026

🥰You never know who you'll meet at the self-storage facility.

That's exactly how THIS ⬇️ started.

Our new Bloomberg Fellow, Cameron, met June at the storage unit. June is an artist in residence at the Ceramics Center...enter other new artists in residence, Claire and Chloe.

And then there were 4. New, temporary (for now!) residents of Cedar Rapids.

Add one Executive Director, Sarah, one mayor (yours truly), and we have a lunch date at my favorite Phong Lan along with new friends!

Stories like this are not uncommon in our city. It's such a tribute to the people who CHOOSE Cedar Rapids, everyday. Thank you.🙏🏻

10/05/2026

Goooood morning!☀️
Calcam Ap

10/04/2026

Good morning, Cedar Rapids!

It's a good day to...

Be grateful for another sunrise.
Celebrate another birthday.
Hug someone a little longer.
Thank the person who showed up when you needed them.
Celebrate survivors.
Encourage those still in treatment.
Remember those we miss.
Walk for someone we love.

At today's "Especially for You" walk, gratitude and remembrance walk side by side.

It’s a good day to be grateful. And a good day to show someone they’re not alone. 💗

(Go Suzy, go!💖)