Iowa

Iowa commission to set timeline on potential Cedar Rapids casino

Published

1 year ago

July 8, 2024

Iowa commission to set timeline on potential Cedar Rapids casino

ALTOONA, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) – The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will soon start the process of reviewing an application for a casino license for a facility in Cedar Rapids.

Joint Applicants Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) and the Linn County Gaming Association say they’re planning to turn their plans in at the end of the month.

Jonathan Swain with P2E said they’re updating a few things before they turn their application in. “Our application has been ready for a couple of years. In 2021, we essentially selected the new site, the new amenities, the building, and the location,” Swain said.

Applicants are placing bets that a casino coming to Cedar Rapids would bring jobs and a boost to the local economy. In addition, they’ll contribute 8% of their revenue to nonprofits in the city. Anne Parmley with the Linn County Gaming Association said that’ll work out to $5-7 million a year. “It’s the highest gaming revenue contribution in the state,” Parmley said.

But not everyone has something positive to say about the proposal. Gary Thelen of West Des Moines said when Cedar Rapids voters defeated a proposed casino in 2003, people who would’ve rolled the dice and invested money in the city went elsewhere. “Now it’s too late to correct that vote. I have nothing against the people of Linn County, but they have to accept the consequences of their 2003 negative votes,” Thelen said.

Other casinos are worried about their revenues. Back in 2014 and 2017, the commission denied the city because green lighting it would take money from existing casinos and give it to Cedar Rapids. It’s something commission going to have to look at this time too.

Daryl Olsen, the Chair of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission said, “There’s multiple things we have to look at. They all impact how we make a decision so that’s a hot topic but we’re going to look at all the aspects of it.”

The commission also voted at their meeting Monday to require a market study on the impacts of the proposed casino.

Here’s what commissioner Olsen says they’re looking for: ”What is the facility? What impact does it have? Tourism. The whole impact and part of that is as you addressed cannibalization so all of those questions are hopefully going to be reviewed and brought in on to the study,” Olsen said.

Olsen says those studies usually take two to three months to complete.

Monday the commission decided that this Friday they’ll lay out the official timeline to get through this process, which generally takes six to nine months so people in Cedar Rapids can get their answer about whether they’ll finally get their casino.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Television-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

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Iowa

Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren joins growing 2nd District GOP field

Published

2 days ago

September 23, 2025

Press Room

Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren joins growing 2nd District GOP field

Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, announced her run for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District Tuesday, joining a growing field of Republicans aiming to take the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson. In a social media post Tuesday morning, Lundgren announced her U.S. House campaign, kicking off by stating her early support for President Donald […]

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Iowa

Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson launches campaign for U.S. Senate

Published

2 weeks ago

September 14, 2025

Press Room

Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson launches campaign for U.S. Senate

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson officially launched her campaign for U.S. Senate at the Radisson Hotel in Cedar Rapids on Sunday.

“In the Senate, I will fight to make America look more like Iowa,” Hinson said. “Here, we know the difference between boys and girls. We know that families deserve to keep more of what they earn, and we know the people, not the government, always come first,” she said.

Right now, Ashley Hinson represents northeast Iowa’s 2nd District in Congress.

She’s running to replace Republican Senator Joni Ernst, who announced earlier this month she would not run for re-election.

“Ashley Hinson gives me hope. Someone that I know fights for me. Someone that has my back. And somebody that will have your back,” the Jones County Sheriff, Greg Graveler said about Hinson.

Hinson told Sunday’s crowd she wants to keep deporting illegal immigrants, cut taxes, and defend farmers in agriculture.

She also addressed Democrats who she said may consider her an extremist.

“If it’s extreme to want parents in charge of our kids’ education, if it’s extreme to want safe borders and safe streets, if it’s extreme to believe that there are only two genders, then they can go ahead and call me whatever they want,” Hinson said.

While Hinson will face plenty of competition for the Senate spot from other Republicans and Democrats, she said she’s confident in her campaign.

“We can only deliver on these critical wins, and make America safer and stronger for a generation to come if we win this seat. Or correction – when we win this seat,” Hinson said.

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