We are here at Grace Community church. They just finished the last of three seseices in north libertrttoday andndll were packed. Packed. For some, coming to church is a way to start their christmas celebration. Celebration. 01 51 14 we are committed to the lord jesus. This is his birthdayayit is all about that. At Grace Community church, staff say christmas is part of what its all about. About. Church executive pastor 20 14 47 we hear the message of the baby jesus and people can think thats all good and cute, but the reality is, when jesus came to earth it was a rescue mission. When he came it was really the start of him coming back to bring us back into right relationship. More thth 1500 pepele attend the Non Denominational Church with locations in North Liberty and downtown iowa city. The church expes more people on holidays and with some regulars out of town, a different t congregation. Church executive pastor 20 07 51 we are so glad theyre here. We just hope that they continue to be here then throughout the year as well and so thats definitely tonight. Hansen hopes the message is welcoming, authenenc and commmmicates christ can make a difference in ones life. According to the pew research center, fewer americans are identifying as christians. Christians. 1 34 15 were an autonomous culture that doesnt really feel a n nd. Jesususaid whwh he came that he preached good news to the poor and if you look at our country, were affluent. The Research Shows the decline is mainly attributed to decreases in protestants and catholics. Hansen s ss he hasasoticed fewer people identifying with a particular christian denomination, but still having a relationship with christ. Christ. Church executive pastor 20 14 21 i think theyre hungry for that authenticity and in a sense, it almost would seem that some of the denominational matters can be kind of superfluous to the main things that we need to ge about. About. 01 53 58 jesus came to earth as the king and this is his kingdom,m,ut we all want to be our own king. Covering the corridor in North Liberty, Mellaney Moore cbs 2 news. Strong winds yesterday caused some problems in the corridor. Heres a look at a farm on the eorner of mier road and rapids. Trees are down all over the farm and bulk tanks were moved by the strong winds. A 25yearold spruce was uprooted and a hayck was tipped upside downththfamily said nobodydyas hurt inside the house despite the roof damage Black Hawk County authorities have arrested a man they say was getting ready to deliver meth. Meth. La Porte City Police stopped jordan jones just before 330 this morning for a traffic violation. Officers say, the k9 unit helped with the stop and indicated drugs were in the vehicle. Police searched the car, and say they found meth there and more at the suspects home. Jones faces numerous charges, including possession of methampetamine with intent to deliver. Home breakins are common this timemef year but there are ways you can protececyourself including when youre throwing away the boxes from all your new toys and gadgets. 14 44 21 make sure when you bundle it that you keep the the would be burglars cant see whether thats abox from a refrigerator that you got. That would be a great christmas present. Or whether it is a big screen tv. Sergeant hamblin says to lock your doors. Cedar rapids saw a spike in home burglaries in november a december , with a lot of them happening at homes that were unlocked. The police say, avoid placing ur Christmas Tree by a window. Its nice for decoration but its also an invitation for thieves. And if you are traveling for the holidays, ask your nejghbors to look after your home. Of course, it may be tough for some peoples gifts to be stolen from under the tree if they havent even been bought yet. Maybe youre one of the lastminute shoppers visiti busy malls across the corridor tonight. Cbs 2 News Reportererdora miller is live in cedar rapids, where the rush is on. Joy, its a race to the finish line today. Most stores are closing around this time but that hasnt stopped lastminute shoppers from gifts. We stopped by best buy earlier today where tablets, phones and dvds were flying off the shelf. Most people admitted that last minute shopping was a pattern for them. But they say its all about the excitement of the season and of course e sasas. But technology isnt the only hot item this year. Have you gotten your Stocking Stuffers yet . We have a lot of chocolate holidays, but as this time of year we have customers coming in and buying maybe only one 2 pound box of chocolate, theyre buying six 2pound boxes of chocolate because theyre giving them to each of their family members, so thatat the big difference at we see this time of year. Year. On cbs 2 news ten at ten, well hear more from lastminute shoppers. We heard some pretty creatiti excuses for those late shopping habits. Youll want to stick around for that. Covering the corridor in cedar on this christmas eve, were wrappingngp our month long look at some of the best light shows and events in eastern iowa. Cbs 2 News Reporter matt hammill is rapi for a turn of the century holiday homecoming as we lebrate christmas in the corridor. https www. Yo utube. Com watch . V z9v1tjubdro absolutely the best time of year to visit brucemore is during christzastime thousands seem to ree. Brucemore is beautiful year round but stunning during the christmas season. Visitors are loving the lights and trees that turn every room of cedar rapids most famous mansion n into a wonderland for children. Children. I think the Holiday Season is about family and i think thats really what brucemore represents. I think it h h become a tradition fofocontemporary families to come and begin their holidays and celebrate their holidays here. Groups gather to hear about the Grand Staircase covered in garlan with an amazing thirteen Christmas Trees nearly one in every room decorated in glorious themes and all overflowing in sparkling naments. And reflections from christmas past bring all the fire place mantles to life some decked out others a cozy place for deer. Deer. It is totally different than the entire rest of the house. Katie benedix loves the tahitian room howard halls hangout with palm trees in lights and imagines the incredible christmases in this home. Home. Margaret had a catillion every year at this time of year in the great hall. All the parties. Dancing. Justeing able to come here and enjoy family and friends. Everyone knows the legendary lions who lived at brucemore but people forget three douglas daughters grew up here too. E nursery glowowin christmas warmth along with a pair of their roller skates under the tree and a nearyby. Brucemore has never been about how the other r half lived for visitors its exploring a simpler time and holiday history. History. Brucemore is an anchor in our community, its a culturur hub in our community and its very much about the stories of who weve been, how weve grown as a community over the last century. Celebrating christmas in the corridor im matt hammill holiday mansion tours at brucemore continue until the end of the year. We have put a link to all that information on our website, along with the rest of matts stories. Still to come at 6. How a group in cedar rapids help spread christmas cheer a little early for veterans in my moms name is irene, and she has alzheimers. Adult daycare costs so much, i have to take my mom to work with me. I worry about what the next step is. My mom deserves the best care she can get. So i met hillary clinton. I could tell that she was moved by my story. Because she teared up. Being able to pay for daycare. To know that my mom is safe while i work so that i can continue to support us. Hillary clinton has proposed real things that could help us. Christmas morning right here on cbs 2. Its the season of giving, and one man is receiving something most people take for granted. See how his christmas gift, will forever change his life. Thats tomorrow on cbs 2 this morning. Instead senior care touches the lives through the be a santa to a senior program. This year christmas arrived early for senior veterans in the corridor. Corridor. Cbs 2 News Reporter steffi lee witnessed the celebration. Celebration. Piles of communitydonated gifts. Gifts. And stacks of letters. Letters. And we invited them to please give us a call if there is something we can do in the future to help them out. Go hand in hand to spread christmas cheer on sunday morning veterans rick martin and gene peterson were just some of the volunteer santa clauses clausesthey put down what they want and its like underwear, tshirts, perishable food, picture frames,helping Senior Citizen veterans like jerry grubb grubbhave a merry christmas. Christmas. The first thing that comes to mind is sad. Its unfortunate that weve got Senior Citizens that arere in the condition theyre in. In. A lot of these veterans have to rely on somebody to christmas a little more enjoyable. The Linn County Veterans Affairs turned in names in october and the gifts started pouring in throughout december. December. I personally wouldnt think to ask for underwear for christmas. When gifts are opened up up its things all of us have plenty of. Those who might not have a lot. Lot. Can now feel like they have plenty its very worthwhile and fulfilling to take things to families. \covering the corridor in cedar rapids, steffi lee, fox 28 news. This was the first year the program partnered with Linn County Veterans Affairs. Donations from local businesses and supporters meant gifts for more than seven hundred seniors this year. After a wild day of weather yesterday, what can we expepe for an encore . Encore . Marissa scott is in for terry swails and is here now with your cbs 2 weather and coming up in sports. Sports. Tis the season for big panther plays in hoho hawaii how they fared last night next in sports cbs 2 news connects with you. Call us at 1800222kganemail us at news at cbs 2 iowa dot comconnect with us on facebook 2. Paris theres a lot to do on a dairy farm. Nobodys gonna do it for you. You have to get out there and do it yourself. Bernie sanders is a wellknown friend of family farms. Bernie cannot be bought out by big money. Bernies opinion cannot be purchased. Its time for our next presisint to get in there, roll up his sleeves, take off the gloves, and take on wall street, take on big business, take on big money, hes a rock. Twas the night before christmas and well, wait, technically it was still december 23rd in hawaii the uni Mens Basketball Team in action late last night and into today against washington state. State. Panthers, cougars. Wes washpun doing washpun things oh my im sorry one more time. Merry christmas. And happy new year wewewould exit the game shortly there after with an injury. But back in time to dish this one round the arc til it goes to Jeremy Morgan fourteen points for the iowa city west grad as the panthers take the lead this one backandforth, we jumpppp to the second, Paul Jesperson with the jumper. Paced uni with eighteen. Washpun back to doing washpun things, collects the rebound, frosty. The snowman. Panthers loving it they win 6359. And will play tomorrow afrternoon for fifth place against byu. One point of note its the first time in 21 games that linn mar grad Matt Bohannon did not record a three for uni. Santa not the only one taking flight today, as the hawkeye Football Team departing just hours ago for pasadena. Pasadena. The team left Eastern Iowa Airport this afternoon. When asked earlier this week how the team would celebrate christmas, coach ferentz replied, like a wednesday practice did add a jolly ho, ho, ho afterwards. Captain kirk no grinch. The 2015 rose bowl game is next friday, as the hawks take on Heisman Trophy finalist Christian Mccaffery and stanford and thus the hawks anticipating a battle of the trenches much like some big ten games earlier this year. They have a little Michigan State with their run game, wisconsin two teams that are like to run the ball and try to beat you up in the trenches so its gonna be a great game. Game. The thing about them is. In short yardage situations theyre really good at it. They come off the ball really low and its not like theyre making a hole its really just that theyre building a wall and pushing you with their leverage. They know what they wanna do and theyre just a really efficient, wellrounded offense. We will be right back to take after the thanks for watching your cbs 2 news at six. Entertainment tonight is up next. We hope until then. Enjoy your evening. Praised as one of americas best mayors who governed as a pragmatist. Bernie sanders than any other member. Cracked the gridlock with john mccain to strengthen veterans healthcare. Bernie sanders. A consistent, principled, and effective leader. Building a future to believe in. The new fe more