Gazette Daily News Briefing: March 6, 2023

The University of Iowa and Board of Regents will settle a lawsuit that claims the Hawkeye football program and its coaches further a culture of racism and harassment. In 2020, seven former players accused the program and its coaches of discriminating against players, using derogatory terms and creating a racially-hostile environment. Now, the UI and Board of Regents have agreed to pay $4.175 million to settle the lawsuit. According to the proposed settlement, the state would pay $2 million of that from its general fund. State Auditor Rob Sand opposes spending that state money “unless (UI Athletics Director) Gary Barta is no longer employed at the university and forfeits any severance or similar pay.” Sand said this is the fourth discrimination case against the UI Athletics Department in under nine years which resulted in nearly $11 million in settlements under Barta. The Gazette’s Vanessa Miller broke down the settlement payments and recent developments. Find Miller’s article at thegazette.com.  In other news, Big Grove Brewery has awarded $32,000 in grants to four Iowa nonprofits. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa, Central Iowa Shelter Services, the Free Lunch Program of Iowa City and Iowa City Coralville Boxing Club will be awarded $8,000 each. Big Grove Brewery’s Director of Communications Janelle Buxton said, “We know $8,000 isn’t much to some, but to others, it could make or break their operating budgets for the year. Whatever we do, we want to make a significant contribution to their project or program.” Because Big Grove’s next location is under construction in Cedar Rapids, Linn County nonprofits will be eligible for grants in the next cycle. For more information, read Elijah Decious’s story at thegazette.com. Finally, a look at today’s weather. Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 47 and a low of 32. Winter weather may return to Cedar Rapids as there’s a 20% chance of snow after midnight. Winds will reach as high as 30mph. Thank you for listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast. I’m Bailey Cichon.