Featured Stories

• Unnamed company looks to build $576M data center in Cedar Rapids
• What is the ‘science of reading?’ And could it improve Iowa’s reading scores?      
• Renewed legislation aims to safeguard Mississippi River amid growing environmental

concerns

Featured Stories:

• Shive-Hattery hired as consultant on next Cedar Rapids school facility plan
• Former student accused of threatening University of Northern Iowa Staff
• Barrett’s Quality Eats transforms casual cafe into fine dining for limited dinner series
• Sweet treats in Eastern Iowa for Valentine’s week

This episode was hosted and produced by Bailey Cichon.

Featured Stories

–  Speakers decry Iowa bill giving politicians more control over libraries

–  Cedar Rapids seeks community-oriented leader as new police chief

–  Summit pipeline moves closer to reconsideration in North Dakota

Episode Transcript

You’re listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast on Friday, February 9th,

2024. This podcast provides the latest headlines from the Gazette newsroom. I’m

Becky Lutgen Gardner.

Library officials and supporters spoke out against a proposed bill

Thursday that would give city councils authority over public libraries

including book selection. They warned it would bring partisan, political decision-making

into library operations.

The legislator who managed the bill said his goal

is not to address the selection of books, but instead to provide elected local

officials with more authority over the spending of taxpayer dollars

Under the bill, a city council would be able to

hire a library director, use library funds for library projects and initiatives

by passing an ordinance … all without voter approval.

Wade Dooley, who chairs the library

board in Albion, called the bill a "train wreck."

He says, “It opens up all sorts of

possibilities for very disastrous consequences if you get an activist city

council that starts see-sawing on what they believe for a library to be or not

be. Our city council has barely any training to be a city council. Now, you

also want them to run a library. that’s not a good idea.”

Rep. Carter Nordman, a Republican from

Panora, advanced the bill. He says he’s heard from city council members who

want more direct control over library spending and personnel decisions.

Nordman says, “Ultimately, the library board wasn’t elected; the city

council was. And so, the buck stops with them when it comes to taxpayer

dollars. They should have that authority.”

Nordman said he would be willing to consider an amendment to the bill to

give city councils more authority over library boards but specify that content

selection is with library officials.

Next, In Cedar Rapids’ search for a new police chief, some residents say

they’re looking for a respected leader who focuses on community policing and

fosters a police department culture that promotes citizen equity and trust.

Residents had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with all four police

chief candidates Wednesday night in a meet-and-greet event at the DoubleTree by

Hilton Convention Center.

With the City Council’s consent, City Manager Jeff Pomeranz says he will

decide soon on which candidate will succeed Wayne Jerman. Jerman retired as police

chief last April.

Three candidates — Jennifer Birkhofer, Jeff Coday and David Dostal —

participated in media interviews before the event. Tom Whitten, declined media interviews.

Monica Vallejo is a citizens' review board member and met with all four

candidates. She said it’s important that the next police chief works to establish

more programs that promote diversity and inclusion with all communities.

Vallejo says the community overall feels comfortable and safe with Cedar

Rapids police because of the “wonderful job...

Featured Stories:

• Records: Iowa Atheltics assistant IT director enticed teen
• Linn-Mar school board member Matt Rollinger resigns
• Big’s BBQ and Brew Pub moving to new Mount Vernon location

This episode was hosted and produced by Bailey Cichon.

Featured Stories

– Iowa lawmakers advance bill that sets legal definitions for man and woman

– State pays $5k to settle lawsuit over ISU police chase

– Meet finalists for Cedar Rapids Police Chief this week

Featured Stories:

• Bill would add lawmakers to Iowa Board of Regents
• New owners look to transform former GoDaddy building
• First ‘voice writers’ help address Iowa’s court reporter shortage

This episode was hosted and produced by Bailey Cichon.

Featured Stories

–Proposed AEA bill would create ‘more chaotic, less equitable’ system

–After tax reform in Iowa, local governments look to fill budget gaps

–Homeless counts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City show mixed results

Episode Transcript

 You’re listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast on Monday, February

5th, 2024. This podcast provides the latest headlines from the

Gazette newsroom. I’m Becky Lutgen Gardner.

Thousands of Iowans continue to rally to support Iowa’s area education agencies. They’re responding to a bill introduced by Gov. Kim Reynolds that would overhaul the agencies.

But while AEAs provide valuable resources and training to educators and families across Iowa, many say they have room for improvement.

One is how they serve the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. That was just

one message shared with 12 legislators and about 100 parents, students and

educators at a forum at the Educational Leadership and Support Center in Cedar

Rapids on Saturday.

Several of the 30 people who spoke at the forum said deaf and hard-of-hearing children’s needs are not being met — and sometimes are ignored — by AEAs.

Vania Kassouf, a deaf advocate and virtual instructor in American Sign Language, told

legislators that Grant Wood AEA uses limited and outdated expertise for deaf

children. She supports AEAs' services for children with

special needs but says deaf education should be separate from special education

John Speer, chief administrator of Grant Wood AEA says the AEAs are “not a perfect

agency,” and getting people together to discuss additional updates is essential.

But he adds if the governor’s updated bill is enacted, “what we’ll have is a

more chaotic, less equitable and a more expensive system.”

The most recent version of Gov. Reynolds' proposed bill would allow

schools to opt out of the AEAs’ special education services and seek them elsewhere.

A Senate subcommittee advanced the bill last Wednesday. But Republicans

said the bill would likely see changes.

House Republicans declined to advance the bill out of

subcommittee, saying they wanted further conversation before acting on it.

In other news, many Iowa cities and counties are struggling to comply

with a state law signed last May. It was intended to relieve taxpayers from

increasing property assessments driving up their tax bills

The bill passed with bipartisan support after property assessments — increased

by an average of 22 percent statewide in 2023.

The law limits the amount local governments can acquire by taxing a

growing tax base. The law was meant to prevent cities and counties from seeing

a tax windfall from rising assessments. 

But those cities with growing populations, new housing, and industries

are trying to figure out how to extend public services to more people without

being allowed to use that money.

Many city projects are being delayed or cut entirely due to the changes.

Swisher City Clerk Tawnia Kakacek says,

“Any time you cut taxes, you have to...

Featured Stories:

• Cedar Rapids police respond to swatting call at Jefferson High School
• Capitol Notebook: Lawmakers advance bill allowing Iowa county attorneys to be armed at all times
• Cedar Rapids woman charged with murder, domestic abuse
• Attorney: Pundits on search for missing trucker have 'demoralizing effect'
• 'Something Rotten!' coming to Theatre Cedar Rapids stage

This episode was hosted and produced by Bailey Cichon.

Featured Stories:

• Cedar Rapids will welcome four candidates for police chief interviews next week
• Thaw from Iowa's winter storms brings latest scourge: potholes
• Iowa City chef wins Pork Producers award

This episode was hosted and produced by Bailey Cichon.

Featured Stories:

• Republican Iowa House lawmakers table Gov. Kim Reynolds’ AEA bill
• Iowa DCI counters allegations that sports betting probe used ‘warrantless search’
• Iowa Amber Alert suspect in custody after standoff
• Country-themed bar opening in Iowa City

This episode was hosted and produced by Bailey Cichon.