Gazette Daily News Briefing, August 20 and August 21

Welcome to the weekend!

This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette digital news desk and I’m here with your update for Saturday, August 20, and Sunday, August 21.

The weather is going to feel like Autumn this weekend, as in the cooler and rainier part of Autumn. According to the National Weather Service, there will be a chance for rain nearly all day on Saturday, with a high near 76 degrees. On Saturday night it will be partly cloudy, with a low of around 62 degrees. On Sunday the chance for rain will be mostly gone, but some of the cool will remain. It is predicted to be mostly sunny, with a high near 81 degrees and a low of around 60 degrees.

Hawkeye offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz — among several defendants facing accusations of racial discrimination in a lawsuit filed by former Iowa Hawkeye football players — wants a judge to rule in his favor and essentially drop the case against him, calling the claims “meritless, unsupported, and contrary to law.”

Addressing each of the seven former players named as plaintiffs in the federal suit filed in October 2020, Ferentz in his Thursday motion disputed and discredited their accusations — pointing specifically to deposition testimony he said contradicts earlier statements made in a sworn interrogation.

Throughout the motion, Ferentz cited players’ skill level, attitude, and work ethic among reasons they didn’t succeed — not any racial bias on his part. He aired concerns about a secret recording, addressed alleged incidents of racism, and shared details of player performance in the classroom and on the field.

The lawsuit — ongoing for nearly two years — emerged from allegations on social media in the summer of 2020 about racism within the Hawkeye football program. The suit prompted contentious exchanges between the former players and Hawkeye personnel, including accusations of harassment and delay tactics.

It also led to reforms within the Iowa football program, along with the dismissal of longtime strength coach, Chris Doyle.

A Sumner man has been arrested in connection with a fatal fire in Waterloo Friday morning.

Waterloo police arrested John Walter Spooner, 59, on a charge of first-degree arson.

A passerby notified crews at the downtown fire station after seeing smoke coming from 309 E. Second St.

Several people were inside, and one person had jumped from a window to safety, Treloar said.

Firefighters found one person inside the home and carried him out. He was taken to a Waterloo hospital where he was later pronounced dead. His identity hasn’t been released.

Spooner was found walking in the area, and witnesses said he was seen near the home shortly before the blaze, according to police

The two solar projects intended for construction near Palo could move another step closer to reality next week as Linn County Supervisors meet for a series of readings.

The supervisors’ sessions are scheduled for the Palo Community Center, 2800 Hollenbeck Rd., beginning at 6 p.m. Monday. If the first reading passes, meetings will follow on Wednesday and the next Monday, Aug. 29, both also at 6 p.m.

Supervisors will vote on whether to change the zoning in the area of the projects — both by NextEra and named Duane Arnold Solar I and Duane Arnold Solar II — from agricultural to agricultural with a solar overlay, allowing for the installations to be built.

The two projects share the name with the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Palo, which was decommissioned in 2020.

Have a good weekend everyone!