Gazette Daily News Briefing, August 7 and August 8
This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette digital news desk and I’m here with your update for Saturday, August 7th and Sunday, August 8th.
We could see some rain Saturday and Sunday. According to the forecast from the National Weather Service there will be a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms all day on Saturday. Otherwise, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 88 degrees. The chance for rain will become more pronounced on Saturday night into Sunday, rising to a 50 percent chance overnight and a 70 percent chance on Sunday. As for Sunday, it is expected to range from partly sunny to mostly cloudy, with a high near 89 degrees.
Avoiding a murder trial, an Anamosa State Penitentiary inmate admitted Friday to bludgeoning correctional Officer Robert McFarland and prison nurse Lorena Schulte to death with a hammer during a failed prison escape last spring.
Inmate Thomas Woodard, 34, admitted that he intentionally struck McFarland, 46, of Ely, at least twice to the back of his head and struck Schulte, 50, of Cedar Rapids, at least twice to her face and head. He wouldn’t admit that he had an intent to kill Schulte. He said his intention when attacking Schulte was to try to keep her from calling for help.
Woodard, who was serving time at Anamosa for robbery, pleaded guilty to all the charges against him: two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and second-degree kidnapping. He faces two life sentences without parole and up to 50 years on the other two. His only condition for pleading to the charges was that he be sent to a Nebraska prison to serve his terms.
Another inmate who attempted to escape, Michael Dutcher, is accused of the same charges. He has asked for a non-jury trial, which hasn’t been scheduled yet. Dutcher plans to claim self-defense or that he acted in defense of others.
Following a denial in February and an unexpected delay over the summer, University of Iowa Health Care’s revamped application to build a $230 million facility off Interstate 380 in North Liberty is set to have a second shot this month before the State Health Facilities Council.
On May 20, UIHC resubmitted an application to build “one of the most expensive proposed projects in council history” after the five-member appointed group on Feb. 17 — following seven hours of testimony — narrowly voted 3-2 to deny permission to build.
In its reapplication the university hospital is attempting to argue for a narrower purpose for the location that fits its research mission. The original proposal was strongly opposed by other hospitals in the area, as they argued an expanded UIHC would hurt competition, and in the case of Mercy Iowa City, potentially put them out of business.
The new Sixth Avenue in Marion, a road project over a decade in the making, is now fully open to traffic.
The city held a ribbon cutting Friday morning to celebrate the opening of the road that runs between two roundabouts at Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street and at 26th Street, the former Marion Iron site.
The plan, set into motion in 2009, was to build a street along the right of way so downtown traffic would be balanced between Sixth and Seventh avenues, creating a more pedestrian-friendly Uptown.
In addition, properties that once housed warehouses and industry were removed and are now in a position to become a mix of commercial and residential.
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