Gazette Daily News Briefing, December 30 and 31, 2023
Welcome to the last weekend of 2023!
This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I’m here with your update for Saturday, December 30th, and Sunday, December 31st, 2023.
According to the National Weather Service, Saturday will have some patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, it’ll be partly sunny, with a high near 40. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.
Sunday will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Sunday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 22.
Judge temporarily halts new Iowa law on school books, gender identity teaching
Calling it “incredibly broad” and “wildly overbroad,” a federal judge Friday temporarily halted the implementation of most of a new Iowa state law that bans school books and curriculum with depictions of sex acts and prohibits the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation through sixth grade.
The ruling means most of the new law cannot be enforced while the federal courts continue to hear legal challenges to its constitutionality.
Judge Stephen H. Locher, of the U.S. District Court in Iowa’s Southern District, in a ruling Friday halted parts of the law that prohibit books and curriculum with depictions of sex acts, as well as the prohibition on teaching gender identity or sexual orientation through sixth grade.
Locher left in place the portion of the law that requires educators to notify parents when a student asks to be called by different pronouns. Locher said the plaintiffs in the case lacked legal standing: Because the plaintiffs involved are already publicly LGBTQ, that portion of the law does not apply to them, Locher ruled.
‘Sleeping giant’ being razed to clear way for pedestrian-bike bridge in Cedar Rapids
The railway bridge over the Cedar River that has been an eyesore for years is being removed to clear the way for a new pedestrian-bike bridge that’s part of the $20 million ConnectCR project.
A demolition crew was on the river this week to remove the old CRANDIC Bridge. Demolition is expected to be completed in the spring, with construction of the new bridge scheduled to begin in late 2024.
The new Alliant Energy LightLine pedestrian-bike bridge will be built across the river near Mount Trashmore, connecting the NewBo District on the east side of the river and the Czech Village District on the west.
Iowa City charter review could include revamping voting districts
Iowa City next month will begin the process of reviewing its city charter, which happens every 10 years.
At least one council member says there should be changes to what now is a “broken” system in which some council candidates represent geographic districts but all citizens may vote for all district seats.
The Iowa Constitution gives cities the power to choose among several forms of municipal government, among them the option of establishing a home rule charter to outline how city government is structured.
Most cities in Iowa use a mayor-council form of government in which the mayor and five council members are elected at large, Kemp said.
In Cedar Rapids, also a charter city, the mayor and three council members are elected at large, while the remaining five members are elected by voters who live in their districts.
Iowa City’s 19-page charter defines how the council is elected and sets the group’s responsibilities, which include appointing a city manager, city clerk, city attorney and city boards. The charter also describes the duties of the city manager and how citizens may petition for a referendum.
Have a good weekend, and Happy New Year!
