Gazette Daily News Briefing, February 26 and February 27
This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette digital news desk and I’m here with your update for Saturday, February 26th and Sunday, February 27th.
The last weekend in February will end with high temperatures above freezing. According to the National Weather Service, it will be sunny with a high near 38 degrees Saturday. Wind gusts of up to 25 mph could cause some patchy blowing snow between noon and 4 p.m. The wind will calm by Saturday night, with a low around 22 degrees. On Sunday there will again be a high of 38 degrees, but with sunny skies and a calm wind. On Sunday night it will be mostly clear, with a low around 20 degrees. The forecast for the coming week has highs above 40 degrees, with some days creeping toward 50 degrees.
Milt Dakovich, an Iowa State University graduate and longtime member of Iowa’s Board of Regents, died this week, board President Michael Richards announced Friday.
Dakovich, who lived in Waterloo, was 67.
Although Richards didn’t share details of Dakovich’s death, he praised his fellow regent as a “wonderful man.”
Former Gov. Terry Branstad appointed Dakovich to the board on June 3, 2013, and he was reappointed March 1, 2019, by Gov. Kim Reynolds. His term was set to expire April 30, 2025. He was the longest serving current regent.
The trial for a University of Iowa student charged with killing his parents and sister in Cedar Rapids will be bumped, possibly after the year anniversary of the fatal shootings, and may be moved to another county.
Lawyers for Alexander Jackson, 21, during a status hearing Friday, told 6th Judicial District Chief Judge Lars Anderson that the previously set trial date of April 5 wasn’t possible because they just recently received all the discovery from the prosecution and needed to schedule depositions.
Jackson waived his right to appear and did not attend the hearing. He has not attended any pretrial hearings since being charged.
Tyler Johnston, one of Jackson’s lawyers, said they also would be filing for a change of venue and would file a one-year waiver — meaning Jackson waives his right to have a trial within a year of the June 15, 2021, triple homicide.
NextEra has officially submitted its application to Linn County for its Duane Arnold Solar project in Palo.
The Florida-based company submitted its application to the county on Thursday for the two-phase project respectively called Duane Arnold Solar I and II. The county published the applications on its website Friday.
The county process for this project will be the same as it was for the Clenera Coggon Solar project. It will have to go through a technical review committee meeting, a planning and zoning meeting and three Board of Supervisors readings. Ultimately, the supervisors have the final say on whether a project passes on the county level.
If approved by the county and state, the project would begin operation by the end of 2024.
By locating the project at the site of the former Duane Arnold nuclear power plant, Alliant can use the already existing power transmission infrastructure to add the solar power to the grid.
Iowa City’s Wednesday evening farmers market is canceled “for at least the 2022 season.”
Brad Barker, the city’s recreation superintendent, said he sent word Thursday afternoon to all vendors informing them of the decision.
Vendors were asked to register and commit to the 2022 season by Feb. 15. A total of 15 full-season vendors were needed but only 11 registered. The Saturday farmers markets will continue as planned.
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Support for this news update was provided by New Pioneer Food Co-op. Celebrating 50 years as Eastern Iowa’s destination for locally and responsibly sourced groceries with stores in Iowa City, Coralville and Cedar Rapids; and online through Co-op Cart at newpi.coop.
