Gazette Daily News Briefing, July 2
This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette digital news desk and I’m here with your update for Friday, July 2.
Judging by my neighbors frantically mowing their lawns Thursday night and then running outside to shoot fireworks, the 4th of July weekend has already begun for some. Whatever your plans are, Friday’s weather looks pleasant, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 84 degrees in Cedar Rapids predicted by the National Weather Service. The sky will remain mostly clear Friday night, with a low around 61 degrees.
Intermittent rains and cooler temperatures in recent weeks have led to an improved crop-growing outlook for Iowa, although much of northwest and north-central Iowa still face severe to moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions. This is according to the latest findings from the U.S. Drought Monitor issued on Thursday.
Slightly more than one-third of Iowa showed severe drought compared to 44 percent last week.
Still, 80 of Iowa's 99 counties are experiencing some form of drought, ranging from abnormally dry to moderate or severe.
Enrollment at Iowa’s public universities is down this summer after a pandemic-plagued fall and spring — dragging Iowa State University’s numbers to their lowest level in at least a decade and resurrecting University of Iowa summer counts not seen since Must See TV was still on television.
Fewer summer students on campus means fewer tuition dollars — aggravating pandemic-driven budget concerns and worsening enrollment losses that all three of the public universities experienced in the 2020-21 academic year.
This all comes as the Board of Regents has announced plans to consider raising tuition at all three public universities.
A controversial rezoning that would expand Hickory Hill Park but allow a housing development and senior living center nearby is headed for its second consideration and vote Tuesday.
During a June 15 meeting, the Iowa City Council voted 6-1 in favor of the proposed rezoning of 48.75 acres of land northeast of Hickory Hill Park from interim development single-family to low-density single-family. The rezoning will allow for a housing development envisioned to have 41 lots and senior living facility.
After an hour of public input critical of the proposed development near the park, city councilors said they were beholden to city code and obligated to vote in favor.
The project — Hickory Trail Estates — has had a long road to get to this second vote. The first iteration of the project went before the city’s planning and zoning commission and failed to get adequate support. A second iteration also did not receive enough support. A third version of the proposal was approved by planning and zoning and then moved along to the council.
The quest to create a town center in Hiawatha is picking up steam after early stumbles.
With a library expansion, a new plaza under construction in front of City Hall, and multiple large, mixed-use developments in the works, the city of 7,300 is preparing for future growth.
In 2019, the city approved a $72 million mixed-use development project that would’ve been the biggest private investment in the city’s history. Hiawatha Midtown, planned for 155 Robins Road, was planned to have town houses, condos and apartments as well as commercial space across over 7 acres. But the project was scrapped when grant funding and some private funding didn’t materialize.
Now in 2021, new, smaller mixed-use projects are in the works to help establish the heart of Hiawatha.
The Iowa Ideas 2021 virtual conference will be here before you know it, and we would like you to be our guest on the house. The Gazette is providing free access to this two-day gathering with more than 50 sessions- filled with thought-provoking local, and national speakers-- all ready to engage you on a variety of important and timely Iowa-issues. Join us October 14th and 15th for this can’t miss, idea-exchange experience. Learn more and register for the event at iowaideas.com
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