Gazette Daily News Briefing, July 8 and July 9
Welcome to the weekend!
This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I’m here with your update for Saturday, July 8th, and Sunday, July 9th, 2023.
According to the National Weather Service, Saturday has a 40 percent chance of showers before 8am, then it’ll be cloudy and gradually clear up until it’s mostly sunny, with a high near 81.Saturday night will be mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Sunday will be sunny, with a high near 83 and will remain clear Sunday night with a low around 61.
Casey DeSantis pushes for parental rights in Iowa
Praising Gov. Kim Reynolds’ policies in education and parental involvement, Florida first lady Casey DeSantis said her husband, Ron DeSantis, would bring the same energy and priorities to the White House.
Casey DeSantis spoke Thursday at a campaign event near Des Moines, moderated by Reynolds, as part of the launch of “Mamas for DeSantis,” a group to mobilize mothers and grandmothers who support Ron DeSantis’s bid for the Republican nomination for president.
Policies intended to increase school transparency and give parents more involvement in their children’s education have been a key issue in the Republican presidential primary, with Republicans taking aim at what they call indoctrination in schools and inappropriate subject matters in curriculum and school library books.
DeSantis said the COVID-19 pandemic gave parents a window into what their children were being taught at school, and said some did not approve of the curriculum being taught. She said the focus on those issues during her husband’s last campaign for Florida governor had broad appeal to independent voters that led to his outsized victory.
Drought intensifying in Midwest, impacting ag and shipping
Drought conditions have rapidly deteriorated across the Midwest over the past few weeks — and it’s uncertain how much rain will come the rest of this summer, experts said Thursday during a webinar hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and several climate partners.
May and June are historically the rainiest months for Midwestern states, said Molly Woloszyn, the regional drought information coordinator for NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System.
Most areas in the region departed from that, though, with much of Eastern Iowa receiving 4 inches less of precipitation than normal.
Up until now, temperatures in the Midwest have remained largely on par with seasonal averages. Because of El Nino, the central U.S. may see milder temperatures this summer. The phenomenon could also throw more rain toward Iowa, Missouri and into Indiana and Michigan.
Only time will tell how El Nino will influence weather, though, with its impact likely to affect the climate moving into late summer, fall and winter.
Free tutoring program partnering with Goodwill to pilot student internships
Empowering Youths of Iowa — a program that helps Cedar Rapids students graduate high school — is partnering with Goodwill of the Heartland in a pilot summer internship program.
Five students were selected by Empowering Youths of Iowa founder Sarah Swayze to take part in the paid internship based on how they’ve demonstrated responsibility.
In the pilot program, students are working with a Goodwill career adviser, gaining workplace skills and exploring their career interests, said Amy Winslow, career services and development manager with Goodwill. Students also learn how to create a resume, apply for a job and practice their interviewing skills.
The internship is a total of 25 hours or can be doubled for students who are doing well in the program, Winslow said.
Some students are at Goodwill stores sorting merchandise, stocking selves, creating displays and working in customer service. Another student is working in Goodwill’s e-commerce department in Cedar Rapids, learning how to list items to sell online, market the item and package it to ship.
To donate, visit empoweringyouthsofiowa.com, mail a check to the center made out to Empowering Youths of Iowa, or stop by in-person. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
