Gazette Daily News Briefing, June 17 and June 18
Welcome to the weekend!
This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I’m here with your update for Saturday, June 17th, and Sunday, June 18th, 2023.
According to the National Weather Service, Saturday will be sunny with a high near 87, cooling to 64 overnight with a 40% chance of showers after 1am.
The chance of showers will persist through Sunday morning and the rest of Sunday will be cloudy with a high near 86.
Deadlocked Iowa Supreme Court means abortions legal for now
Abortion will remain legal in Iowa until roughly 20 weeks of pregnancy — for now — after the Iowa Supreme Court split in an opinion delivered Friday morning.
The court considered Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ request that the courts reinstate a law blocked immediately after it passed in 2018 that would ban abortions once a fetus’ heartbeat can be detected.
In its opinion Friday, three Iowa Supreme Court justices voted to let stand the district court ruling that said the so-called fetal heartbeat law remains unconstitutional. And three justices voted to reverse the district court ruling.
Justices Susan Christensen, Thomas Waterman and Edward Mansfield voted to uphold the district court’s ruling. Justices Christopher McDonald, Matthew McDermott and David May voted to overturn the district court ruling.
A seventh justice, Dana Oxley, recused herself from the case.
The 3-3 decision means a 2019 ruling by a Polk County District Court Judge against the law remains in effect, meaning abortion in Iowa remains legal until the 20th week of pregnancy.
Cedar Rapids schools deletes ‘Celebrating Pride’ Facebook post over disparaging comments
Comments criticizing the Cedar Rapids Community School District for recognizing Pride Month and disparaging LGBTQ people remained on the district’s official Facebook page for days before school officials — facing criticism over the comments while they worked with lawyers — removed the entire post this week.
On June 1, the district posted a short item — “Celebrating Pride” was all it said — to mark the month when pride celebrations and parades are held nationwide, including locally. The post, along with comments later made on it, was removed Tuesday.
Caitlin Wiedenheft, spokeswoman for the school district, said district leaders worked with their legal counsel and determined the post would be removed altogether “so no comments could be made by anyone.”
The district is reviewing its social media guidelines, including considering disabling comments on any social media posts in the future, Wiedenheft said in a statement.
While individuals are free to delete comments or posts on their own social media pages, it is another matter for governments and public officials. Governments can face free speech repercussions if they delete selective comments that don’t seem to violate posted guidelines.
History Center receives national award for Oral Histories LIVE program
The History Center is receiving a national award for its Oral Histories LIVE programming that preserves the stories that shaped Linn County.
The 2023 award of excellence for Leadership in History comes from the American Association for State and Local History.
The Oral Histories programs at The History Center, hosted by a moderator, showcase a local history maker for a night of stories and questions from the audience. The interviews are recorded, edited and published to become living history books accessible on The History Center’s website.
The interviews also are transcribed and become part of The History Center’s searchable archives.
Jason Wright, executive director of The History Center, Jason said the Oral Histories program was developed because of the need to capture the stories of those whose lives have had an impact in Linn County.
“So many of these stories have been lost to the ages, and every day that passes brought a permanent closure to so many more,” Wright said in a news release.
Wright will receive the national award Sept. 8 in Boise, Idaho, at the association’s national conference.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
