Gazette Daily News Briefing, September 8
This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I’m here with your update for September 8, 2023.
According to the National Weather Service it will be partly sunny in the Cedar Rapids area Friday with a high near 77 degrees. It will gradually become sunnier as the day goes on. Friday night it will be clear, with a low of around 52 degrees.
All three of Iowa’s public universities have larger student bodies this fall than last — as of their official 10th-day census — including a small bump for the University of Northern Iowa, which has seen its enrollment trend down for more than a decade.
UNI’s total fall enrollment of 9,021 is up 72 students from last fall’s 8,949 — although it’s still below all of the previous falls dating to 1967 and well below its peak of 14,070 in 2001.
The University of Iowa also reported a slight total student body increase from 30,015 last fall to 30,042 this fall, as did Iowa State University — reporting 30,177 students, up 208 from last year’s 29,969.
ISU’s increase makes it — once again — the largest of Iowa’s three public universities, returning it to that position after UI enrollment surpassed that of the Ames campus last fall for the first time in a decade.
Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley told reporters Wednesday that “I have no question whatsoever” about Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s health and ability to lead the caucus and broker passage of funding bills needed to avert a government shutdown.
McConnell, 81, has faced renewed questions about his health after freezing up twice during news conferences in the last two months since falling and suffering a concussion in March.
McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, was cleared to work by the Capitol’s attending physician, Dr. Brian Monahan. Monahan, in a letter released Tuesday by McConnell’s office, said there is no evidence the Senate GOP leader has a seizure disorder or experienced a stroke or a movement disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.
McConnell is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. Questions about his health have sparked intense speculation about who may eventually replace him.
A $43 million general obligation bond issue that would fund construction of a swimming pool and wellness center in the College Community School District that will be operated by the YMCA is heading to district voters Nov. 7.
The College Community school board unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday ordering an election after the district received 1,690 signatures — almost double what is required — to put the referendum on the ballot.
The bond also would fund an expansion of a wrestling practice room and convert existing gym space into an indoor batting facility at the new Ninth Grade Center — opening next fall — and an addition of a concession stand and ticket booth at John Wall Stadium.
The facility, if approved by voters with the district, could open as early as summer 2025.
