Gazette Daily News Briefing, September 9 and 10

Welcome to the weekend!

This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I’m here with your update for Saturday, September 9th, and Sunday, September 10th, 2023.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures on Saturday will be sunny, with a high near 82, cooling to a low around 57 Saturday evening.

Sunday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Sunday night there will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms until 4am with a low around 60.

Iowa City Council votes to replace City Park Pool

City Park Pool, an “iconic” facility that has served the needs of the Iowa City community since 1948, will be replaced with a new pool.

The Iowa City Council voted unanimously this week to replace the pool. The vote followed an hourlong presentation of a report prepared by consultants from Williams Associates Architects of Itasca, Ill. The city hired the firm in May to analyze whether the pool should be repaired or replaced.

The 100-page report recommended replacement of the pool and includes a detailed list of the reasons why: water loss, accessibility, health and safety, and sustainability.

The report puts repair costs for the pool at about $10.5 million. A new pool could cost between $10 million and $15 million.

Report: Davenport building collapse had two ‘root causes’

Removed brick and inadequate support structures caused the west wall at a downtown Davenport building to collapse in May, an investigative report released Thursday concluded.

The report is dated Aug. 15, and was completed by two city-hired investigative engineering companies on the causes and origins of the partial collapse of the six-story building at 324 Main St. on May 28. The collapse resulted in three deaths, one person losing their leg, and many more homes and belongings lost.

The 113-page report determined that removing layers of brick during repair work in the three days before the collapse "severely compromised the western bearing wall" and that "the temporary shoring that had been installed was grossly inadequate."

Iowa looks at Florida program connecting needy with nonprofits, churches

Iowa officials are looking into a Florida program that connects people who need assistance with food, housing and other essentials to nonprofits and faith groups after Gov. Kim Reynolds expressed interest in it at a campaign event earlier this year.

Kelly Garcia, director of Iowa Health and Human Services, and a representative from Reynolds’ office attended a Florida conference this week focused on Hope Florida.

The state program uses online tools and state "navigators" to help people who need assistance connect with nonprofits and churches with the goal of getting them off government assistance programs. Members of the conservative Christian advocacy group The Family Leader from Iowa also attended the event.

The program, spearheaded by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, uses a service called CarePortal, which allows people to submit requests for assistance. Nonprofits and faith groups can see those requests and respond. CarePortal is used in similar programs in other states.

Hope Florida also works with employers to help single parents find schedules that allow them to care for their kids and also with employers who can hire people with developmental disabilities.

Have a good weekend, everyone.