Gazette Daily News Podcast, Feb. 24
This is Stephen Colbert with the Gazette Digital News Desk and this is your update for Wednesday, February 24, 2021.
Today’s going to start out cloudy, but get more sunny as the day goes on, with a high of 36, meaning that snow’s going to keep melting. Tomorrow night will be cloudy with a high of 18.
University of Iowa argues to dismiss former football player lawsuit
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/education/university-iowa-hawkeyes-gary-barta-player-lawsuit-discrimination-20210223
Responding to a federal complaint accusing University of Iowa Athletics and football coaches of mistreating and discriminating against Black players, the state wants the case dismissed. While a UI-sanctioned independent investigation found football program rules “perpetrated racial and cultural biases,” and coaches admitted and apologized for shortcomings, UI attorneys argue the player lawsuit “should be dismissed for failure to assert sufficient factual allegations.”
Cedar Rapids man wanted in connection with Rodeway Inn homicide dies three days after he was shot fleeing scene
The suspect wanted in connection with a fatal weekend stabbing died Tuesday from injuries suffered in the shooting with a police officer as he fled the scene
Arnell States, 39, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday at an area hospital. Investigators said he was the suspect in the stabbing death of Katrina Latrese Brinson, 34, of Cedar Rapids. Brinson was found stabbed just before 2 a.m. Saturday at the Rodeway Inn, 4011 16th Ave. SW. States and Brinson were married, according to their Facebook profiles.
Vilsack returns to lead USDA
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/tom-vilsack-agriculture-secretary-senate-confirmation-iowa-20210223
Easily winning confirmation Tuesday for a return engagement as the U.S. Agriculture Secretary, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack rejoins a sprawling government agency he says this time around will add increasing renewable energy and addressing food insecurity to its priorities.
Iowa universities distribute less financial aid as enrollment drops
Iowa’s public universities, along with the state and federal government, awarded less financial aid to students last budget year as enrollment at the campuses fell.
But with COVID-19 further driving down enrollment while driving up the need for tuition help, the universities have stressed the importance of financial aid to lawmakers now deciding how much to appropriate the campuses and to families weighing where to send their students — and their money.
Although the drop primarily was tied to enrollment losses, the percent of financial need met for University of Iowa undergraduates from 2017-18 to 2019-20 slid from 67 percent for residents and 57 percent for non-residents to 56 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
