Gazette Daily News Podcast: Monday, December 11, 2023
Stories Featured
– I-380 interchange project receives $57M boost from feds
– Dietitian weighs in on holiday feasting
– Curious Iowa: Are local animal shelters considered no-kill?
Episode Transcript
You are listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast on Monday, December 11, 2023. On this podcast, we give you quick bites from the latest headlines coming out of The Gazette newsroom. I’m Bailey Cichon filling in for Stephen Schmidt.
The reconstruction of the Interstate 380 interchange with Wright Brothers Boulevard is fully funded after receiving $57.3 million in federal infrastructure funding.
According to reporting from The Gazette’s Erin Murphy, the projected $112 million project would widen the interstate to six lanes from the north ramps of the Swisher interchange to south of U.S. Highway 30. Also, the Wright Brothers Boulevard interchange would be reconfigured to include a diverging diamond interchange. This would be a wider but similar interchange to the one that opened at Tower Terrace Road and I-380.
The Wright Brothers Boulevard interchange is the main exit to the Eastern Iowa Airport. The area is rapidly growing due to a boom in manufacturing, warehouses and homes.
Iowa DOT District 6 transportation planner Catherine Cutler told The Gazette earlier this year, quote, “The city plans for industrial and commercial growth around the airport, and we wanted to get ahead of that growth.” end quote.
Bids will be considered in mid-2024 with construction beginning as soon as late summer 2024. Project completion is slated for 2027.
Find the full story at thegazette.com. There’s a link to the story in this episode’s description.
As winter holidays draw near, The Gazette’s Diana Nollen spoke with Hy-Vee dietitian Stephanie Vande Brake about indulging in the festive flavors, managing cravings and understanding the science behind nutrition.
Eating a lot of starches or sweets causes blood sugars to rise and then what feels like a crash happens.
Vande Brake said when blood sugar gets low, quote,”Our body secretes hormones to tell our brain to crave more of those high calories foods. So when we’re having these big swings in blood sugar, biologically, that is why we experience really intense cravings and hunger.” end quote
Vande Brake said balanced blood sugar can prevent intense cravings. She recommends not eating sweets on an empty stomach to avoid having a crash.
Read The Gazette’s full interview with Vande Brake at thegazette.com or follow the link in this episode description.
This week’s edition of Curious Iowa answers a question from Gazette reader Rene Anderson. Anderson has worked and volunteered for multiple animal shelters in the area. Anderson asked The Gazette whether Eastern Iowa’s animal shelters are considered no-kill and how they work toward that goal. The Gazette’s Emily Andersen examined data from Linn and Johnson county shelters and spoke with staff to answer the question. Find that story in today’s copy of The Gazette or online.
Curious Iowa answers your questions about our state, its people and culture. Submit questions at thegazette.com/curious.
Finally, a look at today’s weather on Monday, December 11, 2023. Today will be sunny with a high of 38 and a low of 19. Tuesday will be mostly sunny with a high of 33 and low of 20.
Thank you for listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast. I'm Bailey Cichon.
