Gazette Daily News Podcast: Monday, December 18, 2023

Stories featured

– Judge who led Linn County drug court retires next month after 34-year career

– Iowa farmers of color gather for first time to form connections, find resources

–  Curious Iowa: Why can’t Iowans choose their utilities provider?

Episode Transcript

You are listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast on Monday, December 18, 2023. This podcast brings quick bites from the latest headlines coming out of The Gazette newsroom. I’m Bailey Cichon filling in for Stephen Schmidt.

The Judge who led Linn County drug court is retiring next month after a 34-year career. Sixth Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover said she has enjoyed her career but 20 years on the bench is quote “long enough” end quote. Hoover is 58 years old, which puts her many years ahead of the mandatory retirement age for Iowa judges, which is age 72. 

Over her career, Judge Hoover worked for Iowa Legal Aid and Linn County Advocates, worked as a public defender, served as a district judge and lead the Linn County Drug Treatment Court. 

While working as an associate district judge, Hoover began creating sentences that would allow someone to “buy down jail time” by completing treatment. Several people did just that and maintained drug-free lifestyles that allowed them to regain custody of children and employment and improve relationships. 

Additionally, Hoover was the judge in the trial for Jerry Burns, who was charged in 2018 for the murder of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko in Cedar Rapids in 1979. Burns was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Hoover said, quote, “It’s been a great honor to serve.The most rewarding part was being the drug court judge. I started in September 2007. But Judge Valerie Clay is taking it over, so I’m leaving knowing the program is in good hands.” End quote.

Hoover will retire Jan. 2. You can read the full story by Trish Mehaffey at thegazette.com

Nearly 100 farmers of color gathered Saturday in Des Moines to help minority farmers succeed in Iowa. The Iowa Farmers of Color conference will become an annual networking event for Iowa’s Black and minority farmers.

The conference was organized by Todd Western III. Western was inspired to  start the conference after visiting a national gathering of Black farmers in North Carolina called the Harvest Ball. 

Western said, quote, “I was just so overwhelmed with the camaraderie, the community, the networking and the friendships of Black farmers coming together. I said, ‘We have to do this up north.’” End quote.

Western’s family has owned his Iowa farmland for more than 150 years. He is one of about 72 Black farmers in Iowa, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture. 

Conference speakers highlighted federal programs through the USDA and nonprofits that aid minority farmers who have historically been left out of the department’s loan programs. Speakers also touched on the isolation and unique challenges farmers of color face. 

Western said he hopes Iowa’s Black farmers lean on the relationships they built at the conference. 

This week’s edition of Curious Iowa answers this question: Why can’t Iowans choose their utilities provider? Iowans have customer choice for insurance, groceries and other goods and services, but when it comes to utilities, location dictates which utility provider they can use. In the story, I explain what exclusive service areas are and how the Iowa Utilities Board and other regulators ensure Iowans pay a fair price for their utilities. You can find a link to that story in this episode’s description. Or pick up a copy of today’s edition of The Gazette.

Curious Iowa is a section of The Gazette dedicated to answering readers’ questions about our state, its people and our culture. 

Finally, let’s take a look at today’s weather on Monday, December 18. Today will be windy in Cedar Rapids. Expect a high of 27 degrees and a low of 15 degrees. Temperatures will warm up tomorrow. Expect cloudy skies and a high of 36 on Tuesday. 

Thank you for listening to The Gazette’s daily news podcast. Stephen Schmidt, your usual host, will return tomorrow. I’m Bailey Cichon, signing off.