Gazette Daily News Podcast, November 4 and 5
Welcome to the weekend!
This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I’m here with your update for Saturday, November 4th, and Sunday, November 5th, 2023.
According to the National Weather Service, Saturday mostly sunny, with a high near 55, cooling to a low of 35 Saturday night.
Sunday will be partly sunny, with a high near 61, cooling to a low of 53 Sunday night.
Iowa woman one of 4 finalists for top National FFA award in agriscience
University of Iowa sophomore Jasmyn Hoeger is being recognized Friday as one of four finalists for a 2023 top achievement award from the National FFA Organization for her work developing an alternative treatment for livestock using UV light.
Hoeger is the only finalist in Iowa for The American Star Award in Agriscience. This week, she was interviewed by a panel of judges and one of the finalists will be selected as the winner of the award at the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis.
Arab American caucus asks Iowa Democratic Party to apologize
A day after Iowa Democratic Party leadership condemned University of Iowa student Democrats for an “antisemitic” social media post, the chair of the state party’s Arab American caucus accused his party leadership of misquoting the students and called for an apology.
“The Iowa Democratic Party’s statement misquotes and misconstrues the original statement,” according to an email that Newman Abuissa, of Iowa City, sent Friday morning to state party Chair Rita Hart.
“We call on Rita Hart to correct the quote, and we stand with the IDP’s Progressive Caucus in calling for Rita Hart to apologize to University Democrats at Iowa.”
Democratic state party leadership did not respond Friday to The Gazette’s request for comment.
Vivek Ramaswamy launches $8M ad buy in Iowa, rents apartment in Des Moines
Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is launching a multimillion-dollar ad buy in Iowa and New Hampshire as the 38-year-old Republican presidential candidate trails key primary rivals in recent polling.
Ramaswamy’s campaign said so far it plans to spend $8 million in Iowa and $4 million in New Hampshire on an ad buy that will include broadcast, cable, radio, digital and direct mail.
The first ad in the series, “Truth,” begins airing Saturday, according to the campaign.
Ramaswamy has rented an apartment in Des Moines for him and his family. The Washington Post first reported on the apartment, as the entrepreneur and author prepares for more frequent visits and tries to build momentum ahead of Iowa's first-in-the-nation GOP caucuses on Jan. 15.
The campaign said it plans to shift resources to the state after next week's Republican presidential primary debate.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
