Cedar Rapids voting centers aim to boost school board turnout
The Gazette endorses Linn County's plan to replace 50 precincts with five voting centers for Cedar Rapids Community School District elections. Voters can use four high schools and the Education Leadership and Support Center on Sept 10. Officials say costs could fall from nearly $30,000 in 2011 to under $10,000, while turnout may rise from historically low levels. The piece notes turnout of 5 percent in 2011 and sub-2 percent in 2009, highlighting the district's 16,700 students and 2,500 staff within an $180 million general fund budget.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Linn County Election Services
Cedar Rapids Community
Iowa
Lion
City of
Branstad Era Probes Tap Board of Medicine Actions
A reader notes that the Branstad administration allegedly knew of an extremist petition before the Iowa Board of Medicine considers barring telehealth abortion pills. Questions arise about gubernatorial influence on non political boards and the office’s level of involvement, amid Branstad controversy. Leonard Pitts Jr.’s column on Penny wages is cited but deemed off point. McDonald’s workplace praise ends excerpt.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Terry Branstad
Iowa Board of Medicine
Board of Medicine
Branstad
Leonard Pitts Jr
The
Golden Arches
McDonald's
Gazette reader critiques state coverage and political ties
Andrea Hersey argues The Gazette angles Branstad’s probe into a favorable light while omitting past appointments linking Branstad and Louis Lavorato. She calls for fuller, independent reporting and challenges the paper to investigate political implications rather than present a defended narrative.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Branstad
Lavorato
Supreme Court
The
Gazette
Andrea Hersey
Cedar Rapids
Adjust cost to size of town for bridges
The Gazette notes two aging Bertram bridges rank high on IDOT replacement scores but won’t be funded due to a required 20 percent cost share. With under $120000 yearly tax revenue Bertram cannot afford the share, while larger cities gain upgrades. Authors urge sliding scale to fix the worst bridges in small towns like Bertram and Ely.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
the Gazette
Bertram
Iowa Department of Transportation
Iowa
Ely
We Don’t Need Mini Royals In Politics Now
FROMA HARROP argues that media fixation on politicians’ relatives mirrors royal obsession and distracts from voters. She cites Huma Abedin, Liz Cheney, Caroline Kennedy, and others as examples of undesired “mini royals” influencing public perception and appointments.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Huma
Anthony Weiner
New York City
Huma Abedin
Weiner
Gotham
Britain
Liz Cheney
Washington
Wyoming
Sen
Michael Enzi
Liz
Cheney
Jackson Hole
Caroline Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
Barack Obama
Japan
United States
Obama
Kennedy
Hillary Clinton
New York Times
Ms. Kennedy
Walter Mondale
Kennedys
Joe Blow
Tokyo
Caroline
Branstad tax giveaways face critique by Joe Boikcom
Iowa City state senator Joe Boikcom condemns Branstad administration tax incentives for ORASCOM fertilizer in Lee County, arguing the deal costs taxpayers. He cites $500 million in total support for 165 jobs, urges bipartisan shift to invest in worker training and Iowa businesses.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Terry Branstad
Iowa
Economic Development Authority
Lee County
Branstad
Illinois
Orascom
Iowa Senate
Also Mentioned on This Page
Thegazette
McDonald’s
Steve King
Pitts
Jeff Wilkin
Larry Hedlund
DCI
Iowa Supreme Court
Louis Lavorato
Aig
L St Our Ofr
Froma Harrop
Projo
Joe Bolkcom
Joe Boikcom
Oiowa City
Joe. Boikcom
Legis
Owa
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!