Wednesday Morning Read: Ernst finds ‘calm, civil’ audience; murder verdict tossed out, UI move-in underway

TODAY'S WEATHER — Muggy, showers and storms likely. High 82, low 67.

ERNST FINDS 'CALM, CIVIL' AUDIENCE — U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst appreciated the 'calm and civil' atmosphere that prevailed for most of her 65-minute town hall meeting Tuesday afternoon — a sharp contrast from just months ago. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/joni-ernst-appreciates-calm-civil-town-hall-meeting/

MURDER VERDICT TOSSED OUT — A 6th Judicial District judge overturned the first-degree murder conviction of Tait Purk on Monday, ruling the verdict was contrary to the evidence and based on a lack of evidence presented at trial. Judge Mitchell Turner granted a new trial to Purk, 50, who is accused of killing his fiancee, Cora Okonski, 23, of Tama, on April 16, 2000. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/judge-overturns-murder-conviction-of-tama-county-man-in-fiancees-death/

UI MOVE-IN UNDERWAY — Mackenzie Hill, 18, of Cedar Rapids, this week joins about 6,700 Hawkeyes expected to live on campus in the upcoming academic year. Some got in early over the weekend — including resident assistants and move-in volunteers. Between 4,300 and 4,600 are expected to descend on the campus' 14 residence halls by Thursday. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/higher-education/students-inundate-iowa-campuses-as-move-in-begins/

RAMPAGE COACH NOT RETURNING — Ten days after expressing excitement over the coming Major Arena Soccer League season as player-coach of the Cedar Rapids Rampage, Hewerton Moreira announced on Instagram that he would not be returning to the third-year franchise. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/minor-league-sports/hewerton-moreira-not-returning-as-player-coach-of-cedar-rapids-rampage/

QUOTABLE — 'Was George Washington a slave owner? So will George Washington lose his status? What do you think of Thomas Jefferson? Do you like him? ... you're changing history. You're changing culture.' President Donald Trump