Monday Morning Read: Rural disability rising, teen’s funeral set, tree planting snag

RURAL DISABILITY RISING — There are nearly 13 million working-age Americans — ages 18 to 64 — receiving disability payments. This number includes every working-age person who receives benefits through the Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance programs or both. Of that, more than 100,000 are in Iowa. The numbers have surged since 1995. What's behind the increase? Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/disabled-or-desperate-rural-americans-turn-to-disability-as-jobs-dry-up/

TEEN'S FUNERAL SET — Funeral services have been set for Justine M. Bonner, 19, of Cedar Rapids, who died March 30 in a single vehicle crash on Highway 13. Services are at 11 a.m. Thursday at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home, 520 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Authorities said Bonner was northbound on Highway 13 around 2:38 p.m. on March 30 when she lost control of the vehicle and crossed the median. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/funeral-set-for-cedar-rapids-teen-killed-in-crash/

TREE PLANTING SNAG — Two six-figure contracts to plant new trees in Cedar Rapids derailed during a City Council meeting last week in debate over whether to allow substitutions for the preferred tree species. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/spring-tree-planting-plan-hits-a-snag-in-cedar-rapids/

SCHEBLER'S OPENING-DAY START — He'll bat sixth and play right field Monday afternoon for the Cincinnati Reds. His mom and dad, grandpa and grandma will be there to watch at Great American Ballpark. This is Scott Schebler's first opening-day start as a major league ballplayer, and the significance of that isn't lost on him. It's a big deal. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-prep-sports/prairie-grad-scott-schebler-gets-1st-mlb-opening-day-start/

QUOTABLE — 'We need to bridge urban and rural voters, and we need to get back to realizing that urban problems and rural problems are actually Iowan problems.' Davenport Alderman Mike Matson, who's considering a run for governor