Monday Morning Read: Iowans differ on if state is on right track; students sign on to human rights effort; #MeToo movement challenged by cavalcade of allegations

TODAY'S WEATHER — Chance of flurries, windy. High 41, low 17.

IOWANS DIFFER ON IF STATE IS ON RIGHT TRACK — By a narrow 45 to 42 percent split, Iowans think the state is headed in the right direction. The other 13 percent are not sure. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/iowans-diverge-whether-state-is-on-right-track/

STUDENTS SIGN ON TO HUMAN RIGHTS EFFORT — Cedar Rapids high school students were some of thousands who penned letters to governments around the world last week on behalf of imprisoned human rights activists. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/iowans-diverge-whether-state-is-on-right-track/

#MeToo MOVEMENT CHALLENGED BY CAVALCADE OF ALLEGATIONS — As a reckoning over sexual harassment sweeps the country, leaders in business, academia and other walks of life are pushing to sustain the momentum and ensure a positive, lasting cultural change without it getting derailed by politics, social media frenzies and outsize responses to infractions many deem small. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/metoo-movement-challenged-by-cascade-of-allegations/

HAWKEYES REBOUND WITH BIG WIN — If nothing else, the Iowa men's basketball team got to have some more fun Sunday than in the last two weeks. The Hawkeyes cruised in the second half to a 91-60 win against Southern, and even if it came against a team not to the caliber of the Big Ten, ACC or Big 12, they cleaned up most of the issues they faced in four straight losses. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/sports/iowa-basketball-corrects-some-issues-in-win-vs-southern/

QUOTABLE — 'We hear that in Iowa there will only be a twentieth of the number of fireworks retailers for December that there were in the summer.' A statement from Matt Reisetter, one of the owners of Crossroads Fireworks, on the level of fireworks sales over the New Year's holiday period. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/iowas-fireworks-sales-can-resume-sunday-but-will-they/