Wednesday Morning Read: Texting ban advances, rezoning request nixed, street repair plans

TEXTING BAN ADVANCES — Iowans' days of texting while driving without fear of being stopped may be numbered. The House Transportation Committee unanimously approved a ban on texting while driving, but Senate File 234 still would allow drivers to use a smartphone to hold a conversation or get GPS directions. Read more: http://bit.ly/2nsZrjP

REZONING REQUEST NIXED — Residents successfully fought off a proposed duplex development slated for a lawn adjacent to an old church in an older northeast neighborhood near Wright Elementary, during a City Council meeting Tuesday. Adam Stradt's development required rezoning roughly three-quarters of an acre to construct four duplexes at 1525 Hollywood Blvd. NE. Read more: http://bit.ly/2o4edzT

STREET REPAIR PLANS – C Avenue is to be reconstructed between Collins Road NE and 40th Street NE. It is among 30 street projects expected to cost $20 million included in the fourth construction season of Paving for Progress, a 10-year street repair program funded through a voter-approved 1-cent local-option sales tax. Read more: http://bit.ly/2nssTWQ

IOWA RECRUITING UPDATE — Finishing up our recruiting series with a group of four athletes, including a quarterback. Read more: http://bit.ly/2ogeTzs

QUOTABLE — 'Read this amendment. This takes away rights of women to make their reproductive health decisions. All of their rights. Not just a few. If it only passes for a few years, that's a few years of women who have no choice about their reproductive health care.' Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, in reference to an amendment that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected