Thursday Morning Read: Trump holds rally, protesters outside arena, fact checking Trump's speech

Trump holds rally in downtown Cedar Rapids - He doesn't get credit for all he's done in 152 days as president, Donald Trump said Wednesday night, but he's made 'amazing progress' improving the economy, lowering unemployment, curtailing illegal immigration and, in short, delivering on his promise to 'Make America Great Again.'

A crowd of more than 6,000 at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids joined him in delivering that signature line from his campaign and demonstrated it believed him with cheers, chants of 'USA, USA' and applause throughout the hour-plus campaign-style rally. Read more about what President Trump said during his rally here.

Protestors line the streets outside Trump rally - Heavy rains that came and went, and came again, didn't deter scores of protesters who waved signs, chanted and elicited honks from passing cars while awaiting President Donald Trump's arrival downtown Wednesday evening.

Familiar cheers and jeers rang out as about 150 protesters near the U.S. Cellular Center yelled 'my body, my choice,' 'lock him up' and 'this is what democracy looks like.' Read the full story about the scene outside the arena here.

Fact Checking Trump's Speech - President Donald Trump's stops in Cedar Rapids Wednesday touched on many important Iowa issues, from wind power to wrestling. The Gazette's Fact Checker will review six statements for accuracy. Read through our fact check process and results here.

20 years since Norm got kicked out -  Many were disgusted. Some were delighted. University of Iowa athletic department people were mortified.

But time heals some wounds, so let us observe Thursday's 20-year anniversary of a night that has lived in infamy with more amusement than ire.

On June 22, 1997, then-'Saturday Night Live' cast members Norm Macdonald, Jim Breuer and Darrell Hammond performed stand-up comedy in the University of Iowa's Hancher Auditorium. Macdonald was the anchor on SNL's 'Weekend Update' segments. He also did popular impersonations of Bob Dole, Larry King and Burt Reynolds in sketches.

Read Mike Hlas' full column on when comedian Norm MacDonald was kicked out of his comedy show here.